Nursing Facility Policy Alert

January 5, 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

LAST CHANCE - PLEASE COMPLETE MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY SURVEY

In order to better quantify the fiscal challenges facing nursing facilities in the State of Maryland, especially in light of possible budget cuts for FY2011, LifeSpan is requesting nursing facilities to complete a survey regarding costs associated with Medicaid eligibility delays and bad debt.  LifeSpan does appreciate your staff taking the time to complete it.  Download survey HERE and send it ASAP to Danna Kauffman at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org. 

OHCQ AND MEDICAID DISTRIBUTE TRANSMITTALS/MEMOS

At the end of December, OHCQ mailed three transmittals to nursing facilities.  In summary, the transmittals:

Transmittal 09-07:  End of Year Transmittal:  Reiterates the seven transmittals released for nursing facilities in 2009; updates the QIS process; lists the new regulations that went into effect in 2009 and contains the internal goals for OHCQ.  Please note that all transmittals can be found on the LifeSpan website by clicking HERE. 

Transmittal 09-06:  Administration of Medication for Leave of Absence of 24 Hours or Less - Restates the requirements in COMAR 10.07.02.15G.   

Transmittal 09-05:  Advancing Excellence Campaign:  Instructs nursing facilities to re-enroll in the Campaign as a result of the campaign moving into a new phase with revised goals.

Medicaid distributed one memo to nursing facilities on the MFP Peer Outreach Coordinators (dated December 21, 2009).  In summary, the memo re-emphasizes that CMS chose Maryland to participate in the Money Follows the Person Demonstration Grant.  As a result, peer counselors will be visiting nursing facilities to identify individuals in nursing facilities who desire to transition to the community.  The operational protocol is available by contacting MFP@dhmh.state.md.us.  The identified contractors are:

Contractor:  Southern Maryland Center for Independent Living; Service Area:  Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and St. Mary's; Start Date:  July 1, 2009.

Contractor:  Resources for Independence; Service Region:  Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, and Washington; Start Date:  January 1, 2010.

Contractor:  Millennium Health and Human Services Development Corporation, Inc.  Service Area:  Baltimore City; Start Date:  January 1, 2010.

Contractor:  Maryland Department of Disabilities; Service Area:  Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Harford; Start Date:  February 1, 2010.

Contractor:  Maryland Department of Disabilities; Service Region:  Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester; Start Date:  February 1, 2010. 

Contractors are required to contact the nursing facilities 48 hours in advance to arrange for peers to make personal visits to nursing facilities.  Peers will meet, in person, with residents to provide basic information about community options.  The contractor will then refer individuals interested in living in the community to the local Area Agency on Aging for further assistance.  Peers will wear identification badges and make efforts to coordinate visits with facility social workers and other staff.  Contracts may share the names of the residents identified by the Department for outreach with only the facility administrator or the designated social work staff as defined by COMAR 10.07.02.18B.  Any questions regarding the memo should be directed to MFP staff at 410-767-6770.  However, if your facility has any questions or experiences any problems with a contractor, please contact Danna Kauffman, LifeSpan, at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org or at 410-279-5572. 

TROUBLE WITH KEPRO?

LifeSpan has heard continuing concerns from providers regarding the determinations being made by KePro.  LifeSpan has discussed this issue with representatives from DHMH.  DHMH is evaluating the situation and requests that any issues with KePro be sent to Jane Sacco, Chief, Division of Long-Term Care Services at SaccoJ@dhmh.state.md.us.  Please also copy Susan Panek, DHMH, at paneks@dhmh.state.md.us and Danna Kauffman, LifeSpan, at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org. 

In addition, LifeSpan will be holding a conference call to allow providers the opportunity to discuss these issues with Jane Sacco and Susan Panek.  The conference call will be Thursday, January 14th at 1:30 PM.  Please email Danna Kauffman at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org to register for the conference call. 

 

LIFESPAN AWARDED OHCQ GRANT TO IMPROVE CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN NURSING FACILITIES

“The Office of Health Care Quality continues to maintain its collaborative relationship with LifeSpan and The Beacon Institute.  We look forward to the impact that the State Grant monies will have on improving the culture, and ultimately, the quality of care for Maryland’s senior population” says Nancy Grimm, Director of the Office of Health Care Quality.

The Maryland Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) has awarded a $150,000 grant to LifeSpan and its education affiliate, The Beacon Institute, to improve clinical outcomes and enhance the quality of life for residents in 20 challenged nursing homes in the State. Beginning in January 2010, the grant will apply nursing home culture change principles to facilities with limited resources. Funds for the grant derive from a fund comprised of civil penalty monies paid by nursing homes and other entities resulting from a variety of Medicare and/or Medicaid infractions. The Office of Health Care Quality is committed to seeking additional funds to support a second year of the project. LifeSpan is also seeking additional funds from major foundations to support full implementation.

LifeSpan believes that residents and staff in facilities with limited resources deserve the high quality environment that results from implementing the core components of The Beacon Institute's Wellspring Program: resident-centered operational structure, an empowered workforce that utilizes bottom-up decision-making, and best practices in clinical and managerial areas. The grant will be used to extend these core components, enabling participating nursing homes to transform the culture in their facilities, improve resident health and quality of life and reduce staff turnover. Participating facilities have a minimum of 100 beds and serve a high percentage of low income residents. They lack the funds to utilize existing long term care educational opportunities.

The nursing home "culture change" movement, which began about one decade ago, continues to grow throughout the United States. Various culture change models exist, focusing on creating a home-like environment where residents' needs and preferences drive facility operations. In order to meet these goals, direct care workers are given greater autonomy to care for residents. Many culture change models require that the physical structure of the facility be transformed to attain the desired deinstitutionalized effect. A unique characteristic of the WellSpring Program is that it does not require renovations and can, therefore, be implemented in any setting including those without the resources for large construction projects.

LIFESPAN'S LEGISLATIVE DAY - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH

LifeSpan will hold its Annual Legislative Day in Annapolis on Thursday, February 11th from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM.  The same format will be used as last year which utilized "roundtable discussions" with legislators, followed by a legislative reception.  The event is joint with the Health Facilities Association of Maryland.  Registration materials will be mailed out later this week.

 

DHMH ISSUES PROPOSALS AFFECTING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND THE CANCER REGISTRY

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released two, proposed regulations.  The first proposal, COMAR 10.09.24, would make certain changes to the financial eligibility process for Medicaid.  The second proposal COMAR 10.14.01, would require a nursing facility to submit a cancer report containing information that is under the control of the facility to the Secretary if the Secretary requests a cancer report on a patient who has been a resident of the nursing facility.  LifeSpan is reviewing the proposals and will submit comments.  Any questions should be directed to Danna Kauffman at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org. 

QUESTIONS???

Contact Danna Kauffman at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org.

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP!