2023 AHCA/NCAL Annual Awards | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/2023-AHCA-NCAL-Annual-Awards.aspx | 2023 AHCA/NCAL Annual Awards | <p>The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) pays tribute to the best and brightest in long term and post-acute care. Individuals and groups honored with awards will be recognized during Delivering Solutions 23, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Denver, Colo.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/BrodeyHanson.jpg" alt="Brodey Hanson" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;width:150px;height:170px;" /><strong>Brodey Hanson, The Bridges at Ankeny, Polk County, IA </strong><br><strong>❖ AHCA Leader of the Year Award</strong></p><p>Brodey Hanson is the executive director at The Bridges at Ankeny in Polk County, IA. Since joining The Bridges at Ankeny in 2018, he has created a culture of excellence, resulting in The Bridges receiving numerous awards and accolades. Hanson’s commitment to person-centered care, staff support, and regulatory compliance inspires his staff and the greater community.<br></p><p>Hanson has especially demonstrated his leadership in turbulent times. During COVID-19 when leadership was challenged to do more with less and cultivate partnerships with other nursing facilities to survive, Hanson forged a path for his community and health care across Iowa. His previous careers as a firefighter and EMT became vital. He drove as far as five hours away to pick up personal protective equipment; he secured masks, N95s, and gowns to aid 18 nursing homes throughout the entire pandemic. <br></p><p>Also, during the pandemic, Polk County was hit with a derecho which caused another nursing home to fully evacuate its residents. Hanson responded by housing 30 evacuated residents for over a month. To aide in workforce challenges, he has helped refugees from Iran and Ukraine find housing, education, and on-the-job training as they relocated to Iowa.<br></p><p>Hanson has garnered many personal and professional awards, including being named as one of Business Record’s 2022 Forty Under 40 and the 2022-2023 Governor’s Award for Quality of Care, Iowa’s highest honor.<br></p><p>As a trusted advisor, he serves on three different Iowa boards and is sought out from two different colleges that specialize in nursing home administrator licensure. Hanson demonstrates a high standard of ethical behavior and shows compassion, empathy, and dedication to residents, staff, and the local community.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/SeasonHull.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="Season Hull" style="margin:5px;width:150px;height:170px;" /><strong>Season Hull, Franklin County Transitional Care, Preston, ID </strong><br><strong>❖ AHCA Noble Caregiver</strong></p><p>Season Hull has been a Certified Nurses’ Assistant (CNA) at Franklin County Transitional Care in Preston, ID, for the last five years. In addition to her responsibilities as a CNA, she serves as a restorative aide and staff scheduler. To ensure compliance, Hull regularly volunteers to maintain restorative equipment and devices, keeping them in safe, working order. She participates in completing quarterly assessments and assists in developing and maintaining individual care plans.<br></p><p>Hull is highly organized and understands how to promote residents’ comfort, well-being, and genuine care. Residents and their family members often comment on how responsive Hull is to their needs and how the simple changes she makes in their care help to improve their quality of life.<br></p><p>As a mentor to the other CNAs at Franklin County Transitional Care, she uses a variety of educational techniques to help other staff members develop skills based on individual resident’s needs and educates staff about the “little things” that make a big difference to each resident.<br></p><p>While working full-time, she attends school to become a registered nurse and takes care of her family and their family farm. Hull has a positive attitude and outlook on life and lifts those around her, residents and staff, each day. </p><p>She is patient and kind and treats everyone around her with respect, leaving those she interacts with feeling uplifted and more positive. She truly embodies what it means to be a noble caregiver.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/KokoOkano.jpg" alt="Koko Okano" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;width:150px;height:170px;" /><strong>Koko Okano, Florida Health Care Association, Tallahassee, FL</strong><br><strong>❖ Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality</strong></p><p>The Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award honors one individual who has changed the course of quality in the long term and post-acute care profession. The 2023 Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award honoree is Koko Okano, quality improvement and research analyst at the Florida Health Care Association.<br></p><p>With more than 20 years of experience in long term care research and quality improvement programs, Okano is held in high regard. She has demonstrated her support of the National Quality Award program, served as a Baldrige examiner, and was a catalyst for Florida’s quality improvement achievement journey. She has also served on the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Board and AHCA’s Quality Improvement Committee. She has assisted several states in their proposals and implementation of National Quality Awards and recognition as part of state value-based payment incentives. </p><p><br><br><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/MartyDuncan.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:150px;height:170px;" /><strong>Marty Duncan, Lakeview Assisted Living, Battle Creek, MI </strong><br><strong>❖ NCAL Noble Caregiver</strong></p><p>As the beloved office manager since 2013, Martha “Marty” Duncan is the heartbeat of Lakeview Assisted Living. On any given day, Duncan is typically dancing around the lobby, encouraging anyone who is in the vicinity to join her. When a resident or family member comes to her window, her world stops, and she focuses on their needs. She listens and communicates the needs and wants of each resident and family to the appropriate department and follows up regularly to ensure the resident is the number one focus. Some individuals stay in their “lane” when it comes to their jobs, but Duncan sees her role as taking care of the residents’ needs no matter what it takes.<br></p><p>Duncan is always there to help other departments, whether it’s setting up a table so a resident can dine with family at the last minute or sorting through a resident’s closet to ensure that person feels dignified and put together for the day. She takes the initiative, even if those extra tasks mean working after hours to catch up on the duties she didn’t get to during the day. <br></p><p>Duncan is the go-to person for anything that is needed. People go to her for a daily dose of inspiration, a smile, a laugh, a listening ear—no matter the need, she is there to encourage, validate, or offer encouragement. She makes a tremendous impact on the lives of residents, families, staff, and co-workers and creates a legacy of love at Lakeview Assisted Living.