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July 5, 2017
New Information Released by CMS: Revised Interpretive Guidelines, New F-Tags and More!
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Survey & Certification Memo announcing the release of several new documents related to the revised federal nursing home regulations, and information about the new survey process and training resources. In the memo, CMS also revealed it will impose a one-year restriction of enforcement remedies for specific Phase 2 requirements and hold constant for one year the Nursing Home Compare health inspection rating for any surveys conducted after November 28, 2017.
Consumer Voice will provide advocates with more information about the Interpretive Guidelines once we have completed our review and analysis. Additional information about the new survey process will be coming as well.
Below is a summary of the Survey & Certification Memo:
Revised Interpretive Guidelines. These are contained in Revised State Operations Manual (SOM) Appendix PP. The guidelines are effective November 28, 2017. They include clarification to existing unchanged requirements, guidance for new requirements implemented in Phase 1, as well as guidance for the new Phase 2 regulations. CMS notes that it has added a section in some areas to the Interpretive Guidance titled “Key Elements of Noncompliance.” This is intended to provide guidance about the key behaviors and practices identified in the regulation. Note that Appendix PP uses newly designated F-Tags (see below).
A Crosswalk of Old F-Tags to New F-Tags. Since the regulatory sections in the revised rules were re-structured, CMS renumbered the F-Tags. Some tags were combined, and some tags were split into multiple subparts. These new F-Tags will be used after November 28, 2017. The crosswalk shows you old F-Tags and the corresponding new F-Tag(s).
Survey Process. CMS is launching a new, computer-based Long Term Care survey system at the same time that Phase 2 is implemented. Information about the survey process is available here, which includes a slide deck outlining the survey process.
Training Resources. CMS is providing several training resources on its website and on an MLN Connect call on July 25, 2017 from 1:30 to 3:00pm EST.
Enforcement and Nursing Home Compare Considerations. CMS states that to address concerns related to the scope and timing of the changes, it will provide limited enforcement remedies for certain Phase 2 provisions and will be holding constant the Nursing Home Compare health inspection rating for one year.
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Consumer Voice Remembers Kary Wilson Hyre
Consumer Voice is saddened by the passing of Kary Wilson Hyre. Kary was a passionate advocate for protecting the rights of vulnerable people. He was the Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman from 1989 to 2006. He worked tirelessly to improve the lives of nursing home residents. He will be greatly missed.
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End of Early Bird Registration is July 31
There is only one month left to get the best possible rate on the 2017 Consumer Voice Annual Conference. Register now! (Already registered? Be sure to book your hotel room.)
The 2017 Conference will include plenaries and sessions addressing such topics as:
- Residents' perspectives on quality care and quality of life
- The revised nursing home regulations, guidance, and new survey process
- Care coordination as the lynchpin to quality care
- Development of quality elder care guidelines for in-home care
- Preventing and responding to sexual assault in long-term care
- The relationship between resident satisfaction and quality of life
- Ombudsman Volunteer Program Management
- 30 years after OBRA ’87 – a look at nursing home quality
Get a head start on the conference with our two pre-conference intensives offered on Sunday, November 5th from 1:00pm-4:00pm. “Nursing Home Satisfaction Measures: What is Their Relationship to Quality?” and "Ombudsman Volunteer Management." Find a preliminary agenda here.
Group discounts are still available. Email info@theconsumervoice.org to apply.
We look forward to seeing you in November!
Plus, check out details on the 2017 Leadership Awards and becoming a conference sponsor.
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What do you have planned for Residents' Rights Month?
The time is now to start making plans for Residents' Rights Month in October. The theme for this year's Residents' Rights Month, "It's All About Me: My Life, My Care, My Choices," focuses on the respect and dignity of every resident. The theme highlights residents’ rights to choose their own schedule and activities, communicate how they choose, be free from abuse and unsafe environments, and be treated as an individual with unique wants and needs. Residents’ Rights Month is a time for residents, staff, families, ombudsmen, and other advocates to focus on resident-directed care and to emphasize the self-determination, choice, and quality of life of each resident.
Start planning now:
- Check out our Residents' Rights Month activity calendar with event suggestions for each day during October.
- Start putting together your submissions for this year's Resident's Voice Challenge. We'll be featuring selected submissions on our website homepage throughout October - submit your entry to see your artwork, poem, or essay highlighted!
- Promote this year's theme with 2017 Residents' Rights Month buttons and pre-order a Residents' Rights poster (shipping Aug. 1st).
- Review our theme-specific resources on personal directions, person-directed care and culture change.
- Let us know what you have planned in honor of RRM. Email your photos and event details to info@theconsumervoice.org, and we'll post them on our website.
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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:
Advocacy Toolkit - Consumer Voice's Advocacy Toolkit provides you with all of the tools necessary to craft and deliver an effective advocacy message.
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In this Issue
New Information Released by CMS: Revised Interpretive Guidelines, New F-Tags and More!
Consumer Voice Remembers Kary Wilson Hyre
End of Early Bird Registration is July 31
What do you have planned for Residents' Rights Month?
Spotlight on Resources
Combined Federal Campaign
#10552
Thank you for your support!
Materials Available from Webinar on Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations
Powerpoint slides and recording are now available from our recent webinar - A Deeper Dive into the Revised Federal Nursing Home Regulations: Taking Another Look at Key Sections. Miss any of our other "Deeper Dive" webinars? Find all materials on our website.
Calendar of Events
Tuesday, July 11: Legal Basics: Supported Decision-Making, 2:00pm ET, Webinar from Justice in Aging
November 5-8, 2017: Consumer Voice 41st Annual Conference, Arlington, VA
Join the conversation and follow us on social media!
Last Week's Most Popular Post:
Thursday, June 29:
Newly designed Residents' Rights Posters are now available for pre-order in our online store.
Last Week's Most Popular Tweet:
Thursday, June 29:
Newly designed Residents' Rights Posters are now available for pre-order in our online store.
Long-Term Care Resources & News
Read past issues of The Voice here.
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