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Archive July 2022

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Assisted Living Work Force Crisis Getting Worse

According to a recent article in HealthCare Facilities Today, nearly one-half of assisted living providers are concerned that they might have to close their facilities if work force challenges persist.
 
The assisted living industry continues to face a serious staffing and economic crisis, according to a recent survey by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), which represents more than 4,000 assisted living communities across the country. Among the survey’s key findings are these: 
 
  • More than one-half (52 percent) of assisted living providers say their overall workforce situation has worsened since January 2022.  
  • 63 percent are experiencing staffing shortages. One-quarter of those assisted living providers say they have a high level of staffing shortages.  
  • 93 percent have increased wages to help attract and retain caregivers. 
  • 98 percent have asked staff to work overtime or extra shifts due to the staffing shortages. One-half have hired temporary agency staff due to shortages.  
  • 87 percent say they have difficulty hiring new staff. 
  • The biggest obstacle for assisted living providers in hiring new staff is a lack of interested or qualified candidates, with two-thirds of providers saying it was an “extremely big” challenge.
  • Nearly one-half (48 percent) are concerned they might have to close their assisted living communities if workforce challenges persist.  
  • On average, assisted living providers say their operational costs have increased since this time last year by 40 percent. 
  • More than one-third are operating at a loss (37 percent) and can’t sustain current operating pace for more than one year (35 percent).  
 
“The survey shows that the workforce crisis in assisted living has not improved, and we are deeply concerned that more assisted living communities will have to close their doors,” says LaShuan Bethea, NCAL’s executive director. “Assisted living has been largely forgotten by public health officials during this pandemic. It’s time they received the resources and the support they desperately need.” 
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

In Case you Missed It: Important MHCA Staffing Update

In case you missed it, last week MHCA announced that Nadine Grosso, MHCA Vice President and Director of Communications is leaving the Association effective August 4th. After 22 years of employment, Nadine has chosen to pursue a new employment opportunity that is closer to home. She has been appointed the Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Maine Behavioral Healthcare (MBH), headquartered in Southern Maine. Part of the MaineHealth system, MBH is a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network serving 20,000 people across the state.
 
Nadine began her career at MHCA as a grassroots campaign coordinator and transitioned to Director of Communications. In recognition of her leadership capabilities, the role of Vice President was created for her in 2010. Throughout her tenure, Nadine has provided communications and advocacy expertise in support of MHCA’s legislative priorities and members’ mission. She has initiated programs and events that have created awareness and support for long term care providers, perhaps most notably the Remember ME program.
 
Please join with me in thanking Nadine for her many years of dedicated service and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors.
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

Free StrengthenME wellness workshops continue, all are welcome!

As a reminder, we have partnered with Strengthen ME, the State of Maine's behavioral health and resiliency response to the Covid-19 pandemic to bring a 6-week series of 30-minute wellness workshops to our members. Four workshops remain in the series. They are scheduled on Mondays from 1-1:30PM on Zoom (full list of dates below.) Wellness workshops are modeled after “Lunch and Learns” that focus on mental and emotional wellness using practical tips and mindfulness to explore a variety of topics. Participants may attend any or all of the sessions and there is no cost to participate. We encourage members to share this opportunity with your staff, all are welcome. A printable flyer can be found here.

The remaining topics are as follows:
  • AUGUST 1- STORY TIME: SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES - During this workshop, you can sit back and relax and listen to an inspirational story that is sure to help you shift your perspective.
  • AUGUST 8- FOSTERING FORGIVENESS - Do you find forgiveness difficult to practice when it comes to certain people in your life, or maybe even forgiving yourself? This workshop explores why forgiveness is important for our mental wellness, and ways to approach it.
  • AUGUST 15- QUIETING THE MIND - In this workshop, we'll explore the idea of Monkey Mind and how the demands of life impact our ability to experience a quiet mind. We will review ways to quiet the mind, and practice using mindfulness to slow racing thoughts.
  • AUGUST 22- EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION - We communicate all day every day, and when there is a breakdown in communication…. well, it's not pretty. In this workshop we will identify common barriers to communication, explore communication styles, and discuss strategies for dealing with communication pitfalls.
To access these sessions, please use the following link: https://emhs.zoom.us/j/94269289015

Staff Contact: aellis@mehca.org 

CMS releases proposed rule that would reinstate gender identity, sexual orientation protections

On Monday July 25, 2022, CMS announced a proposal that would reinstate protections on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulations. The CMS-related provisions are included as part of a proposed rule, “Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities,” that revises the implementing regulation for Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.

