News In Brief - November 7, 2014

Nursing facilities: Have you registered for our free November 12 webinar?
If your nursing facility would prefer to donate, rather than dump, unused medicine, you won't want to miss our free, 30-minute webinar on November 12 at 1:00 p.m. During the webinar, George Wang, Co-Founder and Director of the nonprofit organization SIRUM (Supporting Initiatives to Redistribute Unused Medicine), will explain how Oregon nursing homes can donate their unexpired, unused drugs to Oregon clinics serving patients who can't afford their medications. SIRUM has already set up similar donation programs in California and Colorado, and is just now launching the program in Oregon. Register for the webinar.

SB 1542 - Homecare Choice Program informational meeting held
The Oregon Home Care Commission, charged with implementing the Homecare Choice Program authorized by SB 1542 during the 2014 legislative session, gave a presentation on the program at the first stakeholder meeting this week. Cheryl Miller, Executive Director and Jenny Cokeley, recently hired to manage the new program, provided a summary of the bill requirements and draft implementation plan. The Homecare Choice Program will enable private pay individuals to purchase home care services from the Commission through the home care registry that has been in existence since 2008. The Commission is to have the program operative by July 1, 2015 and implement it no later than January 1, 2016. The Commission must establish by rule the types and scope of home care services to be offered through the registry. To accomplish this, they will next establish a homecare worker classification committee and eventually form a rule advisory committee. LeadingAge Oregon will seek appointment to the committees as well as member in-home care agencies and keep you apprised of program implementation and opportunities for input. Read more about the program.

Recreational marijuana: What does it mean for you as an employer?
Wondering if you should change your HR policies in light of the passage of Measure 91, which legalizes recreational usage of marijuana in Oregon? Attorneys at the local law firm Barran Liebman suggest employers take time to reflect rather than react. Read the Barran Liebman alert.

State CBC team plans training on infection control for ALF/RCF administrators
The Community-based Care team at the Office of Licensing and Regulatory Oversight (OLRO) is offering a training on the "Basics of Infection Control for CBC (ALF/RCF) Administrators." The class will be held November 17 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the OLRO offices in Salem and also will be broadcast via webinar. The class is free, but you must reserve a spot if you wish to participate in person (no need to sign up if participating online). Read more.

Patient Safety Commission invoices on their way to nursing homes
This is the time of year when Oregon nursing homes will be receiving annual fee invoices from the Oregon Patient Safety Commission. Remember that although participation in the Patient Safety Reporting Program is voluntary, all nursing homes must pay the mandatory annual assessment. Since you are paying for the program, we hope you are also participating in the reporting program and taking advantage of the learning opportunities available from the Patient Safety Commission reports and programs! Learn more about the Nursing Home reporting program.

Nursing Home 5-Star Rating System to undergo changes in 2015
The Nursing Home 5-Star Rating System, used increasingly by consumers and others to evaluate and compare nursing homes nationwide, will undergo several changes in 2015. The changes include:

CMS to expand MDS 3.0 coding surveys nationwide
CMS is planning to conduct MDS 3.0 coding surveys in nursing homes nationwide in 2015. Pilot surveys conducted in five states in 2014 found inaccurate staging and documentation of pressure ulcers, lack of knowledge regarding the classification of antipsychotic drugs, and poor coding regarding the use of restraints. Deficiencies were identified and cited in all but one survey. The scope of some or all of the 2015 MDS 3.0 surveys will also be expanded to include assessment of staffing levels. Read more.

LeadingAge offers Life Safety Update on use of power strips in nursing homes
A Life Safety Update explaining new CMS regulations regarding the use of power strips in patient care areas and rooms was prepared for LeadingAge by Hughes Associates and has been reviewed by CMS. Read the update.

HUD memo updates guidance on emergency call systems in elderly housing
LeadingAge staff are delighted that HUD has finally clarified and expanded its policy related to emergency call systems in senior housing. The memo outlines how HUD guidance should be interpreted broadly to include both wired and wireless electronic systems. The guidance enables owners to remove and replace existing pull cord systems with wireless or electronic systems as long as the new system is economical and meets functional requirements; it also allows for use of mobile personal emergency response devices. Read the memo.

HUD adjusts passbook savings rate
For the first time in many years, HUD has adjusted the passbook savings rate used to determine annual income from net family assets. Effective February 1, 2015, the rate to be used for all certifications and re-certifications when a family has net assets over $5,000 is .06 percent (dropped from 2 percent). Read the HUD notice.

"A Beautiful Death:" Consumer Reports provides guidance on end-of-life planning
Consumer Reports has released a guide to end-of-life planning for families that offers tips for caregivers and individuals and includes a poignant video profiling one man's "beautiful death" at home. Read an interview with the author of the Consumer Reports report. Access the Consumer Reports online guide.

Clatsop Care Center Health District looks forward to spring opening of new memory care community
LeadingAge Oregon member Clatsop Care Center Health District already has 27 individuals on the waiting list for a 32-resident memory care community being built in Warrenton on the Oregon coast. The community is being built under a unique partnership in which the Health District will lease the building from a partner, with an option to purchase after 25 years. Read more about this exciting development in a recent article in the Daily Astorian.

ICD-10 training to be offered this spring
Last year LeadingAge Oregon cancelled its planned ICD-10 training for nursing home staff after CMS once again postponed implementation of ICD-10. The agency appears to be determined to implement the new coding system by October 1, 2015, so we will be re-scheduling the training for this coming spring (we had been told that training should occur within six months of implementation). Watch for dates to come soon!