January 7, 2014

CMS Issues Proposed Regulations for Emergency Preparedness

CMS has issued proposed regulations for emergency preparedness that include nursing homes. The proposed rule would establish national emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare- and Medicaid-participating providers and suppliers to ensure that they adequately plan for both natural and man-made disasters.  Comments are due February 25th. Read the proposed rule.

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CDC Issues Brief Report on Dementia Special Care Units in Residential Care Communities

In November the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) issued a data brief on the number and characteristics of dementia care units in residential care communities in the Unites States.  The data are for 2010.  Following are the key findings and summary from the CDC’s website (note: reference links in original removed):

• In 2010, 17% of residential care communities had dementia special care units.
• Beds in dementia special care units accounted for 13% of all residential care beds.
• Residential care communities with dementia special care units were more likely than those without to have more beds, be chain-affiliated, and be purposely built as a residential care community, and less likely to be certified or registered to participate in Medicaid.
• Residential care communities with dementia special care units were more likely than those without to be located in the Northeast and in a metropolitan statistical area, and less likely to be in the West.
  

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Department of Justice Releases Publications Explaining ADA Mediation Program

The Department of Justice issued two new publications explaining its ADA Mediation Progrm.  The ADA Mediation Program resolves many ADA complaints quickly and effectively.  Resolving ADA Complaints Through Mediation: An Overview gives an outline of the program, and ADA Mediation Program: Questions and Answers responds to frequently asked questions about the program.

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ABA Commission on Law and Aging Posts State Adult Guardianship Legislative Update

The ABA Commission on Law and Aging posted its 2013 State Adult Guardianship Legislative Update describing the 32 adult guardianship bills that passed in 24 states from January through December 2013.  Read the update.

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Office on Violence Against Women Releases Solicitation for Awards for Elder Abuse Training

The Office on Violence Against Women has released the Fiscal Year 2014 Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program solicitation.  The program will provide three year awards for up to a total of $400,000 to local communities to address elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.  Award funds must be used to organize training and cross-training for criminal justice and other professionals, develop services for older victims, and create or enhance a coordinated community response.  The application deadline is February 5th.  For more information and to apply, visit the Office of Violence Against Women's website.

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CMS Issues Revision to Enforcement Actions for Automatic Sprinkler Systems in Skilled Nursing Facilities

On December 20, 2013, CMS issued a revision to enforcement actions for automatic sprinkler systems in skilled nursing facilities.  Read the latest revision.

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Nursing Facility Bed Locator Available in South Carolina

The South Carolina DHHS and South Carolina Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging have designed the Nursing Facility Bed Locator.  The purpose of the application is to provide up to the minute information on the availability of private pay, Medicare rehabilitation, and Medicaid beds in long-term care facilities in South Carolina.  Facilities can receive an email every morning, simply reply to it, put their availability numbers in the subject line, and send.  When the system receives the email, the data is automatically updated.  The facilities can also login to the website and update all of their facility information live.  The facilities receiving Medicaid also enter their permit days into the system via the same methods, allowing more timely usage and target data.  South Carolina is currently in the process of expanding the bed locator to include an assisted living facility module.  The is site is available at: www.nfbl.sc.gov.

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AARP Public Policy Institute Releases Report on the Readiness Review Process for Care Coordination and Provider Network Adequacy in Five States

The AARP Public Policy Institute has released a report entitled "Ready, Set, Go! The Readiness Review Process for Care Coordination and Provider Network Adequacy in Five States."  Through interviews ith Medicaid officials in Arizona, Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, AARP identified themes related to how these states ensure that managed care organizations are ready to provide these two components of managed LTSS before they begin enrolling vulnerable consumers.

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AMDA Releases Free Program Aimed at Decreasing Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Medications

AMDA - Dedicated to Long Term Care Medicine released a free program of interactive courses aimed at decreasing the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications for nursing home residents and improving the overall quality of care given to persons with dementia.  "Dementia in the Long-Term Care Setting, Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribers" and "Dementia in the Long-Term Care Setting, Clinical Practice Guideline for Non-Prescribers" were developed to support a more appropriate care process for nursing home residents with dementia by providing an innovative, interactive, technology-based means of disseminating evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the assessment and management of nursing home residents with a suspected diagnosis of dementia.  For more information, read the press release.

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