Attached below is important information for the Long-term Care Facility COVID-19 Module regarding modifications for the NHSN release that will occur March 2022. Resources on the NHSN LTCF COVID-19 Module website will be updated, where indicated, with revised forms, instructions, FAQs and CSV templates. Information regarding training opportunities is also available on the NHSN LTCF COVID-19 Module Website.
Category: Events
HQIN COVID-19 Vaccine Office Hours
Have You Had Your Weekly Dose?
The Health Quality Innovation Network’s Weekly Dose Office Hours webinar series provides current updates on COVID-19 guidance and vaccine information. As a Medicare Quality Innovation Network – Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), HQIN is dedicated to helping you increase your vaccination rates.
This forum for vaccine and booster questions features interactive, peer-to-peer collaboration following a brief presentation. Each session includes best practices and innovative idea sharing as well as tips for improving resident and staff safety. Weekly Dose Office Hours are held Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. CT/2:00 pm. ET. Register for the next Office Hours, as well as upcoming sessions, at this link: https://tinyurl.com/575d66tn.
For a 30-second overview of the Office Hours, watch this brief video: https://tinyurl.com/2p83yhjy.
MHCA Developing New Leaders in Your Facility-The Skills That Make All the Difference
May 17-June 1, 2022: Developing New Leaders in Your Facility
Ensuring that potential or new supervisors have the skills to lead is vital to the achievement of your clinical, financial, regulatory, and resident experience goals. Far too often staff are promoted simply because they were exceptional in their current roles. A great nurse, cook, or admission coordinator may not yet be ready to be a great unit manager, food service or marketing director. This webinar series will help your people make that leap – and familiarize you with the strategies you need to help them succeed!
MHCA LTC Administrator Training
May 25, 2022: Long-Term Care Administrator 101
If you are like most administrators, your endless daily to-do’s get longer and longer. This course is a new administrator’s one-stop-shop! It is also a great review for an experienced administrator. This course will review operational and administrative topics such as requirements of participation (ROPs), the survey process, CASPER reports (including how to access them), Five-Star Quality Rating System (all three domains!), Care Compare, QAPI and SO MUCH MORE! You will also be guided through all the resources available at your fingertips. Join us for this full day of education that will promote your administrator knowledge to the next level. This workshop is being offered both in-seat and virtually.
MHCA’s Federal Review Course for NHA’s
June 27-28, 2022: Federal Review Course for Nursing Home Administrators Examinees
The purpose of the Review Course is to help attendees prepare for the nursing home administrators federal licensure exam. Theoretical, philosophical and practical aspects of long-term care administration are discussed. The instructor will review sample test questions from the study workbook, which is provided free to all attendees. Study tips will be suggested throughout the workshop, therefore, it is recommended that attendees allow sufficient time to study on their own after attending the review course and before sitting for the exam. Review course materials have been revised and updated to reflect the structure of the current examination. This workshop is being offered both in-seat and virtually.
CNA Upcoming Testing
The following are updated CNA Testing sites.
Note: These are not the only test sites available. Please contact Headmaster D&S if you are need a different testing location.
Headmaster D & S: 1-800-393-8664 – Please ask for the Missouri Team!
All Regional dates are viewable on the online calendar at https://mo.tmutest.com/calendar.
To help with scheduling your testing event, contact Headmaster a few days after the CNA course starts.
Gladstone
-
-
- March 24
- April 7
- April 17
- April 21
- April 28
-
St John/ St. Louis Area
-
-
- April 9
- April 12
- April 23
-
Bolivar
-
-
- March 23
-
Kirkwood
-
-
- March 24
-
Kansas City
-
-
- March 21
- March 24
- March 25
- March 29
- March 31
- April 1
-
Trenton
-
-
- April 13
- May 14
-
MANHA’s 2022 Annual Convention
June 5-8, 2022: Mandatory PPE – People Pride Endurance
Location: Camden on the Lake, Lake Ozark
Missouri Association of Nursing Home Administrators is pleased to invite you to attend our 2022 Annual Convention. This conference is a focus on the Administrators and staff after an unprecedented 2 years. The goal of this conference is to provide meaningful, forward thinking, and real-time education to pave the path forward while acknowledging the past and working through hard topics, together.
VOYCE 2022 Long-Term Care Conference
June 15, 2022: Care – Who We Are. What We Do. Where We Go From Here.
Location: Maryland Heights Community Center, St. Louis
The program will explore and highlight insights and learned experiences from internationally renowned geriatricians, educators, and leaders in the long-term care community. Join us as we reflect on the journey we have made together as a community and gain inspiration for the steps that we are yet to take.
Other presentation topics include residents’ rights, addressing loneliness and isolation for long-term care residents, and the interplay between ageism as a social determinant of health and end-of-life care.
