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Increasingly government agencies are using auditors to recover overpayments from providers. In just the initial pilot study, the Recover Audit Contractor (RAC) program found $1.03 billion in overpayments. The success of that program motivated Congress to increase the size of the RAC program and to create Medicaid Integrity Contracts (MICs) that will target Medicaid overpayments. All indications show that these programs are nearing the end of their preparations period and that providers will start feeling their impact soon.

This program, using real world examples and actual findings from auditing programs, will educate participants about the RAC and MIC process and make recommendations for providers to aid them in preparing for these programs. We will identify areas that providers can improve on now to avoid problems before they arise. We also will recommend strategies to respond to the RAC and MIC auditors when they do contact you.

Presenters

Brad Schutjer is a co-founder of Schutjer Bogar LLC, and is part of the firm’s Medicaid eligibility, collections, and labor and employment practice groups. He counsels LTC clients on Medicaid eligibility issues and policies. He represents employers of all sizes, in matters ranging from employment discrimination and FMLA issues, to the drafting and enforcement of employment contracts and employee handbooks. He also practices traditional labor law.

Elizabeth Spawn joined Schutjer Bogar LLC as an associate in 2008. Her practice areas are Medicaid Eligibility and Collections for the firm’s Maryland clients. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2003. Prior to her employment with Schutjer Bogar LLC, Ms. Spawn was a litigation associate practicing civil, commercial and construction litigation, and workers’ compensation defense throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Continuing Education

This educational offering has been submitted to the National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB) for 2 clock hours and 2 participant hours.

The growing diversity of residents in long term care presents exciting and challenging opportunities to cultivate new relationship skills.

Key to quality care is effective communication, a skill that is tested on a daily basis because of the wide range of personalities, needs, and demands in long term care settings.

This program examines the reasons for certain behaviors and offers a variety of skills that are most effective for relating to individuals experiencing distress due to delirium, dementia, mental illness, substance problems and resistance to the long-term care milieu.

Location – Envoy of Pikesville
Envoy of Pikesville is located off of Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. Take Exit 20 towards Pikesville off of 695 to Reisterstown Road. Turn right onto Church Lane and right onto Bedford Avenue.

Parking at the facility is limited. Please park in the parking lot at 1300 Bedford Avenue adjacent to the Post Office and Duron Paint. Envoy of Pikesville will provide shuttle service from the parking lot to the facility.

Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Differentiate cognitive and behavioral symptoms of various brain based disorders (dementia, mental illness, addiction, delirium)
• Identify communication strategies to effectively reduce behavioral distress
• Identify non-verbal strategies to effectively reduce behavioral distress
• Identify environmental strategies to effectively reduce behavioral distress
• Identify personal stressors, strategies to de-stress and positive coping behaviors to foster a more positive workplace

Presenter

Kim Burton,  Director of Older Adult Programs and the Chair of the Maryland Coalition on Mental Health and Aging for the Mental Health Association of Maryland, will present this program.  Her work involves advocacy and education on behalf of the mental health needs of older adults, including dementia and substance abuse.

She has educated public and professional audiences on problematic issues of aging, mental health and caregiving for 13 years.

She holds a degree in Human Services from the George Washington University and a certificate in geriatric mental health from the University of Washington in Seattle.

Continuing Education

Administrators: This educational offering has been reviewed by the National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB) and approved for 3.50 clock hours and 3.50 participant hours.

Social Work: HFAM is an approved sponsor by the Board of Social Work Examiners. This program is approved for 3.5 Social Work Category I Education units.

Cognitive Impairment training: This program provides three and a half hours of training that meets certain COMAR topic requirements for training in cognitive impairment and mental illness for both assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

Policies

Registration Policies: If the registrant does not receive an email registration confirmation, they should not assume they are registered. Registration policies are the same for online, faxed or mailed registrations. Once registered the registration fee is due unless the registration is cancelled in accordance with HFAM’s cancellation policy stated below.

Cancellation Policies: Refunds will be honored if requested in writing one week prior to date of program or if program is full. Same day refunds will be issued if HFAM is notified of a State Survey being conducted at your facility. Registrants who are unable to attend are encouraged to send a substitute. Substitutes are allowed without prior notification.

• June 2010 – Tamara Geiwitz

- Archives

August’s HFAM Spotlight
Mrs. Cindy Keys

Most of all, I just try and make them feel loved…

This month’s Spotlight focuses on an outstanding volunteer from Genesis Health Care’s Waldorf facility – Mrs. Cindy Keys.  Originally from a very small town in South Carolina, she graduated from a small college where she was the band director. Mrs. Keys eventually moved to the DC area in 1981 and was introduced to the Washington Redskins Band. For the next 20 years, she served as the renowned band’s drum major and then associate director.

Mrs. Keys recently spoke at the American Health Care Association’s (AHCA) Driving for Quality Care press conference that took place at the Waldorf center.  Her message was clear: Congress must pass the extension of enhanced federal Medicaid dollars to help protect vulnerable adults in long-term care in Maryland and to save critical jobs of front-line caregivers. And Mrs. Keys knows firsthand how important this funding is – she visits her mother-in-law, Anne Roberts, daily and spends hours at the facility speaking with all of the residents. We recently caught up with Mrs. Keys to ask more about her commitment to her “family” at Genesis Waldorf.

HFAM interviewed Mrs. Keys for this month’s Spotlight:

HFAM: What originally led to your involvement at Genesis Waldorf?

CK: My husband Donny and I were first introduced to Genesis about 10 years ago when my mother-in-law (Anne Roberts) broke her leg rather badly and it was strongly recommended that she undergo intense rehabilitation and therapy so that she could return to her own home and continue living the way she loved most – independently! With all the help from the entire staff, she recovered remarkably well and was back to living independently as soon as it was medically and safely possible. However, at the “young age of 91,” she has become a permanent member of the Waldorf Genesis family.

HFAM: What is your greatest experience or memory of your time at Genesis Waldorf?

CK: Perhaps my greatest memory of the facility is how each patient is always addressed by his/her name by the staff. I am truly amazed at how they seem to remember all of the residents’ likes and dislikes! Individual attention is given to each patient, and as Donny and I are in and out of the center at different times daily, this is always the case.

HFAM: What is your greatest personal achievement?

CK: I have been fortunate enough to enjoy a couple of “great personal achievements,” but one in particular is the long recovery from a traumatic brain injury. This recovery taught me the importance of good and caring friends and family. Without them, your days are so very, very long. This is how I really got involved with the residents at Genesis. Though they look forward to my daily visits, I think I enjoy visiting them just as much! We laugh, talk, go for rides in their Cadillacs (wheelchairs), or watch the birds, bringing them small items they may need, but most of all I just try and make them feel loved.

HFAM: What advice would you give someone who was interested in volunteering at a long-term care facility?

CK: So many of these residents have absolutely no families or for whatever reasons, the families cannot visit them. Some of them virtually have no visitors at all and consequently are so very lonely. If there is anything I can add, it is these dear people need your companionship and friendship. If you know of anyone who is looking to be uplifted, this is a wonderful way to give. You will NEVER be sorry!

Objectives

Health care decisions are difficult to make and many caregivers struggle with their ability to comply with resident and family wishes, especially when there are differences. Attend this program to understand your obligation under certain circumstances and identify potential deficiencies for noncompliance.

• Familiarity with legal framework in Maryland
• Ability to discuss effect of living will on authority of proxy
• Understand your obligations in facilitating health care decision making
• Identify deficiencies related to advanced health care decision planning

Agenda

• 8:00 a – Registration
• 8:30 am – 9:30 am – The Law and The Forms
• 9:30 am – 9:45 am – Break
• 9:45 am – 10:45 am – Provider Compliance
• 10:45 am – 12:30 pm – Regulatory Oversight and Case  Studies

Presenters

Paul Ballard
Assistant Attorney General
Counsel for Health Decisions Policy and the
Office of Health Care Quality
Maryland Attorney General’s Office

Howard Sollins, Esq.
Shareholder, Ober, Kaler, Grimes and Shriver

Bill Vaughan, RN
Chief Nurse, Office of Health Care Quality,
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Continuing Education

Nurses: This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Administators: This educational offering has been reviewed by the National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB) and approved for 3.75 clock hours and 3.75 participant hours.

Social Workers: HFAM is an approved sponsor by the Board of Social Work Examiners. This program is approved for 3 Social Work Category I Education units.

Policies

Registration Policies: Register early. This program will fill quickly. If the registrant does not receive an email registration confirmation, they should not assume they are registered.  Registration policies are the same for online, faxed or mailed registrations.  Once registered you are responsible for payment of registration fees unless registration is cancelled in accordance with the cancellation policy stated below.

