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District of Columbia Update

• District Adopts New Lead Testing Policy
  • This newly implemented policy will bring a more rigorous approach to the testing.The Department of General Services will move to incorporate a 1 PPB (part-per-billion) action level for lead tests on drinking water sources in District of Columbia Public Schools and Department of Parks and Recreation Centers.
• Building Service Employees Minimum Work Week Act of 2016 
  • This bill sets a minimum number of hours for building or janitorial staff members working in buildings or a collection of buildings with 350,000 square feet or more. Included in the committee print was an exemption for licensed health care facilities or their affiliated subsidiaries. 
• Hours and Scheduling Stability Act of 2016
  • Requires food and retail establishments with 40 or more units nationwide, including franchises, to provide employees 14 days advance notice of schedules. It also requires predictability pay for cancelled shifts and requires establishments to offer hours to other workers first before hiring additional staff.  This legislation does not apply to licensed health care facilities.
• Fair Shot Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2016 
  • On June 27th, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law legislation that will raise minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2020.  Business are also expecting an increase to minimum wage under a 2014 law.  On July 1st this year, the minimum wage will increase to $11.50
  • Learn more...
• Caregiver Advise, Record and Enable Act of 2015
  • Signed on May 4, 2016 with Act Number  A21-0385.  Transmitted to Congress, Projected Law Date is Jul 11, 2016.  As introduced, this bill requires hospitals to provide patients or their legal guardian an opportunity to select a caregiver within twenty-four hours of admission to the hospital. The hospital must record the contact information for the caregiver and consult with the caregiver at least twenty-four hours before discharging the patient.  Learn more...
• Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community, Inc. Real Property Tax Exemption and Real Property Tax Relief Act of 2015
  • This bill provides real property tax relief for Lots 802 and 809 in Square 2287, owned by Ingleside Presbyterian Retirement Community, Inc. for property located at 3050 Military Road, N.W. It also requires that all real property taxes, interest, penalties, fees and other related charges assessed against the property owned, be forgiven for a period beginning with tax year 2015 through the effective date of this act.
  • LeadingAge DC Position Paper provided to DC Council
• Health-Care and Community Residence Facility, Hospice, and Home Care Licensure Amendment Act of 2016
  • This bill requires health profession employers, health care providers, facilities, or other health agencies to report certain changes in an employee's employment status due to alleged or actual misconduct within five days of the occurrence or be subject to a fine of not less than $10,000.
  • Click here for status

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Federal Update

 

HHS Proposed Rule Aims To Reduce Medicare Coverage And Payment Appeals Backlog
A proposed rule published June 30th in the Federal Register looks to stem the growing backlog of Medicare coverage and payment appeals that presently exceeds 750,000.  Read more HERE

HCBS Settings Rule and Potential Limits to Medicaid Assisted Living and Adult Day Services
In a conference call with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week, staff from LeadingAge national, its LeadingAge Nebraska, New York, Minnesota and a representative from the Adult Day Healthcare Council addressed concerns regarding new construction guidance under the Home and Community-Based Services Settings (HCBS) rule as well as other aspects of the HCBS Settings Rule. To Read More, Click HERE

CMS Bumps Life Safety Code "Go Live" Date to November 1, 2016
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in a June 20 Survey and Certification Letter that it will begin surveying facilities for compliance with the 2012 edition of the National Fire Protection Association 101 - Life Safety Code (LSC) and 2012 edition of the NFPA 99 - Health Care Facilities Code on Nov. 1, 2016.  To Read More, Click HERE

Antipsychotic Use
CMS has provided the latest data from its National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes. CMS established a national goal of reducing the use of antipsychotic medications in long-stay nursing home residents by 25 percent by the end of 2015, and 30 percent by the end of 2016. Since the National Partnership inception, there has been a decrease of 28.8 percent in the prevalence of antipsychotic medication use in long-stay nursing home residents, from 23.9 percent to 17 percent for FY 2015 quarter four. For District of Columbia nursing homes, there has been a decrease of 35.3% in the prevalence of antipsychotic medication use in long-stay nursing home residents, from 20 percent to 12.94 percent for FY 2015 quarter three.

SNF Quality Reporting Program Call July 12, 2016
CMS is hosting a SNF Quality Reporting Program Call on Tuesday July 12, 2016, from 1:30 - 3:00 PM Eastern Time. The call will include information about the reporting requirements for the new Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP), effective October 1, 2016. The Improving Medicare Post-Acute Care Transformation Act of 2014 (IMPACT Act) established the SNF QRP and requires the submission of standardized data.
The agenda for the call is as follows:

• IMPACT Act 
• Measures 
• Reporting requirements for FY 2018 payment determination 
• Consequences of failing to meet the reporting requirements 
• Reconsideration and exception/extension procedures 

Please click here to register for the call. Registration will close at 12:00 PM ET on July 12, 2016 or when available space has been filled.

 

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Resources

PBJ Resources
LeadingAge DC hosted a webinar in April on PBJ with Gold Partner, The Asbury Group IT and Business Member, Reinsel Kuntz Lesher.  The slides from the webinar, FAQ sheet, and contact information are posted on our website.

EHR Resource
The LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) has updated its electronic health record (EHR) portfolio with a new CAST 7-stage EHR Adoption Model, as well as a new interactive online guide and a new case study. These free tools, designed to help long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) provider organizations understand, plan for, identify and select the EHR system that best fit their needs, include a white paper and a product selection matrix among other items.

The Roles and Responsibilities of Not-for-Profit Boards
This Education Spotlight provides LeadingAge members information and resources on how board members can effectively fulfill their ethical, legal and fiduciary responsibilities.  Read more...

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Education and Networking

Strategies for PBJ Pain Points

• Date: July 19, 2016 at 9:00 am CST
• Description: Join BKD for a discussion on the newly mandated Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system, which will take effect July 1, 2016. This session will cover compliance for skilled nursing facilities (SNF) and provide guidance on managing common program pain points and categorizing direct care staff into the appropriate job title code to capture “double-hatters.”
• Register Here

Emerging Leaders Series

• Date: July 20, 2016 - 1st module
• Description: LeadingAge DC will join LeadingAge Maryland's newest edition of the Emerging Leaders series.  The four modules will increase supervisory and leadership skills for new and high potential managers in aging services. You can take an individual module or save and sign up for the series.
• For More Information click here
• Location:  Locations will alternate between Baltimore, Montgomery County and Prince George's County
• Register Here

The Art of Care

• LeadingAge DC has partnered with the National Gallery of Art to develop a series of workshops at the National Gallery of Art.  Participants would critically analyze original works of art to build skills that support visual literacy, communication, and empathy.
• LeadingAge DC will apply for Social Work, Nursing and Nursing Home Administrator Continuing Education
• Dates will be announced in the near future.
• Space will be limited to the first 15 registered attendees.  LeadingAge Members will have priority.
• Email Christy Kramer at ckramer@leadingage.org for more information.

LeadingAge DC and Maryland Governance Symposium

• Will be rescheduled.  Stay tuned for more information

 

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