News

In this week’s update on the proposed Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (PPS) rule, we provide more information on payment changes. 

Employers must make the hepatitis B vaccination available to staff who have reasonably anticipated contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials during performance of their jobs. 

The U.S. Housing & Urban Development Department (HUD) is circulating a proposal to change how residents’ rents are calculated in all HUD-assisted housing programs. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-Coverage (SNFABN) (CMS-10055) was mandatory for use by all skilled nursing facilities as of Monday, May 7. The form and instructions are available on the CMS website.  

The National Fire Protection Association has issued a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA 12-8) concerning the storage and use of liquid oxygen. CMS has not taken any formal action in response, but we expect them to review the issue in the near future. 

Adult Day Services are an integral part of the long-term care continuum, but a potential move by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) could put up a barrier in advancing the use of these valued community-services. 

In a call with LeadingAge last week, we received key updates on affordable housing funding from their advocacy on Capitol Hill: 

New legislation introduced in Congress would help aging services providers alleviate its growing workforce crisis:    

You don’t have to have the intent to discriminate to run afoul of fair housing laws. In fact, most fair housing claims are filed against people who have very good intention. It is important to regularly train staff and volunteers in the principles and regulations of fair housing.   

A recent report on Medicaid assisted living services by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) calls on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve how it collects, reports, manages and monitors information about Medicaid assisted living services. 

Nursing facility staffing measures posted on Nursing Home Compare and facility staffing ratings calculated for the Five Star Quality Rating System will reflect Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) data beginning this month, along with a new risk adjustment methodology, according to a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) memorandum released April 6. 

Engage at Every Age, the theme of this year’s Older Americans Month in May, emphasizes the many ways older adults make a difference in our communities. You can now access a wide variety of ideas, materials and resources to promote and celebrate this month in your setting. 

The Administration for Community Living has announced an April 10 webinar on trauma informed care for people living with dementia. 

The 2018 spending bill that was signed into law last week makes much-needed investments in affordable housing and community-based services. 

Now that Minnesota is roughly 100 days into the new care center survey process and implementation of the Phase 2 requirements, we have access to a decently-sized sample of survey data that helps us to identify trends. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced a collaboration to develop a training course in infection prevention and control for nursing home staff. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last week that the proposed Resident Classification System (RCS-I) is not ready for implementation and may not be included in the upcoming FY19 proposed rule. 

The number of cost-burdened senior households is rapidly rising, often forcing seniors with low incomes to choose between housing costs, health care and food. In fact, people age 65 and older are the fastest growing homeless population in Minnesota. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has developed a newly-revised Skilled Nursing Facility Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (SNFABN) (CMS-10055), along with updated instructions for completion of the form. The revised SNFABN will be mandatory for use on May 7, 2018. 

A new bill in Congress, the EMPOWER Care Act, would extend funding for the Money Follows the Person demonstration project and help improve access to in-home services, adult day services and other services that help older adults remain independent in their communities.