MHCA E-News Page 4 of 9
MHCA E-News
Publication of the Maine Health Care Association January 23, 2009
317 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330 Tel: 207-623-1146 Fax: 207-623-4080
Check the MHCA website (www.mehca.org) for past issues of the E-News, as well as complete listings of education programs and committee meetings. To view items on the MEMBERS ONLY page: User ID: mehcambrs and Password: care4me (all lower case).
In This Issue:
§ My InnerView 2009 Timeline is Ready
§ Proposed Budget Details Emerge
§ MHCA Provides Education and Input to Lawmakers and Media
§ MHCA Residential Care Members Should Check New Rate Letters for Accuracy
§ Maine Fire Marshal Newsletter
§ Education Feature of the Week: End of Life Care Educational Series
§ Survey Tips –Top TEN State of Maine Nursing Facility Citations During the Period (1/1/08 – 12/29/08)
§ Enhance Staff Knowledge, Resident Care & Facility Operations with These NEW 2009 Resources from AHCA/NCAL
§ MHCA Working On Advancing Excellence Campaign Password Issues
§ HHS Issues Final ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards Rules
§ CMS Encourages Facilities to Review Five-Star Quality Rating Data
§ Notice of State Rulemaking
§ Upcoming Education Programs
§ MHCA Committee Meetings
My InnerView 2009 Timeline is Ready
Richard A. Erb, President/CEO ()
Membership in Maine Health Care Association provides nursing homes and assisted living facilities with an outstanding opportunity to measure resident and family satisfaction We are pleased to once again offer access to My InnerView, the leading national satisfaction tool in long term care, at no charge to you.
Attached to this newsletter, you will find the timeline and instructions for participating in this year’s survey. Facilities that took part last year will only need to update their contact information and make any necessary changes by going to www.myinnerview.com and logging in. Those who are first time users need to establish an account by going to the same site and clicking Join. A company representative will then be in touch with you to answer any questions. My InnerView can also be reached by telephone at 715-848-2713.
Facilities can choose whether they wish to survey residents or family members. Please note that these names and addresses will need to be submitted to My InnerView by March 30, 2009. The company takes care of mailing the survey tool and will provide postage paid return envelopes. Responses can go directly to My InnerView where they will be tabulated and analyzed. When this is completed, each facility receives a confidential report with their own results and the aggregate statewide data. Your specific information is not shared with anyone else.
MHCA receives a final report from My InnerView comprised of only statewide aggregate data. This information is invaluable to us in dealing with the media and state officials. It also helps us plan for our quality improvement and educational programming.
We encourage every member to participate in the My InnerView program and to use the results in your own quality improvement efforts.
Proposed Budget Details Emerge
Richard A. Erb, President/CEO ()
In response to MHCA requests for more information, the Department of Health & Human Services has clarified that they propose to flat fund nursing homes for both years of the upcoming budget. The small increase shown for Fiscal Year 2009-10 is actually an accounting adjustment and would not be reflected as a rate increase.
At first look, residential care also appears to be flat funded for both years of the biennium. However, further review of the budget shows approximately $10 million in savings booked for the biennium by “decreasing the use of residential care by older adults.” The Department has told MHCA that they are still working on specific details on how this would be accomplished.
Work on the biennial budget will begin when the current year supplemental budget is completed. The major impact of the supplemental budget on providers continues to be the conversion to monthly billing. MHCA has held talks on billing issues this week with Commissioner Harvey and her staff and with the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). These focused on the serious cash flow problems that would be created by the change and how they could be ameliorated.
MHCA Provides Education and Input to Lawmakers and Media
Nadine L. Grosso, Director of Communications ()
Through recent public affairs activity, MHCA staff and members have had the opportunity to educate and inform policymakers, media and the public about long term care. As an event sponsor, MHCA President and CEO Rick Erb addressed 80 legislators, including many freshmen, on the Northern Maine leg of the Maine Development Foundation’s (MDF) annual Legislative Bus Tour. During a recent dinner in Fort Kent, Erb provided an overview of long term facility-based care in Maine and the provider community’s impact on Maine’s local and state economy. At the same time, MHCA Communications Director Nadine Grosso delivered a similar presentation to a cross section of 30 Maine business leaders taking part in this year’s Leadership Maine course, an intensive leadership training conducted annually by MDF. MHCA was part of a long term care panel that addressed the group about the challenges and opportunities in caring for an aging population.
