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SDHCA Newsletter
SDALA
SDSLA

National Volunteer Week, April 21-27

 

 AHCA Quality Initiative

In This Issue

  

SDHCA Feature Facility 

 

   Millie of the Month Application Form   

 

Quick Links

 

Volunteer of the Year Application

 

SDHCA Scholarship Application

 

NCAL Awards

 

Individual Council Awards

 

Administrator of the Year

 

AL Administrator of the Year

 

Last Month's Newsletter 

 

Minutes

 

  
 
MDS 3.0 Updaets 
 
 Quality Award
   
  
 
 
SDHCA Staff:
  
 
Mark B. Deak
Executive Director
[email protected]
  
Lori Tracy
Assistant Executive Director
[email protected]  
  
LuAnn Severson
Director of Public Affairs & Professional Development
[email protected]
  
Sarah Ewing
Executive Assistant
[email protected] 
  

 

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Healthcare Information Systems

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Medi-Bill Systems

 

Helping You Provide Quality Care With Cost Containing and Revenue Enhancing Programs.

Klaasmeyer & Associates, Inc.

"Striving for Excellence"

402-525-1225

 Facility Management and Consultation Services

 

  • Operational Consultation
  • MDS Consultation
  • Informal Dispute Resolution
  • Strategic Planning and Marketing
  • Operational Review
  • Survey Readiness
  • State Monitoring
  • Orientation
  • Board of Director Education
  • Nursing Assistant Training

April 2013

  

The Millie Award Recipient for April is Ruth Lienes. Ruth is the Activity Director at the Good Samaritan Society Wagner. Along with being the Activity Director, she is also happy to serve as a UAP, CNA or Cook!

Ruth brightens everyone's day. She always places the residents' needs first and foremost. Ruth visits residents when they are hospitalized, and is always willing to "be there" for any resident or fellow staff member.   Congratulations Ruth!

do dad 

The Legislature adjourned Sine Die yesterday. Thanks to the hard work of SDHCA Members, we secured 2% one-time Medicaid increases for all of South Dakota's Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities in this fiscal year. (Hospitals received a 1% increase.)

Yesterday, the Joint Appropriations Committee approved a Letter of Intent asking DSS to allow Long Term Care Providers to use these additional funds without restrictions. There are also no reporting requirements to the Legislature on how funds are utilized.  Now DSS will consider the Joint Appropriations Committee's Letter of Intent, and decide how specifically to implement it.

 

For the coming fiscal year, all Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities will receive their current Medicaid rate. Additionally, Assisted Living Facilities will receive a .08% increase, and "critical access" Nursing Facilities and those Nursing Facilities with a Medicaid occupancy of 67% or greater, will receive a 1.10% increase. (Hospitals will incur a 2.22% decrease.)

 

 

What we achieved together was commendable, given what we were facing.

  • A $24 million reduction in the state budget via the Sequestration.

     

  • A flat revenue forecast for the next state fiscal year.
     
  • Extremely cautious appropriators, due to the possibility of an ongoing drought that could impact state tax collections, and a very uncertain global and domestic economic environment.

We pushed hard, before and during the 2013 Legislative Session.

  • Face to face meetings with Governor Daugaard and top Executive and Legislative Leadership.
     
  • A "no holds barred" Legislative Reception.
     
  • SDHCA Members hosting and faithfully attending Legislative Cracker Barrel and Coffees across the state.
     
  • Members targeting their individual Representatives and Senator with powerful employment, tax and economic data.
     
  • SDHCA earned media coverage, committee testimony and informal discussions with Joint Appropriations Committee Members ensuring continued focus on the needs of Long Term Care Providers.
     
  • SDHCA Members making our case in every way possible!

 

While Washington continued to cut Medicare, we continued to push Pierre in the right direction!

 

Thank you for all you do every day for our elderly and disabled South Dakotans! 

Sincerely,

 

 marks sig

Mark B. Deak

Executive Director

 

______________________

 

SB 69, An Act to revise certain provisions of the health professionals diversion program.  The intended purpose of this legislation is to monitor the treatment and continuing care of any regulated health professional who may be unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety, if the professional's mental health issues or substance use disorder is not appropriately managed. SDHCA will monitor this bill. SB 69 was heard before the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. The bill was favorably amended, passed, and placed on the Consent Calendar. The Senate passed SB 69. The House Health & Human Services Committee passed the bill. The House passed SB 69. The Governor signed this bill.

 

 

SB 104, An Act to extend the deadline for the construction of a nursing facility for military veterans and their spouses. This bill would extend the deadline for construction from 6/30/2013 to 6/30/2016. This is due primarily to changes at the federal level.  SDHCA will monitor this bill. SB 104 was unanimously tabled by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

SB 160, An Act to require health care facilities to allow patients to supply their own prescription medications. This bill contained potentially problematic language that could have resulted in medication and/or billing errors. SDHCA opposed this bill and testified against it before the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. This bill was deferred to the 41st Legislative day. 