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/CeciliaOwsley.jpg" alt="Cecilia Owsley" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;width:150px;height:170px;" /><strong>Cecilia Owsley, Guardian Angel Homes, Post Falls, ID </strong><br><strong>❖ NCAL Leader of the Year</strong></p><p>As chief operations officer and chief nursing officer, Cecilia Owsley utilizes her unique talents to help nursing and administration teams across three states and four facilities lead each of their communities to higher levels of person-centered care. Owsley makes it a priority to mentor leaders in her organization and help develop new programs such as LeadWell, a branch on the LiveWell program tree, to encourage and develop a spectacular team. She guides her team with authenticity, integrity, humility, empathy, and transparency.<br></p><p>Additionally, Owsley advocates at the state and federal level for better care for seniors. As a board member for the Idaho Health Care Association and a state representative for the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), she speaks on behalf of those whose voices may otherwise go unheard, ensuring that seniors, especially those struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia, are not forgotten.<br></p><p>She has a genuine passion for embracing holistic health and taking a true resident-centered approach. Owsley has previously worked with AHCA/NCAL on quality improvement initiatives, the Alzheimer’s Association as a guest speaker, and Goodwill Industries as a youth mentor. She also collaborated with A Mind for all Seasons to introduce The Enhance Protocol, a holistic program designed to slow or stop the advancement of Alzheimer’s symptoms, to the seniors at Guardian Angel Homes.<br></p><p>Owsley prioritizes quality assurance and performance improvement by taking a staff-led approach rather than a leadership-led approach. As a result, Guardian Angel Homes has seen better resident outcomes and satisfaction, as well as enhanced teamwork and staff empowerment.</p><p><br></p><p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/SarahSilva.jpg" alt="Sarah Silva" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;width:150px;height:170px;" />Sarah Silva, Arete Living, Wilsonville, OR<br>❖ Jan Thayer Pioneer Award</p><p>Sarah Silva serves as president of Arete Living and has a strong dedication to senior living, starting as a caregiver with Avamere (previously part of Arete Living). She possesses over 20 years of experience across all aspects of senior living, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, hospice, home health, and home care.<br></p><p>Most recently, after serving as president of the Senior Living Division of Avamere for four years, Silva executed the spin-off of the division into the standalone company of Arete Living, which included transitioning 28 managed communities to the new Arete Living brand. </p><p>Under her leadership, Silva continues to drive change at Arete Living through the organization’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). In 2020, she launched the DEIB initiative that cultivated a company culture where everyone feels valued and part of a collaborative team. She prioritizes career advancement and ensures there are career paths for employees to grow within Arete Living and reach their career goals.<br></p><p>Silva is known across the long term care sector as a leader driven to advance senior living and quality. Her involvement with AHCA/NCAL is extensive and includes serving on the NCAL Board of Directors as the secretary/treasurer, chairing the NCAL quality committee, serving as an Oregon State Leader, and as part of the NCAL Assisted Living Task Force committee. She also previously served as a Baldrige Quality Award examiner for AHCA/NCAL. <br></p><p>Silva participates in other advocacy groups, including the Oregon Health Care Association as chair of the Assisted Living Council and a member of the Quality and Compliance Committee. Silva is the epitome of dedication to quality, innovation, education, and advocacy. Her commitment to senior living and person-centered care is unwavering. <br></p> | The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) pays tribute to the best and brightest in long term and
post-acute care. Individuals and groups honored with awards will be recognized during Delivering Solutions 23, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Denver, Colo. | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" height="493" src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/trophy.jpg" width="740" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | Quality Awards |
Increase in Use of Agency Nursing Staff from 2019-2022 | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/By-the-Numbers.aspx | Increase in Use of Agency Nursing Staff from 2019-2022 | <p>As nursing homes continue to face historic job losses, to maintain quality and provide a safe environment for residents, providers use more temporary or agency nurses to serve as certified nurse aides (CNA), licensed practical nurses (LPN), and registered nurses (RN). Pre-pandemic in Q4 2019, agency staff were providing 3 percent of the total nursing staff in nursing homes across the country. Three years later in Q4 2022, agency staff were providing 11 percent of the total nursing staff. As shown below, every state and region in the nation has seen a similar increase in agency nurse utilization. </p><p><a href="/Issues/2023/Fall/Documents/Fall23_BTN.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank"><img class="ms-asset-icon ms-rtePosition-4" src="/_layouts/images/icpdf.png" alt="" />By the Numbers</a><br></p> | Increase in Use of Agency Nursing Staff from 2019-2022 | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Articles/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/senior_woman_nurse_1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Workforce | By the Numbers |
Caring for Residents with Dementia and Avoiding Psychotropics | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Caring-for-Residents-with-Dementia-and-Avoiding-Psychotropics.aspx | Caring for Residents with Dementia and Avoiding Psychotropics | <p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/caregiving.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:200px;height:200px;" />Dementia manifests in psychological and behavioral symptoms that alter nursing home residents’ behavior. For example, a resident may communicate an unmet need by becoming physically aggressive. Such manifestations can make it challenging for long term and post-acute care providers to uphold residents’ autonomy while also providing a safe environment. Providers may try to balance these needs by prescribing psychotropic medications to manage these behavioral symptoms. How ever, this approach isn’t always the best option for the resident or the facility. <br></p><p>For residents, the benefits of psychotropic medication may not outweigh the higher risk for injury or ailment. Residents’ age and frailty elevate their risk for these medications’ many side effects. Additionally, although psychotropic medication may decrease a resident’s behaviors, this may be due to the medication’s sedative quality, which can cause other issues such as an increased risk for falls. <br></p><p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is currently auditing facilities’ use of psychotropic drugs, particularly antipsychotics. This process will examine whether facilities have documented appropriate diagnosis and indications for use of these medications. When CMS identifies coding errors during this audit, it will adjust facilities’ quality measure ratings.<br></p><p>Whenever possible, facilities should strive to use non-pharmacologic interventions rather than medications. To reduce psychotropic medication use and enhance care for residents with dementia, directors of nursing services (DNSs) can take the following steps.