The proposed rule, among other things, according to HHS, reinstates protections on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation in CMS regulations that were deleted in a 2020 rule. That 2020 rule, HHS said, amended 10 provisions in the CMS regulations, all of which cover at least some entities that also are subject to Section 1557, to delete language that prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The changes announced Monday also would interpret Medicare Part B as federal financial assistance.

HHS encourages all stakeholders — specifically mentioning healthcare providers, healthcare professional associations, consumer advocates, beneficiaries and their families, health insurance issuers and government entities — to submit comments on the rule within 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. Publication is being scheduled.

Comments, identified by RIN Number 0945-AA17, may be submitted electronically through www.regulations.gov, by mail or via hand delivery or courier to the following address: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, Attention: 1557 NPRM (RIN 0945-AA17), Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 509F, 200 Independence Ave SW., Washington, DC 20201.

The proposed rule is not yet published in the Federal Register, but a PDF has been posted.

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org

NHSN Clarifies Definition of Up to Date Vaccination Status

In June 2022, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) began using the updated definition of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All facility types reporting data through the COVID-19 Vaccination Module must use the updated definition.
 
Up to date COVID-19 vaccination includes:
  •  An individual who has received all doses in the primary series and all recommended booster doses, when eligible.
  • Most individuals who are 50 years and older and have received a second booster dose.
  • Reporting of up-to-date vaccination status is summarized in the table link here.
*Individuals with a moderately to severely immunocompromising condition are considered up to date in the following cases:
  1. Received an additional dose less than three months ago, if primary series was the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine; or
  2. Received an additional dose less than two months ago, if primary series was the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine; or
  3. Received an additional dose and one booster dose less than four months ago; or
  4. Received a second booster dose.?
If data does not reflect the updated definition, facilities are encouraged to go back into NHSN and update their data.

Staff Contact: dwatford@mehca.org

Analysis Shows Staffing Minimums Will Cost Long Term Care Industry $10 Billion Annually

The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) released a new report earlier this week from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) on the negative impact of increasing staffing minimums at the federal level. The report shows that increasing staffing minimums will require billions of dollars each year to hire tens of thousands of additional caregivers. CLA estimated the impact of implementing a staffing minimum of 4.1 hours per resident day (HPRD) and found:
 
• 94 percent of nursing homes that care for more than 900,000 residents would need to increase staffing levels in order to be in compliance with such a requirement.
 
• It would cost $10 billion a year and require hiring more than 187,000 nurses and nurse aides to meet the standard.
 
• 18 percent of residents, or more than 205,000 residents, may be at risk of displacement as facilities are forced to potentially reduce their census in order to meet the higher staffing standard.
 
The Biden administration has proposed minimum nursing home staffing requirements but without the necessary resources that facilities would need to recruit additional caregivers. The long term care industry is still in the midst of a historic workforce crisis, and nursing homes have lost more than 200,000 workers over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic – disproportionately more than any other health care sector. “This report makes it crystal clear that increasing staffing standards in nursing homes requires substantial and consistent government resources,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “The unintended consequences of this sort of unfunded mandate would be devastating to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable residents who could be forced out of their nursing home.”
 
AHCA/NCAL has been calling on state and federal policymakers to help address the staffing challenges within long term care long before the pandemic. With additional funding and workforce programs, nursing homes would be able to better recruit and retain the caregivers needed to continue providing quality care to our nation’s seniors. AHCA’s proposed Care For Our Seniors Act offers a comprehensive approach to addressing the workforce crisis, which includes solutions such as loan forgiveness, tax credits, affordable housing, childcare assistance and immigration reform. 
 