 

SB 181, An Act to provide licensing reciprocity for social workers. This bill would expedite the licensing process for social workers who are already licensed in another state.  SDHCA supports this bill. SB 181 was favorably amended again and passed the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. This bill was favorably amended and passed the Senate. The House Health & Human Services Committee passed SB 181. The House passed the bill. The Governor signed this bill.

 

SB 190, An Act to make an appropriation to fund tax refunds for elderly persons and persons with a disability. The Appropriations Committee has introduced this bill at the request of the Governor. SDHCA supports this bill. SB 190 was favorably amended and passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The bill passed the Senate.  The House Appropriations passed SB 190. The House passed the bill.  The Governor signed SB 190. 

 

HB 1248, An Act to allow assisted living centers to accept and retain residents with dementia. This bill superseded current assisted living regulations, created an unfair playing field for providers, and possibly jeopardized the safety of assisted living residents with cognitive impairments. SDHCA opposed this bill. SDHCA testified against HB 1248 before the House Health & Human Services Committee and the bill was deferred to the 41st Legislative day.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SDHCA Board Of Directors Meeting

 

The SDHCA Board of Directors will hold its Quarterly Board Meeting on April 8, 2013, at the Association Office Conference Room in Sioux Falls.  SDHCA, SDALA and SDSLA Members are welcome to the meeting.

 

Region Meetings

 

The SDHCA Administrator Region Meetings will be held in conjunction with the Annual Spring Institute.  The Region Meetings will be held on April 9, 2013.  Region I & III will hold elections.

 

Council Membership Meetings

 

The Council Memberships (Activity, Dietary, Nursing and Social Services) will be meeting on April 9, 2013, at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls.  The Council Region Meetings will be held during these sessions!

Future Educational Dates

 

April 9 - 11, 2013

Annual Spring Institute

Ramkota Hotel

Sioux Falls, SD

 

April 10, 2013

SDMDA Annual Seminar

Ramkota Hotel

Sioux Falls, SD

 

June 11 - 12, 2013

Annual Activity Coordinator, Social Services, Nursing & Dietary Workshop

Ramkota Hotel

Sioux Falls, SD

 

September 24 - 26, 2013

Annual Fall Convention

Sheraton Hotel and Convention Center

Sioux Falls, SD

Annual Spring Institute

 

 Plan on attending the SDHCA Annual Spring Institute April 9 - 11, 2013 at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls! To register or view the program booklet,
click here! Online Registration ends April 1st!

 

 

Wednesday is Frontline Caregiver Day!  Send two Frontline Caregivers on Wednesday "Free of charge" with facility registration. 

SDHCA & AHCA/NCAL Volunteer Of The Year Award Application Is Available

 

The application for the 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award is now available. The application can be found under Quick Links on the left side of the E-News or it can also be found on the SDHCA website under the Awards section. Applications are due in the SDHCA Office by Friday, May 3, 2013. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah at the SDHCA Office.

SDHCA Scholarship Application

 

The SDHCA Scholarship application is now available.  Please find the application under Quick Links in this newsletter or under the Awards section on the SDHCA Website.  The winner of this scholarship will be awarded $1000 during the 2013 SDHCA Fall Convention in September.  The due date for the completed application is June 28, 2013.  

National Nursing Home Week 
 
AHCA

 

k your calendars to celebrate National Nursing Home Week (NNHW) May 12 - 18, 2013.

Mar

 

 

Click here and find Team Care National Nursing Home Week items to order.

National Nursing Home Week Buttons Available

 

Hand out these Team Care buttons to your staff, family members, and visitors. They can wear them to show their support for the team members who work in your facility every day! Don't wait until the last minute. Our National Nursing Home Week� products are very popular and will sell out. Plan ahead and place your order early to ensure product availability, size, and color selection and timely delivery.

 

Orders may be placed at www.ahcapublications.org or email the SDHCA office with your order specifics.

Newspaper Clippings

 

There are many articles published in Newspapers throughout South Dakota that are worth taking a look at!  Click Here to see if your facility made the news.  Not finding an article that made your local paper regarding your facility?  Send SDHCA a copy to review. 

Do You Have Your Updated RAI/MDS 3.0?

AHCA/NCAL

 

Click here to order the manual with a CD-ROM and 48 color-coated tabs for easy reference.  This 3 ring binder allows quick access to forms and other content.  SDHCA Member: $59.95 plus tx, s&h.

 

Click here to order the E-book edition with one year of electronic updates. SDHCA Member: $35.95 plus tx, s&h.

 

Sen. Tim Johnson Announces Retirement

KDLT

 

For the first time in 26 years Tim Johnson will not be representing South Dakota in Washington D.C.

Johnson announced his retirement Tuesday during a news conference at the University of South Dakota. 
Read more

 

Follow SDHCA

 

Consider following South Dakota Health Care Association (SDHCA) on LinkedIn.  Simply log into your LinkedIn account or join LinkedIn and search for South Dakota Health Care Association, then click "Follow."

 

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network with over 175 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.  It is a free networking opportunity with other businesses and individuals.  Creating an account is simple and free.

