Volume XXXI, Number 1
January 2016

Upcoming Region Meeting Dates & Information

Region Chairs strongly encourage members to attend your 2016 Region meetings. Meetings provide fellowship, peer support, networking and continuing education credit at select meetings. Dates for each Region that have been identified (as of this writing) are listed below. We hope to see you there. Together We Can Make A Difference!

2016 THCA Region Meeting Dates

(as of this writing)

Note: Meeting Location, Time & Topic will be provided with each Meeting Notice.

THCA Region 1
(Amarillo/Lubbock)

TBD

THCA Region 2
(Abilene)

TBD

THCA Region 3
(San Antonio)

• January 28
• February 25
• March 31
• April 28
• May 26
• June 30
• July 28
• August 25
• September 29
• October 27
• November 24
• December 29

THCA Region 4
(Longview)

• February 23
• April 19
• July 19
• October 18

THCA Region 5
(Austin)

• February 25
• May 12
• August 18
• October 13

THCA Region 6
(Beaumont)

• February 11
• May 19
• Auguist 18
• November 17

THCA Region 7
(Houston)

TBD

THCA Regions 8 & 9
(Arlington)

• February 18

THCA Region 10
(Valley/Corpus Christi)

TBD

President’s Report

• President’s Report

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 Legislative Update

• Warren Tells House Committee that High Workforce Turnover, Low Wages Threaten Long Term Care

• Representative Four Price Honored As Long Term Care Champion

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 Commitment to Care

• Cutting Edge CMS Funded Dementia Training is Texas Bound

• CMS Clarifies Coding “Present on Admission” for Pressure Ulcers in MDS Item M0300

• Receive Free Assistance to Report Clostridium Difficile Data and Stop Infection

If you have any questions about the THCA C to C Initiative or would like to share your facilities successes please contact Gloria Bean-Williams at gbwilliams@txhca.org or call (512) 458-1257.

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State / THCA News

• Letter of Agreement (LOA) for Quality Incentive Payment Programs (QIPP)

• NEW PASRR Procedures for Reviewing and Requesting Changes to PL1s

• DADS Issues Provider Letter 15-31 Regarding Medicaid Bed De-allocation

• Update Handgun Signs

• TMHP Schedules System Maintenance

• Is Your Facility El Niño Ready?

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National / AHCA News

• MedPAC Presents Recommendations to Congress

• CMS Infection Control Pilot Project

• Thomas Hamilton Announced Retirement from CMS

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Announcements & Recognitions

• THCA Public Information & Education (PIE) Annual Awards

• AHCA/NCAL Inaugural Quality Summit Registration Deadline is January 12

• AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards Deadline: January 28, 2016

Visit, Like and Follow THCA….

Are you familiar with THCA’s Website, Facebook Page & Twitter Account? We utilize these portals to provide information & tools for long term care providers/caregivers, family members, LTC advocates, and to share the wonderful events, celebrations, etc. that take place in Texas Nursing, Rehabilitation & Assisted Living facilities!

Visit our Website, “Like” our Facebook page and “Follow” us on Twitter! And please encourage your staff to as well!

THCA Web Site 

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

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Preferred Products & Services

• AHCA/NCAL Professional Development Products – AHCA/NCAL Bookstore

• HUB International – Insurance Services – Affordable Care Act Update

• AHCA/NCAL Preferred Products and Services Program Available for THCA LTC Providers

• Affiliated Power Purchasers International, LLC (APPI Energy) – APPI Energy Program Benefits

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THCAPAC

• THCAPAC 500 Club Recognitions & Information

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Mark Your Calendar: 2016 Summer “Golf Fore PAC” Tournament

Mark your Calendar with our 2016 Summer “Golf Fore PAC” Tournament scheduled for Monday, July 11, 2016 at the Wolfdancer Golf Club @ Hyatt Lost Pines-Bastrop. More information will be forthcoming!

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?’s About THCAPAC…Contact Us

Ron Payne, THCAPAC Co-Chair
rpayne@swltc.com

Mark McKenzie, THCAPAC Co-Chair
mmckenzie
@seniorcarecentersltc.com

Gina Muniz, THCAPAC Liaison
gmuniz@txhca.org

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Region News

• Upcoming Region Meeting Dates & Information

• THCA Associate Business Members, THCA Region Chairs Want You!

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Education

• Infection Control Continuing Education Coming to a Town Near You

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Calendar

• January 2016

• February 2016

  ”Like” & “Share” the THCA Facebook page

  Follow the THCA Twitter page