<br></p><p dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><strong>1. Review the Facility Assessment. </strong>The Facility Assessment can identify care and service areas in place and gaps to fill regarding dementia care. Ask questions such as: Do staff know how to communicate with residents who have dementia? Is programming in place to bolster residents’ abilities and provide meaningful engagement?</p><p><strong>2. Screen and assess residents. </strong>A pre-admission screening helps to ensure the facility can meet a potential resident’s needs. If the facility does not have necessary resources in-house, the DNS should discuss with other leadership whether collaborating with consultants in the community can meet the resident’s needs during his or her stay. Once the resident has been admitted to the facility, staff should complete a thorough assessment in a timely manner. Ask questions such as:</p><p>a. When does the resident wake up? </p><p>b. What upsets the resident? </p><p>c. What works best to calm the resident if he or she becomes anxious or upset? </p><p>d. What activities does the resident like to do at home?</p><p><strong>3. Develop a person-centered care plan.</strong> After the assessment, caregivers should then implement individualized, person-centered interventions that will help meet the resident’s needs and goals. Person-centered care planning is essential to quality care. Avoid general interventions; assist staff to develop interventions specific to that particular resident. Also, ensure that goals are achievable and interventions are appropriate. For example, when a resident with dementia has short-term memory loss, reminding the resident to ask for help before transferring to reduce the risk for falls is not an appropriate intervention. Once the care plan has been developed, ensure there is a process to communicate interventions to direct care staff so they know the best way to care for the resident.</p><p><strong>4. Involve the family as soon as possible.</strong> Residents with dementia can’t always speak for themselves. To understand their wishes, family caregivers are an invaluable source of insight into the resident’s personal story. Residents and their families who are involved can work as partners to improve the quality of care and safety for all. They are valuable members of the health care team who offer a unique perspective on the care provided in a facility. It is essential that family members know and understand what interventions are in place and why. It is also important that they feel they can voice concerns or share ideas with staff regarding their loved one’s care. Understanding the resident’s needs and preferences, as well as the family’s, is an important part of the relationship.</p><p><strong>5. Communicate.</strong> Communicating clearly with residents and family members is essential to ensure that interventions are appropriate, and effective communication begins with listening. Staff and leadership can do this by:</p><ul><li>Using open-ended questions.</li><li>Acting on what the resident and family members say.</li><li>Helping residents articulate concerns.</li><li>Getting a translator if needed to support the communication.</li><li>Sharing resident preferences with everyone on the care team.</li></ul><p>If there is a problem regarding the behavior of the resident, be honest with the family and work with them to provide the best way to resolve the issue. If an issue cannot be resolved, discuss that with the family as well and work with them to find another facility that will take in the resident that will be a better fit. <br></p><p><strong>6. Choose the right staff.</strong> Caring for residents with dementia takes a special person, and not everyone is cut out for it. Everyone has their strengths; the DNS must utilize those strengths for the greatest good for both residents and staff. Look for those who are team players with skills and talents such as patience, compassion, flexibility, and the ability to problem solve.</p><p><strong>7. Knowledge of dementia and related disease processes. </strong>Clinical leadership and staff should understand the impact dementia has on the resident’s physical, psychosocial, and psychological well-being. Focus interventions on upholding residents’ abilities while reducing the risks as much as possible. </p><h3>Train Staff to Care for Residents with Dementia</h3><p>Providing care to residents with dementia requires specialized training. Staff need to understand how to provide care while maintaining resident dignity and safety for both residents and staff. Training also improves assessment skills, choices of interventions, and the ability to de-escalate a fraught situation. Utilize resources such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, and/or nurse practitioner to provide this training. CMS also offers a training program called <a href="https://qsep.cms.gov/pubs/HandinHand.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]">CMS Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes</a> that emphasizes person-centered care for residents with dementia through short, on-demand webinars and videos.<br></p><p>Regardless of how a resident’s symptoms of dementia manifest, patience and respect are essential in caregiving. Do not rush. Rather, meet the resident where he or she is and respect what the resident is feeling. Remember to look beyond the diagnosis and see the person. <br></p><p>Some suggestions for how staff should interact with residents with dementia include:<span><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/DeniseWinzeler.jpg" alt="Denise Winzeler" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;width:200px;height:227px;" /></span></p><ul><li>Recognize the resident as a whole and unique individual.</li><li>Build on the resident’s strengths.</li><li>Support the resident to do as much as possible.</li><li>Connect through laughter and touch.</li><li>Just be with the resident and listen to them.</li><li>Be cognizant of one’s own tone and body language. </li></ul><p>Providing quality of care to all residents is the ultimate goal. Using the above tips will assist the DNS to create an environment that enhances care with non-pharmacologic interventions. </p><p><em>Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, is a curriculum development specialist for the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN).</em><br></p> | CMS is currently auditing facilities’ use of psychotropic drugs, particularly antipsychotics. This process will examine whether facilities have documented appropriate diagnosis and indications for use of these medications. | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/caregiving.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Dementia | Focus on Caregiving |