Order Your Updated Long Term Care Survey

AHCA/NCAL

 

The November 2012 edition contains all the most recent changes and additions from CMS since October 2010. To order your choice of a Softbound Edition or a Binder/Notebook Edition, Call AHCA at 800-321-0343 or email LuAnn at the SDHCA office and indicate your choice from the following.

 

Softbound Edition                                  

6775-1112  

$59.95 member

$69.95 non-member

 

Binder/Notebook Edition 

6775N-1112  

$79.95 member

$89.95 non-member

 

*Because of the reduced frequency in updates released by CMS, AHCA no longer offers subscriptions to The Long Term Care Survey. 

 

Individual Council Awards

 

It is that time of the year to apply for the Individual Council Awards. The application and guidelines for the Individual Council Awards are listed under the Individual Council Awards link on the left side of the newsletter under Quick Links. Please take a moment to nominate an individual from your facility in activities, dietary, nursing and/or social services.

 

The nominees must be submitted to the SDHCA office by June 30th! If you have any questions, please call the SDHCA office.

 

Administrator Of The Year Award

 

It is that time of the year to complete an application for the Administrator of the Year Award. Please take a moment to nominate your administrator. The application form and guidelines are listed under the Administrator of the Year Award link on the left side of the newsletter under Quick Links.

 

The application must be submitted to the SDHCA office by June 30th. If you have any questions, please call the SDHCA office.

  

AL Administrator Of The Year

Award 

 

The Association has developed a new Award to recognize Assisted Living Administrator of the Year.   The guidelines and application form are listed under the AL Administrator of the Year Award link on the left side of the newsletter under Quick Links.

 

The application must be submitted to the SDALA office by May 1st. The winner of this award will be submitted for the NCAL Administrator of the Year Award.

Annual Summer Workshop

 

The Annual Summer Workshop will be held June 11 - 12, 2013, at the Ramkota Hotel in Sioux Falls.  The complete mailing will be sent to your facility in April.  Please check this mailing for the timely and pertinent topics to the long term care disciplines dealing with advanced care planning from beginning to end, CAAs, sanitation in dietary, spiritual care, nursing delegation, CNA requirements, etc.  The program will be available to download at www.sdhca.org and click on the Annual Summer Workshop icon.

 

The nominating process for the 2013 NCAL Awards is now underway. Please submit nominations to the SDALA office by May 1st.

 

Please consider submitting nominations for the Noble Caregiver in Assisted Living Award, NCAL Assisted Living Nurse of the Year, NCAL Administrator of the Year, and the National Assisted Living Week Programming Award.

 

The NCAL Awards applications can be found under the In This Issue in the E-Newsletter.  If you have questions, please contact the SDALA office or [email protected].

2013 Regulatory Review Finds One-Third Of States Updating Assisted Living Rules

NCAL Connections

 

Assisted living regulations, statutes, and policies in 18 states were changed during the past year, according to the 2013 edition of "Assisted Living State Regulatory Review." NCAL released the latest edition of its annual review.

 

"Nine states made major changes to their assisted living regulations last year. Colorado, Michigan, and New Jersey made innovative changes to their survey processes," said Karl Polzer, NCAL's senior policy director and the report's author. "Continuing a multi-year trend, more than one-third of states refined or developed assisted living regulations."

 

The annual report summarizes state assisted living regulations across 21 categories including life safety, physical plant requirements, medication management, and move-in/move-out criteria.

Help Your Profession Set National Benchmarks On Staffing: Complete Survey

NCAL Connections

 

Tracking department staff vacancy and retention levels is a vital quality improvement tool for assisted living centers. Now assisted living communities can help the profession by contributing to the development of a similar tool on a national level.  

 

NCAL is asking assisted living providers to take a few moments to complete the 2012 Assisted Living Staff Vacancy, Retention, and Turnover Survey (VRT). It is available online through Survey Monkey or download the form here.

 

NCAL is seeking community staffing data in order to build a nationally representative database. From this database, NCAL will analyze the information to determine national rates on vacancy, retention, and turnover for a report that can demonstrate to policymakers and consumers the profession's commitment to quality. Community data is kept confidential.

Click on this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LT6QVYH to input the data

QI IMAGEHelp Your Facility Meet The Quality Initiative With The Staff Stability Toolkit

 

One of the four major goals of AHCA's Quality Initiative is to reduce nursing staff (RN, LPN/LVN, CNA) turnover by 15% before March 2015. The Staff Stability Toolkit is an excellent resource to help your facility achieve this goal.

 

TheStaff Stability Toolkit, Version 1.3,  from Healthcentric Advisors, is a "how-to" guide to stabilize staffing with practical tools for both immediate and long-term use. It combines concepts, practices, exercises, and tools to assist you in the systematic process of determining the root cause of a problem and identifying potential interventions.

 

The material is straightforward and easy to digest with graphics and icons that highlight key elements, financial strategies, and examples/best practices.

  

In addition, the kit includes a CD-ROM with worksheets to help you collect and analyze data on common staffing issues that affect stability and turnover.

 

Product #: 8281

Price: $74.95 

 

Orders may be placed at www.ahcapublications.org or by phone 800-321-0343.