Cancellation Policies: Refunds will be honored if requested in writing one week prior to date of program or if program is full. Same day refunds will be issued if HFAM is notified of a State Survey being conducted at your facility. Registrants who are unable to attend are encouraged to send a substitute. Substitutes are allowed without prior notification.

Objectives

• Describe the background and the inception of the MDS/RAI
• Describe the importance of an accurate assessment
• Demonstrate ability to complete portions of MDS 3.0
• Demonstrate correct application of MDS 3.0 in building an accurate and complete assessment and develop a Plan of Care based on findings.

Agenda

• 8:00 am – Registration
• 8:30 am – Background / Purpose
• 9:30 am – Impact of Accurate Assessments
• 10:30 am – Break
• 10:45 am – Data Collection
• 12:15 pm – Lunch
• 1:15 pm – Completion of MDS 3.0 Items; Examples
• 2:45 pm – Break
• 3:00 pm – Application of the MDS in to the Plan of Care
• 4:00 pm – Adjournment

Presenter

Linda Taylor, MSN, RN, Training Coordinator for the Office of Health Care Quality, has a diverse clinical background that incudes providing oversight of quality improvement and staff development in a long term care facility.

Who Should Attend

Anyone new to the MDS including new MDS Coordinators, members of the interdisciplianry care plan team, clinical staff and others responsible for MDS assessment and documentation.

This is a basic course which will help participants to accurately complete an MDS 3.0 assessment.

Continuing Education Credit

This educational offering has been reviewed by the National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB) and approved for six (6) clock hours and six (6) participant hours.

HFAM is an Authorized Sponsor of continuing education programs with the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners and has approved this program for six (6) credit hours of Category I continuing education for social workers in Maryland.

Policies

Registration
Register early. If the registrant does not receive an email registration confirmation, do not assume you are registered. Registration policies are the same for online, faxed or mailed registrations. Once registered, registrant is responsible for payment of the registration fee unless the registration is canceled in accordance with the HFAM’s cancellation policy.

Cancellations
Refunds will be honored if requested in writing one week prior to date of program or if program is full. Same day refunds will be issued if HFAM is notified of a State Survey being conducted at your facility. Registrants who are unable to attend are encouraged to send a substitute. Substitutes are allowed without prior notification.

Objectives

• Describe the background and the inception of the MDS/RAI
• Describe the importance of an accurate assessment
• Demonstrate ability to complete portions of MDS 3.0
• Demonstrate correct application of MDS 3.0 in building an accurate and complete assessment and develop a Plan of Care based on findings.

Agenda

• 8:00 am – Registration
• 8:30 am – Background / Purpose
• 9:30 am – Impact of Accurate Assessments
• 10:30 am – Break
• 10:45 am – Data Collection
• 12:15 pm – Lunch
• 1:15 pm – Completion of MDS 3.0 Items; Examples
• 2:45 pm – Break
• 3:00 pm – Application of the MDS in to the Plan of Care
• 4:00 pm – Adjournment

Presenter

Linda Taylor, MSN, RN, Training Coordinator for the Office of Health Care Quality, has a diverse clinical background that incudes providing oversight of quality improvement and staff development in a long term care facility.

Who Should Attend

Anyone new to the MDS including new MDS Coordinators, members of the interdisciplianry care plan team, clinical staff and others responsible for MDS assessment and documentation.

This is a basic course which will help participants to accurately complete an MDS 3.0 assessment.

Continuing Education Credit

This educational offering has been reviewed by the National Continuing Education Review Service (NCERS) of the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB) and approved for six (6) clock hours and six (6) participant hours.

HFAM is an Authorized Sponsor of continuing education programs with the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners and has approved this program for six (6) credit hours of Category I continuing education for social workers in Maryland.

Policies

Registration
Register early. If the registrant does not receive an email registration confirmation, do not assume you are registered. Registration policies are the same for online, faxed or mailed registrations. Once registered, registrant is responsible for payment of the registration fee unless the registration is canceled in accordance with the HFAM’s cancellation policy.

Cancellations
Refunds will be honored if requested in writing one week prior to date of program or if program is full. Same day refunds will be issued if HFAM is notified of a State Survey being conducted at your facility. Registrants who are unable to attend are encouraged to send a substitute. Substitutes are allowed without prior notification.