Changes in the Acuity of Patients Admitted to SNF After 3-Day Hospital Stay During Pandemic | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Changes-in-the-Acuity-of-Patients-Admitted-to-SNF-After-3-Day-Hospital-Stay-During-Pandemic.aspx | Changes in the Acuity of Patients Admitted to SNF After 3-Day Hospital Stay During Pandemic | <p>In October 2019, the Medicare Part A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) payment model transitioned from the Resource Utilization Groups, Version 4 (RUG-IV) case-mix payment model, which focused on resource use, to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), which focuses on patient characteristics. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 SNF prospective payment system (PPS) Final Rule,<sup>1</sup> the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a 4.6 percent parity adjustment (phased in over 2 years) as the agency concluded the PDPM was not implemented in a budget-neutral manner. <br></p><p>Before finalizing the parity adjustment, CMS modified the approach based in part upon American Health Care Association (AHCA) analysis and comments on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which we referred to as COVID spillover. However, AHCA remains concerned that there has been a permanent change in the acuity of Medicare beneficiaries admitted to a SNF following a traditional 3-day inpatient qualifying hospital stay (QHS) that CMS must consider as the agency contemplates adjustments to the PDPM. <br></p><p>The below figures and discussion highlight some of the comments2 AHCA submitted to CMS in response to the CMS FY 2024 SNF PPS Proposed Rule3 based upon an analysis conducted by Avalere Health on behalf of AHCA. Specifically, Avalere identified SNF stays using 100 percent Medicare standard analytic files (SAFs) from October 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022. SNF stays with a diagnosis code or with a condition code signifying the stay utilized a 3-day acute stay waiver were not included in the analyses. Hospital claims were then identified to generate the trend charts reflected in Figures 1-3 for inpatient hospital Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) weight, QHS length of stay, and the percentage hospital discharges to SNF with inpatient complications and comorbidities codes. <br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/medicare_Fig1.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-4" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:673px;" /> </p><p style="text-align:left;">A strong indicator suggesting that the traditional SNF Part A population admitted following a 3-day QHS is different since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic is the significant increase in the average MS-DRG weight derived from hospital discharge claims depicted in Figure 1. The MS-DRG weight increased significantly with the onset of the pandemic, and during the major subsequent case rate surge periods, and remains significantly elevated above pre-pandemic levels. Other Avalere MDS primary medical condition category findings discussed in the AHCA FY 2024 SNF PPS Proposed Rule comments2 provide supporting evidence of the notable and persistent shift upwards for higher acuity clinically complex conditions being admitted to SNF since the onset of the pandemic. <br></p><p>Figure 2 shows that with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, those beneficiaries that were admitted to a SNF following a 3-day or longer inpatient hospital stay had significantly longer inpatient stays than prior to the pandemic. The hospital length of stay increases spiked during COVID-19 case rate surges and remained elevated following the surges. <br></p><p>The increased duration of the hospital stay prior to SNF Part A admission could be the result of some combination of higher acuity patients and/or lack of availability of SNF beds. Regardless of the source of the increased inpatient length of stay prior to the SNF admission, it is well known that long hospital stays prior to a SNF admission are associated with additional clinical complexities or conditions acquired during the hospital stay. For example, incontinence and pressure ulcers can be the result of a long hospital stay, and the trends discussed in the AHCA FY 2024 SNF PPS Proposed Rule comments<sup>2</sup> provide supporting evidence that the ongoing increased patient acuity for SNF Part A admissions than was observed prior to the pandemic might be related to the longer hospital stays prior to SNF admission.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/medicare_Fig2-3.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:744px;height:1050px;" /> </p><p style="text-align:left;">We anticipate that if the duration of inpatient hospital stays starts trending towards pre-pandemic levels, then the reported rates of incontinence, pressure ulcers, and other hospital-acquired conditions noted on the 5-day SNF assessment that elevate PDPM case-mix indexes (CMIs) will also show reductions. <br></p><p>A key driver of the MD-DRG weights for SNF admissions following a 3-day inpatient stay reflected in the Avalere Figure 1 trendline is reflected in the Avalere Figure 3 trend of percentage of SNF stays with complications and comorbidities (CC or MCC) in the acute hospitalization prior to the SNF stay. We note a strong parallel between the trendlines, suggesting that much of the increases in the MD-DRG weights are due to the increased presence of chronic condition comorbidities for SNF admissions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the acuity of patients being admitted to SNF following a 3-day inpatient stay remains higher than pre-pandemic levels. Such increased complexity has increased SNF PDPM CMIs since the onset of the pandemic, and they will unlikely return to pre-pandemic levels unless the trends of the hospital CC/MCC profile of SNF admissions return to pre-pandemic levels. </p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries that were able to be admitted to a SNF without a 3-day QHS were those in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans or those in accountable care organizations (ACOs). A recent CMS analysis<sup>4</sup> demonstrated that the 3-day waiver use by ACOs reduced costs while maintaining outcomes. Another recent study5 under a CMS initiative demonstrated the potential of SNF skill-in-place waivers to reduce hospitalizations and improve outcomes for long-stay nursing facility residents. <br></p><p>With the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023, beneficiaries not in a MA plan or an ACO are no longer eligible for the benefits of the 3-day QHS waiver and may instead require hospitalization, increasing out-of-pocket costs and increasing risk of hospital-acquired conditions. AHCA intends to conduct and share with CMS an ongoing analysis of trends discussed in this article related to the impacts on the clinical characteristics of traditional Medicare Part A SNF 3-day QHS admissions during the post-pandemic era. </p><p><span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">References</span><br class="ms-rteFontSize-1"><span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">1. <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-08-03/pdf/2022-16457.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-08-03/pdf/2022-16457.pdf</a></span><br class="ms-rteFontSize-1"><span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">2. <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/comment/CMS-2023-0048-0031" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">https://www.regulations.gov/comment/CMS-2023-0048-0031</a></span><br class="ms-rteFontSize-1"><span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">3. <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-04-10/pdf/2023-07137.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-04-10/pdf/2023-07137.pdf</a></span><br class="ms-rteFontSize-1"><span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">4. <a href="https://innovation.cms.gov/data-and-reports/2023/snf-waiver-summary" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">https://innovation.cms.gov/data-and-reports/2023/snf-waiver-summary</a></span><br class="ms-rteFontSize-1"><span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">5. <a href="https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610%2823%2900464-4/fulltext" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610(23)00464-4/fulltext</a></span><br></p><p><em>Daniel Ciolek is associate vice president, therapy advocacy, for the American Health Care Association.</em><br></p> | Has there been a permanent change in the acuity of Medicare beneficiaries admitted to a SNF following a traditional 3-day inpatient qualifying hospital stay? | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Articles/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/0920_News1.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Medicare;Readmissions | Medicare |