View the CLA report HERE.
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org
 

Important MHCA Staffing Update

MHCA announces that Nadine Grosso, MHCA Vice President and Director of Communications will be leaving the Association effective August 4th. After 22 years of employment, Nadine has chosen to pursue a new employment opportunity that is closer to home. She has been appointed the Director of Communications and Public Affairs for Maine Behavioral Healthcare (MBH), headquartered in Southern Maine. Part of the MaineHealth system, MBH is a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network serving 20,000 people across the state.
 
Nadine began her career at MHCA as a grassroots campaign coordinator and transitioned to Director of Communications. In recognition of her leadership capabilities, the role of Vice President was created for her in 2010. Throughout her tenure, Nadine has provided communications and advocacy expertise in support of MHCA’s legislative priorities and members’ mission. She has initiated programs and events that have created awareness and support for long term care providers, perhaps most notably the Remember ME program.
 
“I have spent most of my career advocating for long term care and it has truly been rewarding and inspirational work. Our members provide vital services, care, and compassion to their residents, and it is my sincerest hope that I have made valuable contributions in support of this mission. I wish the MHCA team and membership continued success and prosperity in the future. At the same time, I am looking forward to new opportunities and professional growth as part of MBH’s senior executive team in support of those with behavioral health needs,” said Nadine.
 
Nadine has been a consummate professional who welcomed me to the association and shared her knowledge and expertise. She is extremely talented, and any organization will be fortunate to have her in their employ!  
 
Please join with me in thanking Nadine for her many years of dedicated service and wishing her all the best in her future endeavors.
 
Staff contact: awesthoff@mehca.org

MHCA Member Data Verification Forms emailed to members today

To ensure our database information is up-to-date, members were emailed a copy of their respective data for review.
 
For providers and Associate Organizational members, this information is used in the association’s annual Directory/Buyer’s Guide, which will be published in conjunction with the Fall Health Care Conference & Expo (October 18-20 at Samoset Resort, Rockport).
 
If any of the information is incorrect and/or missing, please indicate the correct information and return by August 5. Forms may be returned either via fax 207.623.4080, email (dchicoine@mehca.org), or mail (MHCA, 317 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330).
 
Special Note to Providers:
Please be sure to review the Levels of Care and respective bed size information which will be used in the calculation of dues. Also, for better communication on specific regulatory, education and special program events, we ask that you provide us with the names, titles and email addresses of the staff positions listed on the form.
 
If you have any questions or did not receive a form, please contact Dianne at the association office.
 
Staff contact: dchicoine@mehca.org

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is Officially Live

In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The line is now LIVE and the resources are designed to help states, mental health and substance use disorder professionals, and others looking for information on understanding funding opportunities and implementation resources for strengthening suicide prevention and mental health crisis services. For more information and communication tools, please visit 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | SAMHSA.

Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org

Excellence in LTC Awards Deadline Approaching

The deadline to nominate your deserving staff for a 2022 Excellence in Long Term Care Award is right around the corner!

Submit your nomination online by July 29, 2022: Award Nomination Form.

The Excellence in Long Term Care Award recognizes employees statewide who consistently exemplify a commendable level of caregiving, dedication, and professionalism in caring for their residents. Because there are many team members who contribute to quality of care and life, we present caregiving awards across all disciplines as follows: 
  • Nursing/direct caregiver, such as a Nurse, CNA, PSS, CRMA, HHA, or another direct caregiver, AND
  • All other disciplines, like social work, dietary, activities, etc. from any other department
Administrators/supervisors may nominate a staff member of their choice. Facilities may submit one nomination in each category for a total of two nominations per facility. All nominees must be employed by their organization/facility for at least one year. An independent panel of judges will select the winners who will be recognized during a special live event in late September, location to be determined. 

There's never been a better time to honor your caregivers. Nominating your staff requires a small investment of time and energy that has the potential to offer a great return in workforce development.

Staff contact: ngrosso@mehca.org
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