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Archive May 2022

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AHCA/NCAL Announces Launch of Diversity Executive Leadership Program

AHCA/NCAL is pleased to announce the launch of the Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP). Ten individuals will be selected to participate in the two-year program. Applications will be accepted through June 9, 2022. Eligible individuals are encouraged to apply or share this information with someone who would be a good candidate.  

The program aims to:
  • Provide individuals from under-represented groups support and access to opportunities for leadership. 
  • Provide AHCA/NCAL with increased access to a diverse pool of talented, engaged members and leaders such as committee members and chairs, board members, AHCA Council of States representatives and NCAL State Leaders.
Qualified DELP applicants must be:
  • Members of an under-represented identity group including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability and religion. 
  • Full-time employee of an AHCA/NCAL provider member facility in good standing.
  • Currently employed as a mid- to senior-level or C-suite professional at an AHCA/NCAL provider member.
  • Have at least three years’ experience in mid- to senior-level long term care management positions or at least one year as a C-suite executive.
  • Demonstrate professional, volunteer or civic/community leadership experience.
During the two-year program, DELP scholars will receive complimentary registration and travel to attend:
  • DELP Orientation September 12 – 13 in Washington, DC
  • Future Leaders Symposium (first year) September 13 – 15 in Washington, DC
  • Political Ambassadors Program (second year)
  • AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention and Expo (both years)
  • AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing (both years)
The deadline to apply is June 9, 2022. Apply or Share Today! For additional information and to apply, visit the DELP website.

Please contact Christy Herle at cherle@ahca.org or 202-898-2839 with any questions.

Staff Contact: aellis@mehca.org

Join MHCA for upcoming web series and give your assisted housing infection control team the tools they need!

We have great news! There are seats available in the upcoming webinar series, The New Normal for Infection Control in Assisted Housing. This series, and the corresponding toolkit (including infection prevention policy templates), has become an excellent resource for many assisted housing providers.
 
The content aligns with CMS infection prevention practices as well as CDC guidance on outbreaks and surveillance and infection prevention best practices. Topics include infection control and reducing risk, standard/other type precautions, PPE, department-specific procedures, COVID-19 policies and procedures, rule changes, and more.
 
MHCA will offer this two part webinar series online (via Zoom) on June 22 & 23, from 9:00-11:30AM. For more details and to register, please visit the event page on our website.
 
Staff Contact: aellis@mehca.org

MHCA activities professionals networking group meets next week, May 18th

The next virtual networking meeting of the Maine Activity Professionals group is scheduled for May 18th at 1pm over Zoom. The first meeting of this group saw excellent participation. All activities directors and staff are invited to join.  To receive a Zoom link to participate and add this event to your calendar, please click here. Please feel free to reach out to me in the association office with any questions, at aellis@mehca.org 

Staff Contact: aellis@mehca.org 

Happy National Skilled Nursing Care Week!

MHCA wishes members well as you begin to celebrate National Skilled Nursing Care Week! (NSNCW), May 8-14, 2022. The 2022 NSNCW Planning Guide and Product Catalog are good tools that members can access online here. The guide also includes downloadable graphics, sample social media posts and more! be sure to use the hashtag, #NSNCW in any social media posts related to the observance. Don't forget to “Like” the National Skilled Nursing Care Week Facebook page here for updates and tag MHCA (@Maine Health Care Association) too! We look forward to NSNCW and celebrating the work you do every day.

Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org

MHCA thanks Remember ME Sponsors for generosity and support

*MHCA continues to monitor the status of COVID-19 in Maine leading up to the June 1st Remember ME event. In addition to screening, masking and social distancing, we are limiting the number of guests and are unable to invite the full membership this year. We are, however, offering a live feed and will share that link with members. Lastly, MHCA has a contingency plan should the live event be canceled.
 
MHCA thanks the following members for their generous sponsorship support of this year’s Remember ME event:
 
Program Books:
BELFOR Property Restoration
Androscoggin Home Healthcare + Hospice

Refreshments:
Genesis HealthCare

Flowers:
Schooner Estates Senior Living Community

Music:
MHCA Workers’ Compensation Fund

Achievement Awards:
Continuum Health Services

Balloon Arch/Decorations:
Russell Park Rehab & Living Center

Audio Visual Support:
Fallbrook Woods
 
Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org

USCIS Announces EAD for Certain Renewal Applicants

This week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which became effective May 4, 2022, will help avoid gaps in employment for noncitizens with pending EAD renewal applications and stabilize the continuity of operations for U.S. employers.