Behind the Program | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Examiners-Judges.aspx | Behind the Program | <p>AHCA/NCAL applauds the hard work of the 2023 National Quality Award Examiners, Judges, and Quality Award Board for their time and dedication to improving long term care through the Quality Award journey. </p><p><br></p><p></p><table cellspacing="0" class="ms-rteTable-0" style="width:100%;height:958px;"><tbody><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;"><strong>Gold Judges</strong><br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">James Gordon<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Teresa Creedon<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jacqueline Vance<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Megan Corcoran<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Thomas Martin<br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Brian Lassiter<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Joan Woods</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;"></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jamie Anthony<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Melissa McCorquodale<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Tracy Connor<br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cathy Bergland<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kelly Smith</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;"><strong>Silver Examiners</strong><br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jeff Calhoun<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Michelle Stuercke<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Trinna Kirkland<br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Gary Floss</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kenneth Thompson</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Addison Platt</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jennifer Dunk<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Michelle Walters<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Wendy LaBate<br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Geoffrey S. Calhoun</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kevin Grayson</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Alana Wolfe</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jennifer Gleason<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Misty Linder<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Wendy Meinert<br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kevin Deats</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Koko Okano</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Alexis Pham</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jennifer Gross<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Monica Claflin<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Wendy Walter<br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Maryruth Butler<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kristen Thrun</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Amy Lee</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jennifer Leatherbarrow<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Nicolette Reilly (Merino)<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Willow Moskyok<br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Paul L. Grizzell<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Laura Kinney</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Amy Malkin</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jennifer Peters<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Nina Monroe<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;"></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Reed Mick<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Lori Cooper</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Angel Normandin</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jennifer Svoboda<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Phillip Donnelly<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;"><strong>Quality Award Board</strong><br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Renee Ridling<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Lynn Goldman</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Anna Fisher</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jill Snow<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Racey Gasior<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cathy Bergland</td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;"></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Margaret Eggleston</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Brooke Francis</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jodee Ewbank<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Rachelle Oliverson<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cathy Sunlin <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;"><span><span></span><strong>Gold Examiners</strong><span></span></span></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Margaret Silebi</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Casie Rebimbas</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Jody Belknap<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Rebecca Gagnon<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Christopher Laxton <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Alice Lewis<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Maria Wong</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cathy Bergland<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Johanna Volm<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Renee Ridling<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Emily Buckles <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Allan Engelauf<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Mary Kay Johnston</td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cathy Sunlin<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Katherine Joy<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Rita Vann<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Gary Kelso <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Alycia Taylor<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Maureen Carland<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cheryl Cooper<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kathy Holland<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Rose Riedmaier<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Heather Herlyn <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Andria Coleman<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Miriam Kmetzo<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cindy Krull-Williams<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Katrina Harris<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Sai Chantavy<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">James Gordon <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Brenda Hall<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Ralph Peterson<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Cindy Morris<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kendra Ferrero<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Samantha Vosloo<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">James Krob <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Carl