Early last week, MHCA Board Chair Wanda Pelkey and Stephanie Rice and Ken Roberts of Berry Dunn McNeil and Parker joined Rick Erb in providing testimony and written comments regarding proposed nursing facility MaineCare rebasing efforts. Our experts thanked the Department of Health and Human Services for addressing the need for financial relief and including a hold harmless provision in the rules. However, witnesses also urged DHHS to quickly release the funds that were earmarked during the last legislative session.
Finally, MHCA was contacted by the Bangor Daily News for comment on the supplemental state budget impact on long term care facilities. See Rick Erb’s comments on the proposal to move toward a monthly MaineCare payment schedule at http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/97408.html.
MHCA Residential Care Members Should Check New Rate Letters for Accuracy
Nadine L. Grosso, Director of Communications ()
Stephanie Rice of Berry Dunn McNeil and Parker recently notified MHCA that the firm has heard from several residential care facilities indicating that there is an error in the January 1, 2009 rate letters. It appears that there is a mathematical error in the calculation of the routine part of the reimbursement rate. Berry Dunn has notified Rich Lawrence at DHHS and he is aware of the error. While the mistake has only been seen in the routine component thus far, please take a moment to review your rate letters and “do the math” to determine if your entire rate is accurate. Feel free to contact Stephanie or Ken Roberts at Berry Dunn at 775-2387 if you need assistance.
Maine Fire Marshal Newsletter
Karen Michaud, Director of Education ()
Attached is the January 2009 edition of the Fire Marshal's News provided to us by Richard Taylor, Senior Research and Planning Analyst at the Maine Fire Marshal's Office. This newsletter offers information on the fire service, fire in Maine, and other relevant topics. Please take a moment to read it. If you have any comments or concerns, don't hesitate to contact the Fire Marshal's Office. Also, if you are interested in submitting articles for the publication, contact Richard E. Taylor at (207) 626-3873 or email him at .
Education Feature of the Week: End of Life Care Educational Series
Karen Michaud, Director of Education ()
MHCA is offering something new with regard to education this year. We are presenting an educational series designed to raise awareness and provide up-to-date information about a specific and relevant issue, which has several facets to it that we will highlight in half-day sessions throughout the year. The objective of these sessions is to assist providers in meeting their goals for enhancing the quality of life for their residents.
This year's focus will be on ways to ensure the best possible care for residents when they are nearing the end of life. This first session, Tools & Strategies for Creating an Effective End of Life Care Program in Your Facility, was originally presented as a break out session at MHCA's 2006 Fall Conference and it was very well attended. Participants will learn how to develop a vision for improving end of life care in your facilities as well as discover some of the practical tools that can help transform that vision into a reality. Topics to be addressed will include: pain management, advanced care planning and physician orders, collaborating with community based hospice programs, recruiting hospice volunteers, creating an end of life care team, accessing the right tools for training and development, developing protocols for identifying residents with palliative care needs, life review and bereavement programs and tools for quality improvement. Education is the first step in developing a strong end of life program in your facility. Maine's long term care providers have shown a strong commitment to providing quality care to their residents. Responding to the urgent need for improving end of life care is simply a reflection of your dedication to your residents.
Date/Location: February 26, 2009 – Maine Health Care Association (Augusta)
Time: 12:30 PM Registration
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Educational Program
Job Code: W9021
The Presenter for this session is MHCA's Director of Quality Improvement and Regulatory Affairs, Tammy Rolfe. Tammy is a Registered Nurse. In addition, she has 25 years of experience as a licensed nursing home administrator in Vermont and Maine. She holds a Masters Degree in Health Policy and Management at the University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service.
