2020 Health Care Observances

September 2020 marks, among other observances, National Assisted Living Week starting September 13 through September 19. The 2020 Healthcare Observances Calendar can be found here.

Registration Is Now Open for the 71st AHCA/NCAL Virtual Convention & Expo

Learn what’s in store for this year’s one-of-a-kind experience, and register today.

This year, the virtual convention runs from October 8-31st. That means you get 24 days of access to on-demand sessions. You can earn up to 50 CEs. Topics are wide ranging and focus on what you need to know to deal with the challenges of today. Topics include:

• Infection Control and Prevention
• Person-Centered Care
• Behavioral Health
• Clinical Care
• Assisted Living
• ID/DD and Not for Profit
• Workforce Solutions
• Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management
• Reimbursement
• Technology and Innovation
• Quality Improvement
• Post-Acute Care
• PDPM

Get-Together Thursdays offer special live sessions during convention with moderated chats, Q&As, networking lounges, and more. Find out more about Get-Together Thursdays’ General Session Speakers, and mark your calendars for these exciting events.

Thanks to our Pledge Partners and exhibitors, the virtual Expo Hall will be available to explore 24-7 throughout the duration of convention. You can demo products, download brochures, and chat with representatives from industry-specific businesses that may just have the solution you are seeking.

Join your colleagues to reflect, share, and learn. Register now.

AHCA/NCAL Seeks $100 Billion More for HHS Provider COVID-19 Relief Fund

On behalf of the nation’s long term care providers, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) on Tuesday said it is requesting an additional $100 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Provider Relief Fund as the battle against the COVID-19 virus continues unabated.

AHCA/NCAL said the fund, which is accessible for all health care providers impacted by COVID-19, should dedicate a sizable portion of its monies to help nursing facilities and assisted living communities cover the enormous costs associated with protecting vulnerable residents and staff from the virus. This includes constant testing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and staffing. Additional details can be found here.

Deadline Extended: Medicaid Application for Provider Relief Fund

HHS extended the application deadline for the Medicaid tranche of the COVID Provider Relief Fund to Monday, August 3, 2020. The payment to each provider will be approximately 2 percent of reported gross revenue from patient care, and the final amount each provider receives will be determined after the data is submitted. 

Unlike previous funding tranches, this is not a first-come, first-serve process. These funds are available to providers who have not received payment from the General Distribution to Medicare providers, and have billed Medicaid or Medicaid managed care plans for health care-related services between January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2019. 

AHCA/NCAL has a tips sheet and step-by-step guide for providers on how to successfully navigate the Provider Relief Fund Payment Portal for non-SNF Medicaid providers. 

Instructions for the application form can be found here. For additional information, please see the Medicaid and CHIP Distribution FAQs. 

The application portal, as well as an application tutorial recording and Medicaid Provider Fund fact sheet can be found here. Please take time to ensure all of the data is gathered and accurate before submission. 

Please email COVID19@ahca.org for additional questions, or visit ahcancal.org/coronavirus for more information.

Coronavirus

Visit the AHCA/NCAL Coronavirus website daily for the latest information that we have to share with long term care providers about COVID-19.  As concerns arise with the emerging Coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, we are working nationally with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure our long term care communities receive necessary supplies and guidance to prevent the spread of this disease.

“Faces of Care”

In an effort to showcase both COVID-19 recoveries and the long term care heroes who make these recoveries possible, we have launched a page on CareNotCOVID.com titled “Faces of Care.” The landing page, CareNotCOVID.com/faces, features a gallery of residents who have recovered from COVID-19 as well as long term care staff who have stepped up to keep residents safe during the pandemic. There is also a form on the website to collection submissions of stories of hope from long term care facilities across the country. We are using news stories that we receive, videos and other testimonials.

On AHCA/NCAL social channels, we will continue to use the hashtag #CareNotCOVID to encourage others to share their stories and gain traffic to the site – serving our larger goal of continuing to push out positive, real-world examples of hope and support for long term care residents and caregivers.

We Need You for Our Social Media Initiative

AHCA/NCAL began a social media advocacy initiative last year and is encouraging all members to get involved.  The effort focuses on improving the overall image of the post-acute and long term care profession by sharing positive stories and pushing back on pieces that attempt to tie all providers to isolated negative events.

AHCA/NCAL will be sending interested members tips for getting more involved on social media, best practices for posting content, sample posts, and a roundup of positive stories about the profession on a regular basis. Individuals who want to get involved should email socialmedia@ahca.org to get on the mailing list.

The campaign also will include a rapid response to stories that are unfairly negative about the profession or do not accurately portray the reality of post-acute and long term care.  AHCA/NCAL hopes to build on these successes as the year continues. With thousands of buildings nationwide who touch the lives of millions of people, there is the chance to seriously affect the way the profession is viewed and treated by lawmakers and the media.