The TFR only applies to those EAD categories currently eligible for an automatic up to 180-day extension It will temporarily provide up to 360 days of additional automatic extension time (for a total of up to 540 days) to eligible applicants with a timely-filed Form I-765 renewal application pending during the 18-month period after publication of the TFR while USCIS continues to work through pending caseloads that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. More information is available in the USCIS press release.

Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org

Call for Nominations for the Future Leaders Program

MHCA is seeking nominations for the Future Leaders of Long Term Care in America Program sponsored by AHCA/NCAL. This professional training and mentorship program begins September 13-15th with a symposium in Washington DC. Maine will be nominating one individual for this program.
 
Nominees for the 2022/2023 class should be owners and operators who are up and coming leaders. Future leaders are expected to:
 
  • Attend a three-day training session, which will be held in Washington, DC on September 13 - 15;
  • Complete any assigned reading – typically 4 or 5 books during the year – and be prepared to discuss on conference calls;
  • Participate in most of the scheduled quarterly conference calls and activities, including a graduation event hosted by AHCA/NCAL leadership at the AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention & Expo, which will be held October 1 - 4, 2023 in Denver, CO;
  • Demonstrate an interest in working on LTC issues at the national level, which may include participating on AHCA/NCAL workgroups or committees; and
  • Consider active participation in the AHCA PAC and promoting its importance to other members.
 
Any MHCA member interested in being considered for this program should submit a letter of interest and a resume to Angela Westhoff, President/ CEO no later than June 1, 2022.
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
 

Apply Now: AHCA/NCAL Diversity Executive Leadership Program

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has announced the inaugural provider member Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) will accept applications Monday, May 2 through Thursday, June 9.
 
Ten individuals will be selected to participate in the two-year program. Additional information including eligibility and program requirements is available on our website.
 
DELP has two objectives:
  • To provide individuals from under-represented groups in AHCA/NCAL, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability and religion, support, access and opportunities for leadership.
  • To provide AHCA/NCAL with increased access to a diverse pool of talented, engaged members and/or leaders such as committee members and chairs, board members, AHCA Council of States representatives and NCAL State Leaders. 
Qualified DELP applicants must be:
  • Members of an under-represented identity group including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability and religion.
  • Full-time employee of an AHCA/NCAL provider member facility in good standing.
  • Currently employed as a mid- to senior-level or C-suite professional at an AHCA/NCAL provider member.
  • Have at least three years’ experience in mid- to senior-level long term care management positions or at least one year as a C-suite executive.
  • Demonstrate professional, volunteer or civic/community leadership experience.
 During the two-year program DELP scholars will receive complimentary registration and travel to attend:
  • DELP Orientation
  • Future Leaders Symposium (first year)
  • Political Ambassadors Program (second year)
  • AHCA/NCAL Annual Convention and Expo (both years)
  • AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing (both years)
Please contact Christy Herle at cherle@ahca.org or 202-898-2839 for additional information.
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

FRIDAY May 7th - End of Waivers

As a reminder CMS is ending the specific emergency declaration blanket waivers for SNFs/NFs, inpatient hospices, ICF/IIDs and ESRD facilities listed below on MAY 7th, 2022.  

Providers are expected to take immediate steps so that they may return to compliance with the reinstated requirements according to the timeframes listed below. We also recommend that providers continue to follow CDC guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19 especially during activities that may increase patient or resident contact.

Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers Ending for SNF/NFs 30 Days from the Memorandum (May 7th, 2022):
  • Resident Groups - 42 CFR §483.10(f)(5) - CMS waived the requirements which ensure residents can participate in-person in resident groups. This waiver permitted the facility to restrict in-person meetings during the COVID-19 PHE.
  • Physician Delegation of Tasks in SNFs - 42 CFR §483.30(e)(4) - CMS waived the requirement that prevents a physician from delegating a task when the regulations specify that the physician must perform it personally. This waiver gave physicians the ability to delegate any tasks to a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist, but specified that any task delegated under this waiver must continue to be under the supervision of the physician.
  • Physician Visits - 42 CFR §483.30(c)(3) - CMS waived the requirement that all required physician visits (not already exempted in §483.30(c)(4) and (f)) must be made by the physician personally. The waiver modified this provision to permit physicians to delegate any required physician visit to a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or clinical nurse specialist who is not an employee of the facility, who is working in collaboration with a physician, and who is licensed by the State and performing within the state’s scope-of-practice laws.
  • Physician Visits in Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities - 42 CFR §483.30 - CMS waived the requirement for physicians and non-physician practitioners to perform in-person visits for nursing home residents and allow visits to be conducted, as appropriate, via tele-health options.
  • Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) – 42 CFR §483.75(b)–(d) and (e)(3) - CMS modified certain requirements which require long-term care facilities to develop, implement, evaluate, and maintain an effective, comprehensive, data driven QAPI program. This waiver gave providers the ability to focus on adverse events and infection control, and those aspects of care delivery most closely associated with COVID-19 during the PHE.
  • Detailed Information Sharing for Discharge Planning for Long-Term Care (LTC) Facilities - 42 CFR §483.21(c)(1)(viii) - CMS waived the discharge planning requirement which requires LTC facilities to assist residents and their representatives in selecting a post-acute care provider using data, such as standardized patient assessment data, quality measures and resource use. CMS maintained all other discharge planning requirements.
  • Clinical Records - 42 CFR §483.10(g)(2)(ii) - CMS modified the requirement which requires long-term care (LTC) facilities to provide a resident a copy of their records within two working days (when requested by the resident
Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
 

Requesting Waivers for Physician Delegation/Visits

On April 7th, CMS released QSO-22-15-NH outlining the end of specific emergency declaration blanket waivers for SNFs/NFs, inpatient hospices, ICF/IIDs and ESRD facilities listed below. The termination of these blanket waivers will have no effect on other blanket waivers that remain in place such as those for hospitals and CAHs. Those blanket waivers remain in effect to assist hospitals and CAHs, among others, in dealing with their response to the surges of COVID-19 cases in the community.

In this memo, CMS stated that providers are expected to take immediate steps so that they may return to compliance with the reinstated requirements according to the timeframes listed below. Several homes have shared their concern regarding the end of waivers related to physician delegation and visits. Specifically, these waivers were to allow:
  • Physician Delegation of Tasks in SNFs - 42 CFR §483.30(e)(4)
    • CMS waived the requirement that prevents a physician from delegating a task when the regulations specify that the physician must perform it personally. This waiver gave physicians the ability to delegate any tasks to a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist, but specified that any task delegated under this waiver must continue to be under the supervision of the physician.
  • Physician Visits - 42 CFR §483.30(c)(3)
    • CMS waived the requirement that all required physician visits (not already exempted in §483.30(c)(4) and (f)) must be made by the physician personally. The waiver modified this provision to permit physicians to delegate any required physician visit to a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or clinical nurse specialist who is not an employee of the facility, who is working in collaboration with a physician, and who is licensed by the State and performing within the state’s scope-of-practice laws.
  • Physician Visits in Skilled Nursing Facilities/Nursing Facilities - 42 CFR §483.30
    • CMS waived the requirement for physicians and non-physician practitioners to perform in-person visits for nursing home residents and allow visits to be conducted, as appropriate, via telehealth options.
In the most recent Maine CDC medical director calls Lynn Hadyniak of Maine DHHS Division of Licensing stated that “if facilities feel that they will have difficulty meeting the requirement that physicians/clinicians do in-person visits in SNF/NFs (i.e. requirement that will otherwise go back into effect on May 7, 2022) they can email DLC a request for a waiver.”

In this waiver request homes should outline the following:
  1. Explains why they need the waiver;
  2. How they intend to eventually come into compliance with the CMS requirement for doing in-person visits; and
  3. how long they want the waiver (note that CMS generally grants waivers for 6mos).
These requests should be emailed to Lynn.Hadyniak@Maine.gov or William.Montejo@Maine.gov who will then present the waiver request to CMS for official approval.

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org
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