WHCA/WiCAL, in partnership with Pathway Health, is pleased to announce the launch of a new member benefit: The Regulatory and Clinical Support Hotline.
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Join Dr. Shellie M. Sonnentag on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM CDT for an insightful webinar, "Getting Started with Implementation of IDDSI in Skilled Nursing Facilities."
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As we have previously reported, Jim Stoa, our Vice President for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, recently departed WHCA/WiCAL for a new position. We have developed a
job description for Jim’s position for your review and consideration.
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As we have previously reported, Jim Stoa, our Vice President for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, recently departed WHCA/WiCAL for a new position. We have developed a
job description for Jim’s position for your review and consideration.
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As we have previously reported, Jim Stoa, our Vice President for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, recently departed WHCA/WiCAL for a new position. We have developed a
job description for Jim’s position for your review and consideration.
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As we have previously reported, Jim Stoa, our Vice President for Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, recently departed WHCA/WiCAL for a new position. We have developed a
job description for Jim’s position for your review and consideration.
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From our national affiliate, AHCA/NCAL, an overview of recently released CMS
QSO memo 24 -14. We note specifically the important change in the Staff Turnover Measure Methodology in Nursing Home Care Compare.
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On Thursday, May 23, the American Health Care Association filed a suit against against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for exceeding their statutory authority and arbitrarily and capriciously issuing the Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities final rule. The lawsuit asks the court to issue an order and judgment setting aside the new staffing requirements that were finalized by CMS on May 10.
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This rule applies to any health program or activity receiving federal funds from HHS, any program or activity administered under Title I of the Affordable Care Act, and health insurance marketplace participants that have received federal financial assistance.
This means that nursing homes, ID/DD providers, and Medicare Advantage plans are subject to this Final Rule. Assisted living communities could also be subject to the rule if they receive Federal financial assistance (e.g., through a Medicaid waiver program). Read More
On Monday, April 22, CMS announced that its final version of its proposed federal minimum staffing rule for nursing homes will be formally published on...
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AHCA/NCAL's regulatory compliance staff have compiled a new, useful tool available for member SNF providers: guidance and resources to help understand the survey process and implement the Requirements of Participation.
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On February 12,
WisBusiness published an article about stakeholder concerns with the proposed CMS Federal Minimum Staffing requirement. Featured in the article were WHCA/WiCAL Board Vice President David Mills and WHCA/WiCAL CEO Rick Abrams.
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On February 12,
WisBusiness published an article about stakeholder concerns with the proposed CMS Federal Minimum Staffing requirement. Featured in the article were WHCA/WiCAL Board Vice President David Mills and WHCA/WiCAL CEO Rick Abrams.
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On February 12,
WisBusiness published an article about stakeholder concerns with the proposed CMS Federal Minimum Staffing requirement. Featured in the article were WHCA/WiCAL Board Vice President David Mills and WHCA/WiCAL CEO Rick Abrams.
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Effective February 1, 2024, through April 30, 2024, the Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care (BNHRC) will implement a pilot program by temporarily expanding DQA's...
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Effective February 1, 2024, through April 30, 2024, the Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care (BNHRC) will implement a pilot program by temporarily expanding DQA's...
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WHCA/WiCAL staff recently met with Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) staff for our regularly scheduled quarterly meeting. These meetings focus on a discussion of survey and environmental trends that DQA staff is observing in the field as well as discussing issues of importance to WHCA/WiCAL and other Associations represented at the meeting.
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On November 17, 2023, CMS issued the final rule implementing new ownership and managerial disclosure requirements for skilled nursing facilities enrolling or re-validating enrollment in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The changes are effective January 16, 2024 but the disclosures will not be required until the CMS-855A form is revised to collect the additional data.
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DHS has published its long-term care market study, which uses a retrospective analysis to project future trends for Wisconsin's long-term care sector. Baker Tilly was commissioned for the study.
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Wisconsin's professional licensure agency, the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), this week issued a release on its ongoing efforts to address the nursing home sector's concerns about lack of mid-career NHA educational opportunities.
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Monday, November 6 marked the end of the formal public comment period for CMS's nursing home minimum staffing rule draft. WHCA/WiCAL has provided recent updates to members.
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WHCA/WiCAL President & CEO Rick Abrams submitted a public comment to CMS on behalf of member providers and partners across the state
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WHCA/WiCAL members and partners far exceeded our goal for comment submissions to CMS ahead of the November 6 public comment submission deadline for CMS's proposed nursing home minimum staffing rule.
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WHCA/WiCAL has launched a new member resource for nursing home providers: an Association-produced post-survey questionnaire.
