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May 9, 2017

CMS Extends Transition Period for Compliance with Home and Community-Based Settings Rule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an information bulletin with more details on implementation of provisions of the final regulation defining a home and community-based setting.  The bulletin notifies states of an extension to the transition period for compliance with home and community-based settings criteria until March 17, 2022.  The three year extension is meant to help states ensure compliance activities are collaborative, transparent and timely.  Read the bulletin here.

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CMS Requests Feedback on Areas of Revised Nursing Home Regulations

As part of a proposed rule related to SNF payment and related issues, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking for stakeholder feedback on several areas of the recently revised nursing home regulations that the agency is considering for “modification or removal in an effort to reduce the burden and financial impact imposed on LTC facilities.”  These areas include the grievance process, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI), and transfer/discharge notices sent to the long-term care ombudsman.  

Regarding the discharge notices, CMS states it is soliciting comment as to whether the ombudsman can handle receiving this material and to what extent they will use information once received.  CMS is interested in feedback about the reduction in burden the changes in these three areas might have on nursing homes and what unintended negative consequences these revisions might have on resident care and outcomes; the agency particularly wants data and analysis about associated costs and benefits.  Comments are due by June 26, 2017. To learn more, go to the Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 85 / Thursday, May 4, 2017 / Proposed Rules, page 21089.

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Three New Briefs Available in Series on Revised Nursing Facility Regulations

Consumer Voice, along with the Center for Medicare Advocacy and Justice in Aging, has released three new briefs in their issue brief series, "A Closer Look at the Revised Nursing Facility Regulations."  

  • Return to Facility After Hospitalization - This brief explains bed hold rights when a resident returns to a facility after a hospitalization.  The brief provides information on advance notification of bed hold rights and residents' rights if they return to a facility after a bed hold period has been exceeded.
  • Grievances and Resident/Family Councils - This brief covers the resident's right to file grievances and the facility's requirement to work to resolve those concerns promptly.  Each facility must have a grievance policy and provide residents with information on how to file a grievance.  Also, residents have a right to form a resident council, and family members and resident representatives have the right to form a family council.  The facility must act upon council concerns and recommendations.
  • Quality of Care - The substantive requirements for quality of care are retained in the revised regulations, and CMS has affirmed the regulations' goals of supporting person-centered care and enabling each resident to attain his or her highest level of well-being.  This brief covers those regulations as well as providing information on how the quality of care provisions have been reorganized in the revised regulations.
These briefs were covered in the recent "Deeper Dive into the Revised Federal Nursing Facility Regulations" webinar.  The full set of issue briefs and corresponding issue briefs are available on the Consumer Voice website.

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Elder Justice Initiative Releases Multidisciplinary Team Toolkit

The Elder Justice Initiative (EJI) has launched the new Multidisciplinary Team Guide and Toolkit.  The Toolkit provides guidance for anyone looking to create or grow a local elder abuse multidisciplinary team (MDT).  EJI is holding a live walk-through of the Toolkit on Tuesday, May 30th at 2:00pm ET. The walk-through will highlight the layout and usability of the Toolkit, features from each chapter and questions and feedback.  Register here.

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MANHR Survey Shows Baby Boomer's Fear of Nursing Homes, Launches Campaign to Continue Advocacy for Nursing Home Residents

Massachusetts Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (MANHR) released a statement on Massachusetts' baby boomers' disdain for nursing homes.  In a MANHR-sponsored survey, 250 Massachusetts residents age 52-72 shared their attitudes towards nursing homes in MA, including issues of staffing and quality care.  Survey respondents showed overwhelming anxiety about nursing homes with over 90% saying they feared a move into a nursing home.  Read the press release here.

MANHR has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to continue their efforts as Massachusett's only consumer group advocating for nursing home residents.  Find more information here.

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AHRQ Releases Toolkit to Reduce Urinary Tract Infections in Long-Term Care

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) released a Toolkit to Reduce CAUTI and Other HAIs in Long-Term Care Facilities.  Consumer Voice was a partner on this project. The toolkit is based on the experiences of 450 nursing homes that participated in the AHRQ Safety Program for Long-Term Care: Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs)/Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs).  The toolkit combines clinical interventions and best practices for infection prevention with behavior change elements that promote leadership involvement, improvement in safety culture, teamwork, and communication, and sustainability. Its user-friendly educational modules, guides, and tools can help facilities advance from the "what to do" to the "how to do it.”  They include: Using the Comprehensive Long-Term Care Safety Toolkit; Senior Leader Engagement; Staff Empowerment; Teamwork and Communication; Resident and Family Engagement; Sustainability; Indwelling Urinary Catheter Use and Care; and Urine Culturing and Antibiotic Stewardship.

For more information on infection prevention, visit Consumer Voice's issue page on the topic.

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Spotlight on 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:

Dehydration in Nursing Home Residents - This Consumer Voice fact sheet provides information on causes, symptoms and prevention of dehydration in nursing home residents.

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In this Issue

CMS Extends Transition Period for Compliance with Home and Community-Based Settings Rule

CMS Requests Feedback on Areas of Revised Nursing Home Regulations

Three New Briefs Available in Series on Revised Nursing Facility Regulations

Elder Justice Initiative Releases Multidisciplinary Team Toolkit

MANHR Survey Shows Baby Boomers Fear of Nursing Homes, Launches Campaign to Continue Advocacy for Nursing Home Residents

AHRQ Releases Toolkit to Reduce Urinary Tract Infections in Long-Term Care


Spotlight on Resources


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Save the Date:

Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference

November 5-8, 2017
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
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Calendar of Events


Wednesday, May 10
: Building Relationships Between Mental Health and Aging Services, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors

Wednesday, May 17: Elder Financial Abuse and Medicaid Denials, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from Justice in Aging

Thursday, May 18: A Spotlight on Older Adults and Behavioral Health, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from National Council on Aging

Tuesday, May 30: Multidisciplinary Team Guide and Toolkit, 2:00pm ET, Walk-through from Elder Justice Initiative

Wednesday, May 31: LTCOP Volunteer Management: Model Materials and Sharing of Best Practices, 3:00pm ET, NORC Webinar

November 5-8, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA


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The Voice is a weekly e-newsletter, published by the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care. If you do not wish to continue receiving this publication, please unsubscribe below. Your contributions and comments are welcome and should be sent to info@theconsumervoice.org. Copyright © 2017.

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