Register now for the 64th Annual Convention & Expo, Quality Trek! Our educational sessions will offer innovative ideas to continue to improve the quality of life and quality of care for New Mexico's frail elderly and disabled.

NMHCA Executive Director Jason Espinoza along with other state association leaders traveled to Dallas yesterday to meet with leadership in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Region VI Office. The day-long meeting between federal regulators and long-term care representatives included discussions on the new survey process, deficiency trends across regions, cross-referencing (also known as “cutting and pasting” for Immediate Jeopardy and Associated Tags). See full agenda here. Jason arrived back in New Mexico late last night and will be providing a debrief of the meeting and any associated handouts provided in next week’s edition of The Bulletin.

NMHCA's Payment & Managed Care Committee and Legal & Liability Committee have been working hard to develop written policy positions and priorities for their respective committees and for the overall association. Committee members have worked hard to identify policy issues and then worked collaboratively to develop policy solutions that will direct the advocacy of the association. If you are interested in having a direct impact on the association's policy positions and priorities by participating on a committee, please contact Jason at jespinoza@nmhca.org.

Recently, it's been reported that citations for F680 have been on the rise. This tag deals with qualifications for activity directors. In New Mexico, you must complete a state-approved training course to become qualified if you are not experienced and/or degreed (there are criteria surrounding these paths.) If you do not have a qualified activity director, you may hire a contractor to review your program. If you are unsure whether your activity director is qualified, contact NMHCA. 

Late last week, The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule for CY 2019. This includes a proposal for significant outpatient therapy regulatory relief beginning January 1, 2019, by discontinuing the functional limitation reporting (FLR) requirement for Part B rehabilitation therapies (physical and occupational therapy as well as speech-language pathology services). AHCA has requested CMS fix this flawed policy for several years. The CMS fact sheet on the proposed rule is online here.

The nomination period for the Best of the Best is closed. On Wednesday, NMHCA sent notices to facilities that submitted nominations. If you submitted nominations and did not receive an email, please contact Tracy Alter at talter@nmhca.org immediately.

“Capture the Moment” is this year's theme for National Assisted Living Week, which hopes to inspire residents to realize their dreams and seize the day. NCAL offers wonderful tips and toolkits to help you in celebrating.  You may visit their website for free tools to help you celebrate! You may also order products here to assist in making your celebration memorable!