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On October 20, a bipartisan coalition of 91 members of Congress sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, expressing their concerns with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed SNF
minimum staffing rule for nursing homes.
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WHCA/WiCAL has launched a new member resource for nursing home providers: an Association-produced post-survey questionnaire.
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WHCA/WiCAL is launching a new member resource for nursing home providers: an Association-produced post-survey questionnaire.
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David Mills, Managing Partner, North Shore Healthcare, provides an excellent Op Ed on the proposed minimum staffing standard.
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In case you missed it, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released a new
analysis during a
press conference yesterday by professional services firm CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), which analyzed the impact of President Biden’s proposed federal staffing mandate on nursing homes.
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This week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance regarding updates to Nursing Home Care Compare to reflect changes to the Minimum Data Set which take effect on October 1, 2023 and changes in other areas. Read more from our national affiliate, American Health Care Association, here.
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We hope that you have found helpful the educational guidance previously provided to prepare for the changes to the MDS/RAI to take effect on October 1. Links to each one of the eight installments (as well as additional educational resources) are set forth below. The following article from Provider magazine, an American Health Care Association publication, offers some very practical guidance from an MS veteran. We hope that you also find the article helpful.
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As we have previously reported, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, is running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) will be changing effective October 1, 2023. Below please find a eighth installment in this important educational series focusing on changes to Section Q.
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As we have previously reported, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, is running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) will be changing effective October 1, 2023. Below please find a seventh installment in this important educational series focusing on changes to Section O
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On Monday, July 17, DQA's Office of Caregiver Quality (OCQ) issued a memo with new updates and to introduce a new online misconduct reporting worksheet.
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As we have previously reported, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, is running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) will be changing effective October 1, 2023. Please find a sixth installment in this important educational series focusing on changes to Section N.
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As we have previously reported, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, is running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) will be changing effective October 1, 2023. Please find a fifth installment in this important educational series focusing on changes to Section K.
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As we have previously reported, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, is running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) will be changing effective October 1, 2023. Please find a fourth installment in this important educational series focusing on changes to Section J.
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As we have previously reported, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, is running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) will be changing effective October 1, 2023. Please find a third installment in this important educational series focusing on changes to Section GG.
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As we have previously reported, our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, is running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) will be changing effective October 1, 2023. Please find a third installment in this important educational series focusing on changes to Section GG.
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Assisted living providers and stakeholders are invited to join The Bureau of Assisted Living (BAL) on June 20, 2023, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m for the Assisted Living Forum.
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Last week, we reported that our national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, would be running a multi-part educational series highlighting different areas in which the Minimum Data Set/Resident Assessment Instrument (MDS/RAI) would be changing effective October 1, 2023. Below please find the second installment in this important educational series.
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The memo cites areas of concern related to missing or inaccurate patient information upon discharge from the hospital to a post-hospital setting, which can lead to post-acute providers not being properly prepared or able to care for new admissions for whom the post-acute setting did not receive important information prior to admission.
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On Monday, June 5, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' final rule rescinding nursing home staff COVID-19 vaccination requirements and testing requirements was officially
published in the Federal Register.
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On April 3, 2023, CMS released important changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and Resident Assessment Instrument Training Manual (RAI). These changes will take effect on October 1, 2023. Our national partner, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, has assembled a multi-part training curriculum to help you prepare. Installment #1 is set forth below.
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On May 31, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a
final rule,
“Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Policy and Regulatory Changes to the Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Requirements; Additional Policy and Regulatory Changes to the Requirements for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID) to Provide COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Offer Vaccinations to Residents, Clients, and Staff; Policy and Regulatory Changes to the Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 Testing Requirements.” Read More
On May 1, CMS issued
QSO-23-13-ALL, which includes some regulatory relief from COVID PHE-related compliance requirements. This article includes the current status of several of the top items included in the memo.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released updates to several
survey resource documents, including the Entrance Conference form and the Infection Prevention, Control, and Immunization Critical Element (CE) pathway. This was done to align with updated regulations and guidance related to the end of the public health emergency (PHE), and as noted with the expiration of COVID-19 Testing requirements (QSO-20-38-NH) and the updates made to Visitation (QSO-20-39-NH).
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In the fall of 2022, CMS issued Admin Info: 22-09-ALL which outlined several regulatory focus areas for Federal Monitoring Surveys related to specific F-tags for FY2022 and FY2023. One area of regulatory focus is Quality of Life, specifically Activities of Daily Living at F676.
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U.S. President Joe Biden and the Administration announced what they described as “the most sweeping set of Executive Actions to improve care in history.” The
White House fact sheet on these Executive Actions specifically notes the Administration’s focus in the fiscal year 2024 budget around support for quality and affordable long-term care (LTC), along with childcare and pre-school.
