Assisted Living Public Policy Alert

December 14, 2009

WE STILL NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU - IS YOUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCING DELAYS IN THE CERTIFICATION OF MEDICATION TECHNICIANS?

LifeSpan Network has heard increasing frustration from our members regarding the certification process of medication technicians through the Maryland Board of Nursing.  In order to quantify this issue for the Board, LifeSpan is asking each member that has pending applications/renewals before the Board to complete the attached charts.  This information will be sent to the Board for their review.  LifeSpan will be asking the Board to address the backlog as well as develop a process for processing the applications in the appropriate and required timeframe. 

Please note that there are two charts - one for initial certification and one for renewals.  The charts are in Word.  Please complete the charts in their entirety and either fax back the charts or feel free to email them to Danna Kauffman at dkauffman@lifespan-network.org.  If you have any questions, please contact Danna Kauffman.  Again, in order to bring this issue to the Board, it is imperative that we have this information

Remember - member login is "quality".

PENDING MEDICATION TECHNICIAN CHARTS 

OHCQ FORMS NOW AVAILABLE IN WORD FORMAT

OHCQ has updated its website and has now included many new forms in Word format, a step requested by LifeSpan to assist providers in completing and saving the forms electronically.  The forms now in Word format include:

• Assisted Living Uniform Disclosure Statement
• Alzheimer's Unit Disclosure Form
• Resident Specific Level of Care Waiver Application
• Licensure Standards Waiver Application
• Assisted Living Manager Assessment
• Health Care Practitioner Physical Assessment
• Assisted Living Level of Care Scoring Guideline

The forms can be downloaded HERE. 

OHCQ ISSUES CLINICAL ALERT ON PRESSURE ULCERS

OHCQ has issued a Clinical Alert on Healthcare Acquired Pressure Ulcers.  While the Clinical Alert focuses on the prevalence of pressure ulcers in long-term care settings, LifeSpan believes that it is important for all senior health care providers to be aware of this alert.  The alert can be read in its entirety HERE. 

OLDER ADULTS WAIVER PROVIDERS:  MEDICAID ISSUES TRANSMITTAL NO. 32

For providers participating in the Older Adults Waiver, please review Transmittal No. 32, which states that providers will be required to use iExchange by March 1, 2010 (as opposed to the previous February 1, 2010 deadline).  Details on the use of iExchange are contained in the memo.  In addition, there will be a WebEx Training Session on using iExchange on December 17th at 11:00 AM.  You can register for the training session by contacting Janis Grady at jgrady@kepro.org.  Download Transmittal No. 32 HERE. 

MOVING FORWARD INTO 2010 . . .

As we say goodbye to 2009 and welcome in 2010, LifeSpan is working hard to bring you the necessary resources and information to enhance your operations. So far on the calendar ---

• Review of Regulations

During 2010, LifeSpan will embark on a review of the current regulations and make recommendations to OHCQ on how and why aspects of the regulations need to be revised.  LifeSpan will be sending out a member survey in the beginning of the new year to gather this information and will be holding several member meetings on the regulations.

• Assisted Living Cafe and Networking Meetings

The Assisted Living Cafés and Networking meetings offer an opportunity to share information on survey preparation, operational and clinical issues, management topics, assisted living QA, and much more. Members and non-members may attend free of charge. Assisted Living Managers and Delegating Nurses are encouraged at attend. All meetings are facilitated by an experienced Delegating Nurse and/or Assisted Living Manager. For more information, or to host a networking meeting at your facility, please contact Joan Hyman at jhyman@LifeSpan-Network.org.

• January 12 - 11:30-1:00 PM Montgomery County Assisted Living Luncheon at Friends, 1734 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring, MD 20860 - RSVP to Donna Bussard at alu01@friendshouse.com
• January 21 - 8-9:30 AM Southern Maryland Assisted Living Café at the Hermitage at Saint John's Creek, 13325 Dowell Road, Solomons, MD 20688, RSVP to Connie Himmelberger at conniehimmelberger@comcast.net
• January 21 - 8:00-9:30 AM Baltimore County Assisted Living Café at Panera Restaurant,1825 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD, RSVP to Joan Hyman at jhyman@LifeSpan-Network.org
• January 26 - 8:30-10:00 AM - Western Maryland Assisted Living Café at Robinwood, 19800 Tranquillity Circle, Hagerstown, MD 20742, RSVP to
• February 4 - 8:00-9:30 AM - Harford County Assisted Living Café at Brightview of Bel Air, 300 Ring Factory Road, Bel Air, MD 21014 RSVP to Dottie Uzarowski@bvsl.net
• February 9 - 8:30-10:30 AM - Eastern Shore Assisted Living Café at the Dixon House, 108 N. Higgins Street, Easton, MD 21601 RSVP to Lynn Ewing at ledixonhs@goeaston.net

 

• Peer-to-Peer Meeting:  February 19th 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM

This Peer-to-Peer will focus on "Working Together to Reduce Expenses" and will be facilitated by Glenn Scherer, incoming LifeSpan President and LPS Board Member.  The meeting will discuss how LifeSpan/LPS can assist members in lowering costs by engaging in group purchasing arrangements that are beneficial particularly to free standing, smaller to mid-sized Assisted Living Providers. This event will follow the February 19th morning session on "Building an Effective Quality Assurance Program."  Registration forms for the morning seminar can be found on the LifeSpan Calendar of Events at www.lifespan-network.org. 

• Winter 2010 Assisted Living Manager 20-Hours Continuing Education Series and 80-Hours Manager Training Course

The Beacon Institute will be offering the 80-Hours Manager Training Course beginning January 13th.  In addition, the Beacon will be offering a Winter 2010 Assisted Living Manager Continuing Education Services between February 19th - March 15th.  Managers can register for the full series and earn all 20 credits needed or can sign up per class.  Detailed information and registration forms are found on the LifeSpan Calendar of Events at www.lifespan-network.org. 

SAVE - THE - DATE

LIFESPAN'S LEGISLATIVE DAY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2009

3:30 PM - 8:00 PM

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MEMBERSHIP