Pioneer Network ‘s Annual Conference – Save the Date
July 24-27, 2022: Pioneering a New Culture of Aging: Honoring the Past, Treasuring the Present, Shaping the Future
Location: Sheraton Downtown Denver in Denver, Colorado
Pioneer Network’s goal is to bring together individuals from across the United States and other countries who care deeply about changing the culture of aging and to make this event meaningful to people who support culture change in all settings within the elder care continuum.
National Long-Term Care Administrator’s Week
March 14-18, 2022, is National Long-Term Care Administrator’s Week. During this week, please take the opportunity to say “thank you” and honor our Missouri administrators who lead our state’s long-term care communities. Administrators are the key players in the care of our residents. They are entrusted with the responsibility of managing the long-term care communities to ensure that their staff provide the highest level of quality care to our residents.
CMS Memo: QSO-20-38-NH: Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements REVISED 03/10/2022
- CMS is committed to taking critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities continue to respond effectively to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE).
- On August 25, 2020, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period (IFC). This rule establishes Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements for Staff and Residents. Specifically, facilities are required to test residents and staff, including individuals providing services under arrangement and volunteers, for COVID-19 based on parameters set forth by the HHS Secretary. This memorandum provides guidance for facilities to meet the new requirements.
- Replaced the term “vaccinated” with “Up-to-date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses” and deleted the term “unvaccinated.”
- Updated the recommendations for testing individuals within 90 days after recovering from COVID-19.
Please see the full memo at https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/interim-final-rule-ifc-cms-3401-ifc-additional-policy-and-regulatory-revisions-response-covid-19-0.
CMS Memo: QSO-20-39-NH: Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19 REVISED 03/10/2022
- CMS is committed to continuing to take critical steps to ensure America’s healthcare facilities are prepared to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (PHE).
- Visitation Guidance: CMS is issuing new guidance for visitation in nursing homes during the COVID-19 PHE, including the impact of COVID-19 vaccination.
- Visitation is allowed for all residents at all times.
- Replaced the term “vaccinated” with “up-to-date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses” and deleted “unvaccinated.”
- Updated visitor screening and quarantine criteria.
Please see the full memo at https://www.cms.gov/medicareprovider-enrollment-and-certificationsurveycertificationgeninfopolicy-and-memos-states-and/nursing-home-visitation-covid-19-revised.
Medicaid Resource (Spend-Down) Limit
The Medicaid Resource (Spend-Down) Limit has been increased to $5,035 as of 07/01/21. Please see the link https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/appendix_j.pdf.
F569 states the facility must notify each resident/legal guardian that receives Medicaid benefits when the amount in the resident’s account reaches $200 less than the SSI resource limit.
The current $200 amount would be at $4,835 or higher.
Feel free to contact Lynn Gilmore, Lead Auditor, at 573-508-4150 if you have any questions.
New Updates to the Headmaster Student Handbook and Mock Skills for CNA Testing
Please see the updated Headmaster Student Handbook and Mock Skills including key step changes for those students testing March 15, 2022 and after.
Please visit Headmaster’s website for those changes at https://hdmaster.com/testing/cnatesting/missouri/MO_CNA_Home.htm.
For questions regarding the changes, please call the Health Education Unit at 573-526-5686 or email us at CNARegistry@health.mo.gov. You may also call Headmaster and ask for the Missouri Team at 1-800-201-0462.
Governor Parson Announces Paula Nickelson to Lead Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
During a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Mike Parson announced that he has selected Paula Nickelson to serve as the Acting Director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), effective March 1, 2022.
“Today, we are excited to announce Paula Nickelson as the new DHSS Acting Director,” Governor Parson said. “Paula was a key player in Missouri’s COVID-19 response efforts and has been a valued member at DHSS for more than 22 years. We are confident in her abilities and proud to welcome her to our Cabinet as we move forward from the COVID pandemic and prepare for what comes next in public health.”
Nickelson, a Missouri native, has served within DHSS for more than 22 years and has a distinguished career in public health and health care management. For most of her time with the Department, she has been a leader in several program areas, including maternal-child health, chronic disease prevention, and emergency preparedness and response.
Nickelson was also involved in the state’s H1N1 response and planning efforts following the 9/11 attacks. Most recently, she was instrumental in a number of COVID-19 response efforts.
Over the past two years, Nickelson has put her vast experience to work as a reliable, calming, and realistic leader to implement game-changing solutions during COVID-19. She helped establish the state’s first PPE warehouse, led an interagency team that implemented the “box it in” COVID mitigation strategy for long-term care facilities, oversaw the state’s antigen testing program, and led the implementation of the state’s decontamination system for N95 masks for health care workers when resources were still scarce.
Nickelson also developed strategies to establish state-funded monoclonal antibody infusion sites and was part of the team responsible for providing health care staffing support during two separate occasions.