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As the October deadline draws closer for compliance with the food and nutrition director requirements, a reminder that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) added to the requirements for the director of food and nutrition services at § 483.60(a)(2)(E) as part of the
2023 SNF PPS rule published in August 2022.
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The minimum staffing rule will be drafted and mostly finalized by sometime in March, and so we ask members to
submit a comment to CMS with concerns on the implications of a rigid minimum staffing requirement by the end of February.
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The minimum staffing rule will be drafted and mostly finalized by sometime in March, and so we ask members to
submit a comment to CMS with concerns on the implications of a rigid minimum staffing requirement by the end of February.
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On January 30, the Biden Administration
announced its plans to end the Public Health Emergency (PHE). This administration guidance meets the Administration’s promise of 60 days’ notice of the end of the PHE. Based on the guidance, the PHE will end on May 11, 2023.
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The minimum staffing rule will be drafted and mostly finalized by sometime in March, and so we ask members to
submit a comment to CMS with concerns on the implications of a rigid minimum staffing requirement by the end of February.
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On January 30, the Biden Administration
announced its plans to end the Public Health Emergency (PHE). This administration guidance meets the Administration’s promise of 60 days’ notice of the end of the PHE. Based on the guidance, the PHE will end on May 11, 2023.
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The minimum staffing rule will be drafted and mostly finalized by sometime in March, and so we ask members to
submit a comment to CMS with concerns on the implications of a rigid minimum staffing requirement by the end of February.
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AHCA/NCAL hosted a webinar on Friday, January 20 to discuss the importance of – and to provide tips for – contacting CMS to weigh in on proposals the agency is currently writing for SNF minimum staffing requirements. Presenters included AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson and Senior Director of Grassroots Program Matthew Smyth.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO Memo
QSO-23-05-NH, which outlines how audits on erroneous Schizophrenia coding will impact Five-Star ratings. The memo also outlines how CMS displays citations under dispute on Nursing Home Compare but will not affect Five-Star until the disputes are resolved.
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On Tuesday, November 15, WHCA/WiCAL staff met with Dan Hereth, Secretary-Designee of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). DSPS is the state...
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On October, 26, 2022, CMS released QSO 23-02 replaces several previous QSOs and modifies the Scope and Severity of non-compliance. This QSO replaces from QSO 22-07-ALL Revised, QSO 22-09-ALL Revised, and QSO 22-11-ALL Revised. The guidance applies to all states.
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On October, 26, 2022, CMS released QSO 23-02 replaces several previous QSOs and modifies the Scope and Severity of non-compliance. This QSO replaces from QSO 22-07-ALL Revised, QSO 22-09-ALL Revised, and QSO 22-11-ALL Revised. The guidance applies to all states.
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On October, 26, 2022, CMS released QSO 23-02 replaces several previous QSOs and modifies the Scope and Severity of non-compliance. This QSO replaces from QSO 22-07-ALL Revised, QSO 22-09-ALL Revised, and QSO 22-11-ALL Revised. The guidance applies to all states.
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On Friday, October 21, CMS released newly revised guidance which provides a more punitive framework for oversight and regulations of facilities that are selected by states to participate in the Special Focus Facility program, as well as additional oversight for facilities that graduate as SFF facilities.
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U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra today renewed the declaration that a public health emergency exists. This is effective October 13, 2022, and will continue for 90 days pursuant to federal law.
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Assisted living providers and stakeholders are invited to attend the Assisted Living Forum on October 18, 2022, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The Bureau of Assisted Living (BAL) will provide information on several topics, including regulatory updates, the Direct Care Professional (DCP) Certificate project, and additional information related to infection control.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updates to infection control guidance. In turn, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its own guidance for nursing homes in those subject areas to align with CDC's new recommendations.
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WHCA/WiCAL has published a resources page for providers related to survey/enforcement changes published in CMS
QSO-22-19-NH, published June 29, 2022.
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WHCA/WiCAL and AHCA/NCAL are continuing to advocate for federal policymakers to reinstate critical federal waivers which provided additional tools and flexibilities for providers to address ongoing caregiver shortages.
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CMS ended the section of the 1135 waiver that permitted the employment of temporary and emergency nurse aides on June 6, ending the temporary nurse aide program in Wisconsin on June 6 and giving emergency nurse aides four months to become a certified nursing assistant (CNA), as dictated in statute.
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WHCA/WiCAL has published a resources page for providers related to survey/enforcement changes published in CMS
QSO-22-19-NH, published June 29, 2022.