Whittenburg<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Raymond Bouchard<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Crystal Scroggin<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Khadija Sheikh<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Sandra Sarza<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Maureen Carland <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Dahlia Kroth</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Rena Pomaville<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Deborah Bisel<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Kristen Schmidt<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Tamara Lund<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Megan Corcoran <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Deborah Manzo</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Robert Humrickhouse<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Debra Fournier<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">L. Paige Powell<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Tammy Cassidy<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Paul Grizzell <br></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Debra Durbin</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Robert Noga<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Elicia Jacobson<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Lakecia Thomas<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Tammy Kelly<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Shauna Kapsner </td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Denise Ogden</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Rosemary McLaughlin<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Emily Hanson<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Linda Estes<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Tarrah Quinlan<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;"></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Douglas Wong</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Shauna Kapsner<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Etan Bleichman<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Liz Cochran<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Tawnya Dennis<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;"></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableOddRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Graham Hull</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Stan Butkus<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Heather Herlyn<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">MaryPat Carhart<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;">Terri Silkett<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;height:35px;"></td></tr><tr class="ms-rteTableEvenRow-0"><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;">Gregory Leoce</td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;">Steve George<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;">Jack Ellison<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;">Maureen Brown<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableEvenCol-0" rowspan="1" style="width:17%;">Tessa Peterson<br></td><td class="ms-rteTableOddCol-0" rowspan="1" colspan="1" style="width:17%;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong><br></strong></p><p><strong>Thank You to Sponsors</strong><br>The National Quality Award Program is proudly sponsored by AHCA/NCAL Associate Business Members: PharMerica, Pinnacle Quality Insight, Prevail by First Quality, HealthCap, and MatrixCare.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/Articles/PublishingImages/2023/sponsors23.png" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:586px;height:140px;" /><br></p><p><br></p><p>Visit <a href="https://www.ahcancal.org/Quality/National-Quality-Award-Program/Pages/default.aspx" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">ahcancal.org/QualityAward</a> to share your story and submit a 2024 application.</p><p><br></p><p><span class="ms-rteFontSize-1">Revised 9.26.23</span><br></p> | AHCA/NCAL applauds the hard work of the 2023 National Quality Award Examiners, Judges, and Quality Award Board for their time and dedication to improving long term care through the Quality Award journey. | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Articles/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/GoldSilver.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | Convention |
Exhibitors & Associate Business Members | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Exhibitors-Associate-Business-Members-.aspx | Exhibitors & Associate Business Members | <p><a href="/Issues/2023/Fall/Documents/Fall23%20Exhibitors_ABM%20.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank"><img class="ms-asset-icon ms-rtePosition-4" src="/_layouts/images/icpdf.png" alt="" />Exhibitors & Associate Business Members </a> <br>(as of July 12, 2023)</p> | Here's a list of this year's Exhibitors and Associate Business Members. | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/CO_sky.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Caregiving | Convention |
Get Involved with Population Health at Delivering Solutions 23 | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Get-Involved-with-Population-Health-at-Delivering-Solutions-23.aspx | Get Involved with Population Health at Delivering Solutions 23 | <p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/fall23_PHM.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:200px;height:200px;" />Since 2019, AHCA/NCAL has offered the Population Health Management (PHM) Summit in Washington, D.C., for those interested in learning more about PHM and managed care and looking to network with those outside their local communities. This year, Delivering Solutions 23, AHCA/NCAL’s annual convention, will be the place for those curious about PHM and who may not have had the opportunity to attend past summits in Washington, D.C. Delivering Solutions 23 will take place in Denver, Colo., on October 2-4.</p><p>“With Delivering Solutions 23 being our largest attended event, we want to ensure as many people have the chance to learn and get more actively engaged in the rapidly evolving value-based care space,” said Nisha Hammel, associate vice president of population health management at AHCA/NCAL. “By providing attendees with these unique long term care focused educational and networking opportunities, it creates opportunities for those who are thinking of entering and leading in the realm of managed care and population health.”</p><p>Education sessions will be offered Monday, October 2 through Wednesday, October 4. There will be a panel of innovative assisted living providers who will discuss their engagement in PHM, why they chose to participate in PHM, and how they chose to partner with other organizations. Other sessions to note in particular include the following:</p><h3>I-SNP Journeys: Insights into Provider Paths to Participation </h3><p>Special needs plans (SNPs) continue to experience rapid growth. Thirty one percent of all institutional SNPs (I-SNPs) are AHCA member provider-led in 2023. This session will feature a panel of providers who have chosen different paths to I-SNP participation, from partnering to independent builds. Hear about the factors that influenced their journeys, the what and how, and the lessons learned.