Volume XXXI, Number 1
January 2016

THCA Associate Business Members, THCA Region Chairs Want You!

All THCA Associate Business Members are encouraged to join us in our efforts to meet the Regional educational needs of members across the state by:

1. Providing engaging speakers on relevant topics; and/or

2. Sponsorship for the meeting (i.e. meal for attendees).

Working with our Education Foundation (THCA-EF) we have identified the following topics to meet the professional leadership development focus areas for 2016.

They are:

• Staff Retention & Recruitment
• Ethics
• Reducing Anti-Psychotics Drug Use
• Rates & Reimbursement
• Customer Satisfaction

ACTION NEEDED NOW!

Presentations begin next month so if your business would like to participate by providing speakers on any of the identified educational focus areas, please complete & submit the short “Call for Presentations” form (select “Region Meetings” from the drop down menu) ASAP.

THCA-EF will coordinate presentations with region meeting schedules and contact those selected to provide continuing education.

If you have any questions, please contact our THCA support staff member, Gina Muniz at gmuniz@txhca.org; (512) 458-1257.

President’s Report

• President’s Report

___________________________

 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

___________________________

 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.

___________________________

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?

___________________________

National / AHCA News

• MedPAC Presents Recommendations to Congress

• CMS Infection Control Pilot Project

• Thomas Hamilton Announced Retirement from CMS

___________________________

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

___________________________

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

___________________________

THCAPAC

• THCAPAC 500 Club Recognitions & Information

——

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!

——

?’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

___________________________

Region News

• Upcoming Region Meeting Dates & Information

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

___________________________

Education

• Infection Control Continuing Education Coming to a Town Near You

___________________________

Calendar

• January 2016

• February 2016

  ”Like” & “Share” the THCA Facebook page

  Follow the THCA Twitter page