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DQA hosted a webinar for Nursing Home providers and stakeholders earlier this week. During this webinar, DQA provided information on Phase 3 updates to the federal regulations and updates to State Operations Manual Chapter 5 related to complaints and facility reported incidents.
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Senior members of the AHCA Quality & Regulatory team reviewed recent updates to COVID-19 guidance for nursing homes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released updates to infection control guidance. In turn, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its own guidance for nursing homes in those subject areas to align with CDC's new recommendations.
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Late last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updates to infection control guidance. In turn, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated its own guidance for nursing homes in those subject areas to align with CDC's new recommendations.
On Monday, CMS also issued QSO 22-25-CLIA, rescinding previous guidance regarding the enforcement discretion under CLIA for the use of tests for SARS-CoV-2 on asymptomatic individuals outside of the test’s authorization, when an Emergency Use Authorization has been granted by the FDA.
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Senior members of the AHCA Quality & Regulatory team will review recent updates to COVID-19 guidance for nursing homes from the CMS and CDC.
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WHCA/WiCAL staff met with DQA leadership on September 20
th for a quarterly meeting. Survey trends, new contracted surveyors, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, and more were discussed.
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Nursing Home providers and stakeholders are invited to attend a webinar hosted by the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA). During this webinar, the DQA will provide information on Phase 3 updates to the federal regulations and updates to State Operations Manual Chapter 5 related to complaints and facility reported incidents.
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Nursing Home providers and stakeholders are invited to attend a webinar hosted by the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA). During this webinar, the DQA will provide information on Phase 3 updates to the federal regulations and updates to State Operations Manual Chapter 5 related to complaints and facility reported incidents.
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WHCA/WiCAL staff met with DQA leadership on September 20
th for a quarterly meeting. Survey trends, new contracted surveyors, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, and more were discussed.
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WHCA/WiCAL’s national affiliate, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), is aggressively advocating on our behalf to convince Congress to pass HR 7744. This bill would reverse CMS’ action sunsetting the temporary nurse aide waiver and reinstate it for up to 24 months following the end of the public health emergency.
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The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) sponsors a quarterly educational forum to assist in keeping nursing homes updated with evolving RAI/MDS information and to provide an avenue for nursing home staff to ask RAI/MDS-related questions.
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The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) sponsors a quarterly educational forum to assist in keeping nursing homes updated with evolving RAI/MDS information and to provide an avenue for nursing home staff to ask RAI/MDS-related questions.
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On June 29, 2022, CMS issued
QSO-22-19-NH, which outlines new and revised guidance to surveyors and to providers related to implementation of Requirements of Participation, including new enforcement policies.
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On June 29, 2022, CMS issued
QSO-22-19-NH, which outlines new and revised guidance to surveyors and to providers related to implementation of Requirements of Participation, including new enforcement policies.
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued
QSO-22-19-NH, which includes new and updated surveyor guidance.
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The U.S. Department of Labor
announced its effort for short-term “highly focused inspections” and enforcement in hospitals and nursing care facilities while they work to finalize a permanent healthcare standard. These inspections will be focused on protections for workers against COVID-19 hazards, and will be taking place from March 9th through June 9th of 2022.
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This week was a win in court for Medicare beneficiaries and the skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) who provide care to these individuals most in need.
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The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA), Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care (BNHRC) has announced the dates of the upcoming Nursing Home Quarterly Regional Office Provider Forums. BNHRC representatives will answer your questions and provide updates on citing statistics, COVID-19, and other areas of interest to nursing home providers.
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CMS made updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide effective January 27, 2022.
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CMS made updates to the Long-Term Care Survey Process Procedure Guide effective January 27, 2022.
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The Division of Quality Assurance (DQA), Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care (BNHRC) has announced the dates of the upcoming Nursing Home Quarterly Regional Office Provider Forums. BNHRC representatives will answer your questions and provide updates on citing statistics, COVID-19, and other areas of interest to nursing home providers.
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The next Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)/Long Term Care (LTC) Open Door Forum scheduled is for Thursday, January 27, 2022 between 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST.
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Senior living and social services providers should be aware that states across the country are passing
reviver statues, which allow otherwise time-barred claims of childhood sexual abuse to proceed.
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AHCA/NCAL continues to receive questions related to the proper application of the COVID-19 SNF waivers related to the inpatient 3-Day stay waiver and the 60-day break in spell-of-illness Benefit Period waiver.
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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has updated the Guide for I/DD Per Federal Definition, P-00935.
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This notice is a reminder that the Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Quality Assurance (DQA), Office of Caregiver Quality (OCQ), has developed an online reporting system for providers to submit allegations of caregiver misconduct that occur in DQA regulated health care facilities.
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