</p><h3>From Threat to Opportunity: The LTC-Focused ACO Model </h3><p>The perception of accountable care organizations (ACOs) is steadily shifting among long term care (LTC) providers. Once viewed as entities intent on diverting Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) patients away from skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and driving down lengths of stay, LTC owners and operators now see ACOs as a potential growth opportunity. A growing number of physician groups and “payviders” have developed LTC-focused ACO models, and they are actively courting operators to serve as partners. Highlights of the session include the strategic, financial, and operational considerations for participating in a Medicare ACO. This session will provide LTC providers with practical guidance for assessing their opportunities.</p><h3>Provider-Owned Networks: Collaborate Together for Value-Based Reimbursement and Better Quality Outcomes </h3><p>With the increase in market penetration of Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care, even the savviest providers are being challenged. Provider-owned networks are helping providers improve clinical outcomes and access value-based reimbursement, which has eluded LTC and post-acute care providers without the volume to do so. Under state affiliate leadership, provider members have created provider-owned networks in a growing number of states to negotiate collaboratively with managed care payers to improve outcomes and efficiencies. This session highlights participation in provider-owned networks as a strategy to improve providers’ position with managed care and the unique quality and clinically integrated capabilities each network achieves.</p><h3>Resetting Expectations: Key Antitrust Considerations for Provider Networks in the Biden Era of Enhanced Antitrust Enforcement </h3><p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/NatalieVisnick.jpg" alt="Natalie Visnick" class="ms-rtePosition-1" style="margin:5px;width:200px;height:227px;" />This session will explore the evolving landscape of federal antitrust enforcement, including the recent withdrawal of some of the enforcers’ longstanding guidance, and what it means for provider networks and other approaches to PHM. The program will focus on the opportunities for network development covering post-acute and LTC services and the likely “reset” of regulatory expectations regarding provider efforts to clinically or financially integrate.</p><p>The full PHM track listing with dates and times is available on the Delivering Solutions 23 website at AHCADeliveringSolutions.org. </p><p><em>Natalie Visnick is senior manager of public affairs for the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living.</em><br></p> | Learn more about managed care and population health during educational sessions. | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/fall23_PHM.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Population Health Management | Population Health Management |
Inspiring Excellence and Improving Lives in Long Term Care | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Inspiring-Excellence-and-Improving-Lives-in-Long-Term-Care.aspx | Inspiring Excellence and Improving Lives in Long Term Care | <p>Long term care providers nationwide are improving lives daily through the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) National Quality Award Program. The program is based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, nationally recognized criteria that lead to performance excellence in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, workforce, customers, operations, and knowledge management. Participants move through progressive award levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold, each requiring a more detailed demonstration of superior performance.<br></p><p>This summer, AHCA/NCAL announced the names of nearly 500 long term care organizations that have been recognized with a 2023 National Quality Award—399 Bronze awards in 47 states, 72 Silver awards in 27 states, and an elite two Gold awards.</p><p><a href="/Issues/2023/Fall/Documents/Fall23_QualityAward.pdf" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank"><img class="ms-asset-icon ms-rtePosition-4" src="/_layouts/images/icpdf.png" alt="" />Fall23_QualityAward.pdf</a><br></p> | The AHCA/NCAL National Quality Awards is based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, nationally recognized criteria that lead to performance excellence in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, workforce, customers, operations, and knowledge management. | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Articles/PublishingImages/740%20x%20740/QualityAward_logos.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | Quality Awards |
Mark Parkinson's Top Five Reasons to Attend | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Mark-Parkinson's-Top-Five.aspx | Mark Parkinson's Top Five Reasons to Attend | <p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/MarkParkinson_23.jpg" alt="Mark Parkinson" class="ms-rtePosition-2" style="margin:5px;width:208px;height:234px;" />"This year marks an important and meaningful shift to a new name for the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo: DELIVERING SOLUTIONS 23. But it is not just a name change, it’s our mission and promise to you," Mark Parkinson, President & CEO.</p><p><strong>1. To learn from colleagues in both formal education sessions and informal discussions. </strong></p><p>We’ve worked hard to create a program that addresses the needs of providers across the spectrum, resulting in a mix of intensive sessions and specialized education tracks along with ample opportunities for informal networking. <br></p><p>The conference faculty is made up of experts in long term, assisted living, and post-acute care who are passionate about sharing what they know. Many of the speakers are on the same path as attendees, making their presentations both relevant and actionable.<br></p><p>These four days of programming will provide you with inspiration and more than a few new ideas to share and implement. </p><p><strong><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/ExpoHall.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:326px;height:219px;" />2. To explore cutting-edge advancements and collaborative solutions at the Expo Hall.</strong></p><p>For both exhibitors and attendees, our Expo Hall provides an incredible opportunity to foster meaningful connections and advancements in long term, assisted living, and post-acute care.<br></p><p><em>For Attendees</em><br>Whether you seek top-notch products or specialized services, you will find a wide range of cost-saving solutions in the Expo Hall. <br></p><p>We encourage you to spend both days interacting with exhibitors. A complimentary lunch will be provided in the hall on both days, creating opportunities for seamless networking.<br></p><p><em>For Exhibitors</em><br>The Expo Hall, as a non-competing environment, is designed to ensure that vendors receive undivided attention, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration. Attendees are eager to engage with vendor partners as they seek solutions to their everyday challenges. <br></p><p>Exhibitors are welcome to partake in any non-ticketed offerings, including educational sessions, product demonstrations, access to our event app, and more. </p><p><strong>3. To celebrate AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award recipients, winners of the AHCA and NCAL Awards, and all those dedicated to providing quality care at the Elevating Excellence Awards Ceremony. </strong></p><p>Bring your energy, enthusiasm, and hearty cheers as your peers from across the nation are celebrated for their accomplishments and commitment to excellence at the Elevating Excellence Awards.