“It is a great privilege to be asked to lead the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services,” said DHSS Acting Director Paula Nickelson. “I am committed to enhancing our collaborative work with our local public health partners, our health care and behavioral health partners and all community partners. We will be focusing on the state’s leading causes of morbidity and mortality; prioritizing health equity; and ensuring updated data systems, performance management, and operational excellence tools are in place so we can serve Missourians in the best ways possible.”
Nickelson earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Central Missouri and a Master of Education in counseling psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
CNA Upcoming Testing
Note: These are not the only test sites available. Please contact Headmaster D&S if you are need a different testing location.
Headmaster D & S: 1-800-393-8664 – Please ask for the Missouri Team!
All Regional dates are viewable on the online calendar at https://mo.tmutest.com/calendar.
To help with scheduling your testing event, contact Headmaster a few days after the CNA course starts.
The following are updated CNA Testing sites.
Gladstone – Mercy Health
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- March 10
- March 17
- March 24
St John/ St. Louis Area
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- March 10
- March 15
- March 17
- March 24
- March 31
- April 12
- May 10
Farmington
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- March 8
- March 14
- March 15
- March 22
Kansas City
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- March 4
- March 7
- March 8
- March 17
- March 18
- March 22
- March 25
- March 29
- March 31
Virtual Knowledge
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- March 5
- March 8
- March 9
- March 14
- March 16
- March 19
- March 21
- March 23
- March 26
- March 28
COVID-19 Reporting Changes
Effective 2/26/2022, facilities (RCF, ALF, SNF, ICF, and ICF-IID) no longer need to report the aggregate number of residents and staff tested during outbreak testing to the DHSS redcap portal. Below is a chart which outlines current reporting requirements.
|
|
Reporting Process/Form |
System |
Purpose/Description |
Required? |
Time Frame |
|
1 |
REDCap: DHSS |
Reporting form for all positive case results, including staff and residents. This includes POC and PCR testing.** |
Yes, for all SNF, ICF, RCF, ALF, ICF-IID and Adult Day Care |
Within 24 hours of positive result |
|
|
2 |
Web Portal: Managed by NHSN |
NHSN-required fields solely for certified nursing homes (SNF/NFs). |
Yes, for all certified SNF/NF. Voluntary for any state licensed only facility (RCF/ALF/Adult Day Care) or ICF-IID. |
Weekly, with a preference for submission on the same day each week |
|
|
3 |
Web Portal: NHSN |
POC test reporting that includes both positive and negative POC test results (even if potentially a false positive). |
Yes, for any facility not reporting to DHSS in Row 4 |
Within 24 hours of result of POC test |
|
|
4 |
Secure File Transfer/CSV file: DHSS |
POC test reporting that includes both positive and negative POC test results (even if potentially a false positive). |
Yes, for any facility not reporting to NHSN in Row 3 |
Within 24 hours of result of POC test |
**Effective 2/25/2022, the Electronic COVID-19 Case Reporting System now requires entry of laboratory (testing) information when Positive Test for COVID-19 is selected as the Reason for Reporting. This change will allow for the data to more easily be ingested into Epitrax and readily available to Local Public Health Agencies- reducing follow-up contacts and calls to facilities to obtain the information.
MLN Annual LTC Convention
April 6-8, 2022: 68th Annual Long-Term Care Convention
Location: Margaritaville, Osage Beach
MLN’s primary goal during the Annual Long-Term Care Convention is to provide educational and networking opportunities that help our valued members, long-term care administrators and professionals, health care providers and guests. This program has been approved for 18.5 licensed administrator continuing education hours (8.5 A and 10 PC) by the Missouri Board of Nursing Home Administrators.
MANHA Dementia Programing Seminar
April 7, 2022: Independence
April 27, 2022: Lake Ozark
April 28, 2022: St. Louis
Dementia Programming: A Hands-on Approach
Understanding and managing dementia is difficult, even on the good days. This seminar will focus on a presentation of practical knowledge for the care of individuals with dementia in long-term care, including a brief overview of dementia as an illness including the various types and symptoms and the stages of the illness. By identifying the progression of the disease, you can tailor the care and communication to fit the needs of the resident in a compassionate and person-directed way. You will also learn the practical steps of running an effective dementia unit in a long-term care facility, including the regulations that apply specifically to this type of care. This hands-on workshop will give you real-time practice and knowledge for not only interpreting the difference between actions and “behaviors”, but it will expand your understanding of clinical symptoms versus human reactions and building that knowledge into a safe, compassionate, living environment that is supportive to your residents and your staff.
CMP Applications for Portable Fans and Portable Room Air Cleaners
CMS has authorized the use of federal Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment funds to purchase portable fans and portable room air cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA, H-13 or – 14) filters to increase or improve air quality. A maximum use of $3,000 per facility including shipping costs may be requested. This opportunity is for facilities certified to participate in the Medicare and/or Medicaid programs. Since these are federal CMP funds, Residential Care and Assisted Living Facilities may not apply.
