STATE NEWS
CARES Act/Spark Funds Audits Will Start Soon
At the direction of Kansas’s Office of Recovery, KDADS will begin conducting audits in a few weeks on the CARES Act (a.k.a. Spark) funding distributed to nursing homes in 2020. The agency will do a 5% sampling of providers who will be required to produce proof that their funds were used toward COVID-19 expenses. Note: These funds are different than the provider relief dollars deposited in provider accounts through HHS.
KDHE COVID-19 Update for Local Partners
The slides and Q&A for the 5-13-21 COVID-19 Update for Local Partners webinar are available. Here is the recording of the webinar.
The next COVID-19 Update for Local Partners will take place Thursday, May 20th at 10am CT. Register for the webinar. Password: KDHECOVID
FEDERAL NEWS
Webinar May 25th Noon – 2 PM Central on the New 21st Century Cures Act Rules for LTC Providers CMS officials will provide an overview of the implications of regulations stemming from the 21st Century Cures Act on long-term post-acute care (LTPAC) providers. Topics to be covered: The federal Interoperability Rule, ONC Information Blocking Rule, and other quality/reporting regulations and requirements. This virtual event is free, but registration is required. Save your spot now.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Join Us This Friday for Our Weekly Webinar
Make plans to join us this Friday at 10 AM. Register here.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
Need Your Feedback if You Participated in the ECHO Nursing Home Initiative
The ECHO staff and HHS/AHRQ are anxious to make the program better and need feedback from people who were close to it or participated in it. Send your quick thoughts and reactions about how ECHO went for your team to Debra debra@leadingagekansas.org. She will compile and send your feedback on to LeadingAge National for their upcoming conversation with HHS about ECHO.
Tune in to Hear From CMS and Ask Questions About the New Vaccine Interim Final Rule (IFR)
On Thursday, May 20th at 2:30 PM Central, CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality officials will talk about the HHS/CMS Interim Final Rule on COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for LTC Facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Residents, Clients and Staff, published last week. The IFR sets out requirements for nursing homes and seeks comments on the nursing home and ICF/IID content as well as on how to address vaccine issues in other residential settings like assisted living and home and community-based services. This is your chance to hear from CMS staff who wrote the IFR and pose your LeadingAge specific questions. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can join the call by registering here.
RESOURCES
Elder Care Providers & COVID-19: Cross-Cultural Perspectives Report
This Global Ageing Network report is a summary of interviews with providers and others in a dozen countries who have shared their COVID experiences up to the end of 2020. Learn from providers around the globe about how the pandemic has impacted their communities.
Vaccination Campaign Resources
Your organization can become a member of the HHS COVID Community Corps as part of the We Can Do This Campaign to help get 70% of adults in the US vaccinated by July 4. LeadingAge has signed onto the Corps. You can use the tools in the HHS toolkit whether you sign up or not. But if you do sign up, you will be part of a widespread national campaign, which might help you work with staff in your community who are still unvaccinated.
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