<br></p><p>Keep the post-ceremony excitement alive at the Mile High Jamboree—an inaugural event for all conference attendees, with food, drinks, fun activities, and a live band to dance the night away!</p><p><strong><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/networking2.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-1" alt="" style="margin:5px;" />4. To connect with peers—new and old—who share the same passions, goals, and challenges.</strong></p><p>There is nothing else like a convention experience. Take it all in. Introduce yourself to fellow attendees, exhibitors, and speakers, and discover all the areas you have in common.<br></p><p>Consider inviting staff members from various departments to foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. This will empower them to bring back fresh ideas to share and implement.<br></p><p>Attend the PAC event and support the association’s advocacy efforts in Washington, DC, to advance critical issues impacting long term care.</p><p><strong>5. To experience the city of Denver and Rocky Mountain views.</strong></p><p>The Mile High City of Denver is located on rolling plains just east of the foothills within view of the Front Range, a series of formidable snowcapped peaks that rise to 14,000 feet above sea level.<br>In addition to this breathtaking backdrop, Denver has emerged as one of the top dining locations in the country with a thriving culinary scene.</p><h3>See you in Denver this fall!</h3><p>Be sure to visit <a href="http://www.ahcadeliveringsolutions.org/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]">AHCADeliveringSolutions.org</a> for more information. You will find a complete event schedule, list of all education sessions with times, details about the keynote speakers, and a virtual Expo Hall to explore. If you work in long term, assisted living, or post-acute care, this is the must-attend event of the year.</p><p><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.ahcadeliveringsolutions.org/" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank"><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/DeliveringSolutions.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" /></a><br></p> | DELIVERING SOLUTIONS 23
AHCA/NCAL CONVENTION & EXPO
OCTOBER 1-4, 2023 | DENVER, CO | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/BlueBear.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Caregiving | Convention |
Spotlight on a National Quality Award Provider | https://www.providermagazine.com/Issues/2023/Fall/Pages/Spotlight-on-a-National-Quality-Award-Provider.aspx | Spotlight on a National Quality Award Provider | <p><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/Good-Sam-Woodland.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" alt="" style="margin:5px;" />The Good Samaritan Society – Woodland in Brainerd, Minn., was one of 72 long term care organizations, the only dual skilled nursing center/assisted living community, and the only recipient in Minnesota to be recognized with a 2023 Silver Achievement in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). The National Quality Awards Program recognizes long term care organizations that meet progressively rigorous standards of performance. The Woodland team and other Silver recipients can now move on to the Gold Excellence in Quality Award, the final and most prestigious of the three distinct milestones in the program. In 2018, Good Samaritan Society – Woodland received the Bronze award, the first level of the program.<br></p><p>Kelsey Moulzolf, administrator of Good Samaritan Society – Woodland, shares the inspiration behind the commitment to strive for continuous quality improvement excellence and offers advice on taking the next step in the Quality Award journey.</p><h3>Tell us about Good Samaritan Society – Woodland.</h3><p>We have 40 nursing home beds and 135 assisted living apartments in north-central Minnesota. Our Woodland campus offers accessible walking paths within a park-like setting. We provide senior care, wellness services, and amenities for our residents and their families to enjoy a high quality of life and care tailored to their needs. Best of all are our amazing residents and team. I’m proud to work alongside the hardest working, most passionate team. </p><h3>How did you start your career in long term care?</h3><p>I started as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) throughout high school and college in my hometown of Pierz, Minn. After college I was not sure where I wanted to go within health care. I received a job as an activity director at an assisted living facility, and I loved it. I was accepted into the Good Samaritan Society’s Administrators-in-Training Program. I started out in St. James as the administrator and here I am today in Brainerd.</p><h3>What did it mean to your team to be recognized with a Bronze Award?</h3><p>I’ve talked with staff and leaders involved in the bronze application process, and it means a lot to the staff that they received bronze and now silver! When we received the Bronze Award, we passed out bronze pins for all staff to wear, and they loved it. Everyone really appreciated the hard work that was put into the process. </p><h3><img src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/Good-Sam-Woodland2.jpg" class="ms-rtePosition-2" alt="" style="margin:5px;" />What are the lessons learned from working on the silver application?</h3><p>Working on the silver application helped us understand our quality process, not only for the Woodland campus, but throughout the Society of Good Sam campuses. It helped us find ways we could improve our quality, and in other areas, it reinforced why our quality is so good. It helped me find bigger meaning in why we have the policies and procedures we have in place. </p><h3>How did you get started on silver?</h3><p>We started our application process late. Summer kind of flew by, and in August 2022 we made the decision we were going to apply for silver. We got together as a team, which included the director of nursing, the assisted living director, our quality assurance and performance improvement coordinator, and me. We met once a week, and even twice and three times a week closer to the deadline. We used the Quality Award resources, watched the videos, and brainstormed how we were going to answer the questions. We also identified our processes, procedures, and policies during these discussions. We put a lot of time and effort into it, and it made a difference.</p><h3>What advice would you give to other organizations?</h3><p>Applying is worth it. It not only teaches you as an administrator about your policies and procedures in the building in general, but it teaches your leaders, like your director of nursing and assisted living director. It’s important for them to know that the process and procedures at your center work. <br></p><p>My big piece of advice is to involve your team and do not wait. Do not wait to get started on your application. Start the process as soon as possible. The deadline approaches much faster than you think! </p><p>Visit <a href="http://www.ahcancal.org/QualityAward" data-feathr-click-track="true" data-feathr-link-aids="["60b7cbf17788425491b2d083"]" target="_blank">ahcancal.org/QualityAward</a> to share your story and submit your 2024 applications.</p><p><em>Andrea Todd is the director, public affairs at the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living.</em></p> | The National Quality Awards Program recognizes long term care organizations that meet progressively rigorous standards of performance. | 2023-08-28T04:00:00Z | <img alt="" src="/Issues/2023/Fall/PublishingImages/fall23_QAspot.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | Quality Awards | Quality Awards |