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February 3, 2016
CMS Releases Guide on Preventing Readmissions Among Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health has released a new Guide to Preventing Readmissions among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries. The guide is designed to assist hospital leaders and stakeholders in identifying root causes and solutions for preventing avoidable readmissions among racially and ethnically diverse Medicare beneficiaries. The guide provides information on addressing avoidable readmissions by providing an overview of the issues related to readmissions for diverse Medicare beneficiaries, a set of seven key recommendations for hospital leaders, and examples of strategies that may be applied to reduce readmissions in diverse populations. Read the guide here.
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New Briefs on Medicare-Medicaid Integrated Care Programs
The SCAN Foundations' Center for Health Care Strategies has released briefs on key considerations for Medicare-Medicaid integrated care programs. The first brief highlights strategies for developing interdisciplinary care teams in eight states. The second brief covers how states are communicating early achievements with stakeholders. Visit The SCAN Foundation's website to see stories from five Medicare-Medicaid individuals in California who are experiencing improved outcomes in their communities.
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New Brief on Implementing Mental Health Screening in Routine Elder Abuse Services
The National Adult Protective Services Association, with the National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, has released a new Research to Practice Brief entitled "Improving Client Mental Health to Positively Impact Abuse Resolution." The brief follows up a webinar of the same name that discussed implementation of mental health screening and Problem-Solving Therapy (PST) in routine elder abuse services. The brief and webinar cover the Providing Options to Elderly Clients Together (PROTECT) mental health program which combines training to conduct routine screening for mental health concerns and integration of PST offered by a mental health clinician. Read the brief here and access the webinar here.
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Study Finds RNs and CNAs Work Fewer Hours in Facilities with Predominantly Ethnic and Racial Minority Residents
A recent alert from the Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) reviewed the findings of a December 2015 Health Affairs study which found that RNs and CNAs work fewer hours in nursing facilities that serve predominantly ethnic and racial minority residents. Researchers reviewed freestanding skilled nursing facilities from 2001 through 2011 and found significant health disparities for racial and ethnic minority residents.
"Although RN staffing levels increased slightly across-the-board for all nursing facilities during the ten-year period, facilities with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minoirty residents 'showed persistently lower RN hours per resident day.'...Additionally, certified nurse assistant (CNA) hours were reduced at facilities with greater numbers of ethnic and racial minority residents in recent years as a result of (1) the greater likelihood for nursing homes with higher concentrations of racial and ethnic minorities to receive relatively lower payments in the form of Medicaid dollars and (2) recent economic trends caused by the recession," the alert explains.
The findings of this study are significant because the increase of nurse staff hours has been shown to result in better quality of care. Read CMA's alert here.
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Comment Period Extended for Guidelines for State APS Systems
The Administration for Community Living has extended the comment period for the Draft Voluntary Consensus Guidelines for State Adult Protective Services (APS) Systems to February 8, 2016. Adult Protective Services systems play a critical role in addressing abuse, neglect and financial exploitation faced by older adults and adults with disabilities. The guidelines are intended to assist states in developing efficient and effective APS systems. For more information and to submit comments, click here.
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Toolkit Available on Advocating for Strong Implementation of HCBS Settings Rules in States
Consumer Voice joins Justice in Aging and disability advocacy groups in releasing a toolkit to help advocates push for strong implementation of the new Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rules in their states. The new HCBS Settings Rules require all settings funded by Medicaid HCBS programs to offer opportunities for individuals to be integrated into community life, control their personal resources, and pursue employment in competitive settings. States have submitted their transition plans to CMS, and in the next several months, many important decisions will be made at the state level and parameters of the plans will be set.
The toolkit includes a detailed overview of the HCBS Settings Rules and action steps for advocates to impact implementation of the new rules in their states. Toolkit documents include (linked where appropriate):
- The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Settings Rules: What You Should Know;
- Home and Community-Based Services Regulations Q&A: Settings Presumed to be Institutional & the Heightened Scrutiny Process, and
- The Home and Community-Based Settings Rules: How to Advocate for Truly Integrated Community Settings, as well as an abridged version of this resource.
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Spotlight on Educational Resources
The Consumer Voice and the National Ombudsman Resource Center (NORC) have a multitude of resources available online covering a wide range of long-term care topics. Visit the Consumer Voice website and the NORC website to explore all the available resources. Take a look at this week's highlighted resource:
Resources on Improving Nurse Staffing - This Consumer Voice page provides reports, best practices, fact sheets and archival information on improving nursing home staffing standards.
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In this Issue
CMS Releases Guide on Preventing Readmissions Among Diverse Medicare Beneficiaries
New Briefs on Medicare-Medicaid Integrated Care Programs
New Brief on Implementing Mental Health Screening in Routine Elder Abuse Services
Study Finds RNs and CNAs Work Fewer Hours at Facilities with Predominantly Ethnic and Racial Minority Residents
Comment Period Extended for Guidelines for State APS Systems
Toolkit Available on Advocating for Strong Implementation of HCBS Settings Rules in States
Spotlight on Educational Resources
Combined Federal Campaign
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Calendar of Events
Tuesday, February 16: Recognizing and Remedying Elder Financial Abuse in Medicaid Denials, 2:00pm ET, Part of series of National Elder Rights Training Project/Elder Abuse Prevention webinars for the National Legal Resource Center
November 2-5, 2016: Consumer Voice 40th Annual Conference, Arlington, VA
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