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September 21, 2018

DHS Releases Agency Budget Requests Including Direct Care Workforce, SNF Acuity Funding

The agency budget by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services released this week includes essential resources for the state’s long-term care (LTC) provider community, including adding the Family Care Direct Care Workforce Funding (which was passed as a part of the last budget) to the Medicaid base re-estimate, as well as funding the acuity of the state’s skilled nursing facilities.
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Influenza Requirement for SNF Residents Starts October 1

Skilled nursing facility and nursing facility (SNF/NF) providers should be geared up and ready to begin offering the seasonal influenza vaccine to residents. F883 requires that each resident is offered an influenza immunization October 1 through March 31 annually, unless the immunization is medically contraindicated, or the resident has already been immunized during this time period.
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September F-Tag Webinar Next Tuesday - Resident Assessments / Accuracy of Assessments, F636-F642

This session will focus on the Resident Assessments/Accuracy of Assessments Regulations including, but not limited to, F-Tag 636- F-Tag 642, with a review of the regulations and an analysis of the associated Interpretive Guidance. A review of survey procedures used to guide the investigative process will be discussed. Actual citation examples will be shared and discussed. Tools to assist the facility interdisciplinary team in monitoring compliance and incorporating into the facility QAPI processes will be discussed.
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GAO report on Medicare Advantage Payment Adjustments

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on risk adjustments for payments to Medicare Advantage Plans: “Medicare Advantage: Benefits and Challenges of Payment Adjustments Based on Beneficiaries' Ability to Perform Daily Tasks,” GAO-18-588, published September 10, 2018. The following excerpts are from the “Fast Facts” and “Highlights” of this report.
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Medical Items Removed from Tariff List

Various medical items, including soaps and rubber gloves, were removed from a list of potential tariffs shortly before the list was made final Tuesday evening. The list details approximately $200 billion in goods that the United States imports from China.
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More Cases of Severe Bleeding in Wisconsin Linked to Synthetic Cannabinoids

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed 16 additional cases of severe bleeding caused by the use of synthetic cannabinoids containing rat poison. That brings the total number of people affected in this outbreak to 80. The counties with confirmed cases include Dane, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Rock, and now Fond du Lac. These cases have ranged in age from 16 to over 50 years old. To date, there has been one death in Wisconsin associated with this outbreak.
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DHS Reminds Providers of Resident Relocation Manual

Under Wisconsin law, facilities relocating five or more residents must file a resident relocation plan with the Department of Health Services, Division of Medicaid Services. A facility must not begin discharge planning for any of its residents until the Division of Medicaid Services (DMS) has approved the facility's resident relocation plan.
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October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Get ready for National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), which is observed every October. It was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online. 2018 marks the 15th year of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Cybersecurity is especially important to members as the healthcare industry is expected to remain one of the most targeted sectors by cyber attackers.
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