Interactive Life Insurance Coming?
John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, will stop underwriting traditional life insurance and instead sell only interactive policies that track fitness and health data through wearable devices and...
Transitions
It is with much gratitude and affection that we say “Happy Retirement” to Fontella Fant, Administrator for many years at Redbud Village in Plainville. We wish you “happy trails”, fun travels and plenty of...
New Long-Stay Claims-Based Hospitalization Measure Posted on Nursing Home Compare
CMS believes that residents who return to the hospital frequently during their nursing home stay for unplanned reasons are less likely to be receiving proper assessments or care. Attempting to widen those included in...
Life Safety Code: Canopies, Trellises and Arbors
The Kansas Fire Marshal provided the following Q & A from CMS on requirements for canopies, trellises, arbors and similar structures attached to the exterior of a nursing home.
Q: Does an exterior open combustible...
Updated Medicare Rate Calculator Available
CMS corrected some technical errors that had affected the skilled nursing rate calculator. The SNF PPS Rate Calculator has now been updated on the LeadingAge National website.
Life Safety Code: Electric Fireplaces
The Kansas Fire Marshal has provided the following Q & A from CMS regarding electric fireplaces under the life safety code.
Q: Question on electric fireplaces. Is it permissible for a nursing home to have an electric...
KOTA Fixed and Bed Tax Due Date Extended
KDADS has sent out the following notice to nursing facilities regarding the technical issues last week with the KOTA web app.
Notice: The technical issues with the Kansas Organization Tracking Bed Assessment Web Application have been...
Voluntary Deferred Bed Tax Payments
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services is offering skilled nursing facilities the option of deferring their Q1 SFY19 installment payment until January 30, 2019.
View the letter from KDADS for more information.
DOL Proposes New Rule on Teens Using Power Lifts
The Department of Labor published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, “Expanding Employment, Training, and Apprenticeship Opportunities for 16 and 17 Year Olds in Health Care Occupations Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.” If finalized, the...
CMS New Rule to Streamline Emergency Preparedness
On September 17, CMS released proposed regulations to promote efficiency and transparency as well as reduce burden. Nursing home regulations were notably not included in the proposed rule, however its emergency preparedness provisions affect all Medicare...
Kansas Antipsychotic Ranking Improves to 38th in Nation
Last week the most current antipsychotic use data from CMS (1st quarter, 2018) was released. Kansas has improved to the ranking of 38th, and we have achieved the national goal of a 30% reduction...
Kansas Skills Gap Survey
LeadingAge Kansas was recently at a workforce innovation and opportunity conference in Wichita. Aging Services and Long-Term Supports and Services business leaders were severely underrepresented. The state of Kansas is trying to assess the...