News In Brief - October 2, 2014

Special program launches "second phase" for Leadership Academy
At our Fall Leadership Conference next week, we will celebrate the graduation of our fifth LeadingAge Oregon Leadership Academy class! We have been so impressed over the years with the caliber of individuals who have participated in our leadership program, and so appreciative of the support they have received from their employing organizations. We have seen many Leadership Academy participants blossom with a new awareness of their own leadership skills and gifts; several have moved on to positions with greater responsibility within their organizations.

At this five year mark, we have decided it is time to expand our Leadership Academy offerings to provide Leadership Academy alumni and senior LeadingAge Oregon leaders the opportunity to reconnect and continue their leadership skill development. Our first event will be held November 14 at Sysco Food Services in Wilsonville, when Leadership Academy facilitator Bill Zipp will lead a special program on "Leadership, Conflict and You." If you are a Leadership Academy graduate or senior leader at the CEO/Executive Director/Administrator level, please consider joining us! Read more. Register online.

State plans meetings to discuss the future of Oregon's long-term care system
Interested stakeholders and other members of the public are invited to community meetings around the state this month to discuss a draft vision for the future of Oregon's services and programs for seniors and people with disabilities (a project often referred to as Long-term Care 3.0 or LTC 3.0). The draft was developed by a steering committee at the direction of the Oregon State Legislature, which asked DHS to engage stakeholders in planning to address the needs and demands of our growing older population. The draft includes three objectives:

Support seniors and people with disabilities to stay in their own homes and the community
Support seniors and people with disabilities to achieve and maintain their independence
Serve all people and cultures equitably and in a manner they choose.

Access the community meeting schedule, community meeting invitation and subcommittee reports on the LeadingAge Oregon website.

Draft changes to RCF/ALF building requirements available for review
The DHS Office of Licensing and Regulatory Oversight (OLRO) has proposed some revisions to the building requirements for ALFs and RCFs. A draft of the changes is available on the LeadingAge Oregon website (changes are in sections 005 - definitions, 0200 - RCF and 0300 - ALF). If you have any comments on the proposed changes, please e-mail them to Margaret Cervenka, [email protected].

Nursing facility financial statements due to state October 31
Nursing facilities are being reminded that financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014 are due to the state by October 31 in order to avoid a penalty. Extensions will not be granted. Medicaid-contracted nursing facilities with at least 1,000 Medicaid bed days must complete DHS 0035, and non-Medicaid contracted facilities or those with fewer than 1,000 Medicaid resident days must complete Revenue Statement - Non-contracted Nursing Facilities. Forms may be accessed on the DHS website (see section Manuals, Guides and Instruction). Contact Cindy Susee, [email protected] if you have questions.

Next CBC (ALF/RCF) News Hour scheduled October 23
The state Community-based Care team will hold its next "CBC News Hour" for residential care and assisted living providers on Thursday, October 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. These news hours are a great opportunity to hear compliance tips and updates from the CBC staff about issues they are concerned about. Read how to participate.

Patient Safety Commission offers class on adverse event investigations
The Oregon Patient Safety Commission is offering a class to help staff in healthcare settings learn how to strengthen their investigations of adverse events. Participants will learn how to develop strong, system-level action plans to ensure investigations result in preventing similar adverse events in the future. The class will be offered twice, on October 30 and November 12, in Portland. The cost is $50 per person. Learn more and register.

CMS to allow use of power strips in nursing home resident rooms under certain conditions
CMS has decided to permit a waiver to allow for use of power strips in resident care areas that use line-operated, patient-care related electrical equipment in both new and existing nursing homes if facilities are in compliance with applicable safety codes. Individual waiver applications are not required, but providers must document that they are electing the waiver and must notify the Life Safety survey team at the entrance conference. Read more.

HUD posts OCAFs for 2015
HUD has posted the operating cost adjustment factors (OCAFs) that will be effective Feb. 11, 2015. OCAFs are annual factors used to adjust Section 8 rents. The 2015 OCAFs range from a low of 1.4 in Michigan to a high of 2.8 in Louisiana. Oregon's OCAF is 2.2, slightly above the 2.1 national average. Access the Federal Register announcement.