LeadingAge Ohio participated in the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) quarterly provider association meeting on March 9. A summary of updates is as follows:
Average Annual Survey Timelines:
Quarterly Nursing Home Report Highlights (July 1 - September 30, 2017): ODH has the Nursing Facility Quarterly Reports available on ODH website under this link. These reports will also contain the list of deficiency-free surveys in the quarter. ODH conducted a total of 1065 surveys (840 compliant, 166 standard and 59 combined)
2567 Update:
Per CMS requirements, as of January 2018 a facility’s Plan of Correction (POC) is available to the public on ODH’s website as well as the Long-term Care Consumer Guide. The 2567s will also include the IJ reports.
Enforcement Updates:
Chip Glass reported that providers may have noticed that ODH was recommending fewer civil monetary penalties (CMPs); instead, ODH has been imposing discretionary denials of payment and has directed in-service training recommendations. The imposition of directed in-service trainings requires that the facility engage an individual external to the institution, i.e. independent of facility and its corporate structure. The individual has to be qualified to provide the training and approved by ODH to provide that training. ODH has the authority to impose a discretionary denial of payment for a period of 15 to 90 days. However, unlike the mandatory denial of payment, when ODH imposes a discretionary denial of payment, it does not require CMS approval and is effective on the date issued. ODH has generally imposed the discretionary denial of payment for a period of 45 to 80 days.
Pressure Ulcer Guides:
ODH has submitted a proposal for CMP funds to purchase pressure ulcer guides for NFs as pressure ulcers continue to be one of the consistent top 10 citations. The guide will assist with accurate reporting and staging of pressure ulcers. The project once approved by CMS will allow for each certified NF to have five copies of the pressure ulcer guide. These copies will be dropped-shipped directly from the publisher with a letter informing the provider of the purpose of the guides as well as requesting the provider share data with ODH on how they are using the guide. There was a discussion on offering this as a QIP. ODH is looking to purchase the same guide for surveyors.
Grant Opportunities:
Deb Heubrin encouraged providers to avail themselves of the grant opportunities through the Bureau of Worker’s Comp (BWC) and ODH. BWC has two grant opportunities, (1) Safety Intervention Grant that has about $1.8 million for 64 safety intervention projects for LTC, and (2) $2 million for training and equipment for those facilities working with the developmentally disabled population. ODH has the Ohio Older Adult Falls Prevention Coalition on its website and the coalition offers approximately $4,000 awards for facilities to use. It is due TOMORROW, Friday, March 16.
Rules updates included:
3701-16 (Residential Care Facilities) were effective March 1, 2018.
3701-64 (Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, Misappropriation) are being re-posted soon.
ODH Responds to CMS Initiative of Antipsychotic Late Adopters
ODH provided an update related to the CMS initiative on facilities that have had limited reduction rates of antipsychotic use. ODH confirmed that surveyors and ombudsman will know the facilities that are late adopters related to the antipsychotic measure. The CMS communication related to late adopters can be found on the National Partnerships to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes website. Since the launch of the National Partnership, significant reductions in the prevalence of antipsychotic medication use in long-stay nursing home residents have been documented. The National Partnership continues to work with state coalitions and nursing homes to reduce that rate even further. Recently, CMS announced a new national goal, involving a 15 percent reduction of antipsychotic medication use by the end of 2019 for long-stay residents in those homes with currently limited reduction rates. This goal builds on the progress made to date and expresses the Partnership’s commitment to continue this important effort.
While the initial focus was on reducing the use of antipsychotic medications, the Partnership’s larger mission is to enhance the use of non-pharmacologic approaches and person-centered dementia care practices.
Additional information about the National Partnership can be found by visiting the download files listed below. Questions may be directed to dnh_behavioralhealth@cms.hhs.gov.
Resident Satisfaction Survey Results to be Posted Soon
Ohio Department of Aging stated that the resident satisfaction survey results will be posted any day on the long term care consumer guide. It was noted that the overall satisfaction percentage will be lower compared to prior years due to the changing in the survey tool.
If you have any questions or concerns that you would like raised at these quarterly ODH meetings, please contact Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org or Nisha Hammel at nhammel@leadingageohio.org.