COVID-19_In-Person Visitation Application FAQ
COVID-19_In-Person Visitation Application Template
Please send completed applications to slcrcmp@health.mo.gov.
COMRU Upcoming Q & A Sessions
Please join COMRU (Central Office Medical Review unit) for a Q & A session via WebEx.
February 18, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Meeting number (access code): 2460 218 4769
Meeting password: MfVVW7asP23
Join from the meeting link: https://stateofmo.webex.com/stateofmo/j.php?MTID=m39c2a820985815deeedb03d8a797224d
Join from a video system or application: Dial 24602184769@stateofmo.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-650-479-3207,,24602184769## Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110,,24602184769## United States Toll (Chicago)
Join by phone
1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)
Global call-in numbers
CNA Testing Events
Needing to schedule a CNA test? The following are dates and locations are already set. Please call Headmaster to register.
February 12, 2022: Cape Girardeau
February 14, 2022: Farmington (opens to public 48 hours prior)
February 17, 2022: Macon
February 19, 2022: St. Charles Community College (opens to public 48 hours prior)
February 22, 2022: Friendship Village, St. Louis
March 7, 2022: Nichols Career Center, Jefferson City
March 9, 2022: North Central College, Trenton
April 4, 2022: Nichols Career Center, Jefferson City
May 9, 2022: Nichols Career Center, Jefferson City
Other dates and locations may be available. Please call Headmaster at 1-800-393-8664 and ask for the Missouri Team.
MALA Spring Conference
April 3-5, 2022: Missouri Assisted Living Association 2022 Spring Conference
Location: Camden on the Lake, Lake Ozark, MO
Information including the conference agenda and registration for attending the Missouri Assisted Living Association’s 2022 Spring Conference is now available.
CNA Upcoming Q & A Sessions
Please join the Health Education Unit and Headmaster D&S for a Q & A session via WebEx.
February 24, 2022
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Meeting number (access code): 2469 473 6547
Meeting password: XmZzZpGU333
Join from the meeting link: https://stateofmo.webex.com/stateofmo/j.php?MTID=m435f25d8d4673f8a5751b9a947ca7d99
Join from a video system or application: Dial 24694736547@stateofmo.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-650-479-3207,,24694736547## Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110,,24694736547## United States Toll (Chicago)
Join by phone
1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)
Global call-in numbers
March 2, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Meeting number (access code): 2461 178 6617
Meeting password: 8PrkA9XGZD6
Join from the meeting link: https://stateofmo.webex.com/stateofmo/j.php?MTID=m2652b2befd6a4e2b64bf3da2581863b3
Join from a video system or application: Dial 24694736547@stateofmo.webex.com
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)
+1-650-479-3207,,24611786617## Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110,,24611786617## United States Toll (Chicago)
Join by phone
1-650-479-3207 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)
Global call-in numbers
SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Submission Deadline Reminder
SNFs are required to report data to meet the SNF QRP requirements. The submission deadline for the SNF QRP is approaching. MDS data for 7/1/21 through 6/30/21 must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 15, 2022.
The Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 must be transmitted to CMS through the Assessment Submission and Processing (ASAP) system to the Quality Improvement Evaluation System (QIES). No additional reporting is required.
As a reminder, it is recommended that providers run applicable CASPER reports prior to each quarterly reporting deadline, in order to ensure that all required data has been submitted.
Swingtech sends informational messages to SNFs that are not meeting APU thresholds on a quarterly basis ahead of each submission deadlines. If you need to add or change the email addresses to which these messages are sent, please email QRPHelp@swingtech.com and be sure to include your facility name and CMS Certification Number (CCN) along with any requested email updates.
More information about SNF QRP can be found on the following webpages:
- CMS SNF QRP Data Submission Deadlines webpage – https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Skilled-Nursing-Facility-Quality-Reporting-Program/SNF-Quality-Reporting-Program-Data-Submission-Deadlines
- CMS SNF QRP Help webpage – https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Skilled-Nursing-Facility-Quality-Reporting-Program/SNF-Quality-Reporting-Program-QRP-Help
- CMS SNF QRP Measures and Technical Information webpage – https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Skilled-Nursing-Facility-Quality-Reporting-Program/SNF-Quality-Reporting-Program-Measures-and-Technical-Information
- CMS SNF QRP Training Webpage – https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/NursingHomeQualityInits/Skilled-Nursing-Facility-Quality-Reporting-Program/SNF-Quality-Reporting-Program-Training
- SNF QRP CASPER Reports – https://qtso.cms.gov/system/files/qtso/cspr_sec13_mds_prvdr_5.pdfPDF Document