This program has been approved for 3.0 continuing education units (CEUs) from the Maine Nursing Home Administrators Licensing Board. The cost for member facilities is $69 for the first registrant and $59 for each additional registrant from the same facility; for non-member facilities, the cost is $99 for the first registrant and $89 fore each additional registrant from the same facility. Please note, enrollment is limited for these sessions so we recommend that you register early.
There are 3 options to register for this program:
1. Send a completed Registration/Invoice form by mail, along with your payment, to: Maine Health Care Association - 317 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330, or
2. Fax your completed Registration/Invoice form to Maine Health Care Association at 623-4080, or
3. Visit the Professional Development section of our website (www.mehca.org) and complete a registration form online
Please Note: registrations submitted online or via fax must include payment information to be accepted.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact MHCA at 623-1146.
Survey Tips –Top TEN State of Maine Nursing Facility Citations During the Period (1/1/08 – 12/29/08)
Tammy Rolfe, Director of Quality Improvement and Regulatory Affairs ()
During the recent MHCA Nurse Leadership Training Program session Carol Cole shared the latest update of Maine’s top 10 Maine Regulation NF/SNF Survey citations during the period 1/1/08 to 12/29/08 and they are as follows:
F-Tag / Deficiency / Frequency1 / T001 / Initial Comments (no State citations issued) / 54
2 / T628 / Requirements (toilets and bathing facilities – often issued preceding request for waiver) / 12
3 / T222 / Minimum Staffing Rules / 11
4 / T 424 / Disposition of Medications / 10
5 / T369 / Quality of Care / 8
6 / T465 / Food Service Supervisor / 7
7 / T507 / Food Storage and Protection / 7
8 / T 363 / Documentation / 6
9 / T 445 / Records of Administration / 6
10 / T 605 / Requirements for Each Facility / 6
Enhance Staff Knowledge, Resident Care & Facility Operations with These NEW 2009 Resources from AHCA/NCAL
Dianne J. Chicoine, Manager of Business & Information Services ()
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) continually strive to offer our members and customers long term care resources and in-service programs that help ensure smoother facility operations, that provide staff vital regulatory/compliance information and that give frontline staff the knowledge and skills needed to provide the highest level of care for America's frail, elderly and disable.
At the end of the month, the 2009 AHCA/NCAL Resource Catalog will be mailed out. In the meantime, we invite you to preview more than a dozen of new and updated resources that have been added this year.Click herefor a complete listing with product descriptions, pricing and order information, or click on the titles below that are of interest to you.
Survey & Enforcement
The ICF/MR Survey - New Edition (#6236)
Disaster & Emergency Planning
Emergency Preparedness for Nursing Homes (#6844)
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan CD-Rom (#6844CD)
Emergency Management Kit (6844K)
Compliance & Regualtion
Clinical Documentation An Essential Guide for Long-Term Care Nurses (#8088)
Care Practice
The Social Services Guide for Long-Term Care (#8090)
I Was Thinking: Unlocking the Door to Success Conversations with Loved Ones with Cognitive Loss (#8085)
Hey! Help Me Here! An Overview of Behavior Management Principles DVD (#8082)
Managing Pain in the Older Adult (#8086)
Preventing Resident Falls: Establishing a Fall Intervention Program - 2nd Edition (#8087)
Evidence-Based Pressure Ulcer Prevention: A Study Guide for Nurses - 2nd Edition (#8084)
Quality Services
A Nursing Home Turnaround: From A-Z (#8077)
Reclaiming the Passion: Stories That Celebrate the Essence of Nursing (#8076)
Customer Service in Health Care (#8074)
Raising the Bar on Service Excellence: The Health Care Leader's Guide to Putting Passion into Practice (#8075)
The Long-Term Care Director of Nursing Filed Guide (#8089)
Talk To Me! Providing Quality Care Through Effective Staff to Staff Communication DVD (#8081)
Management & Leadership
Handbook of Long-Term Care Administration and Policy (#8080)
The Personal Side of Leadership (#8078)