News

In partnership with other national hospice organizations, LeadingAge national submitted a pre-deadline comment on CMS’ proposal regarding the implementation of the hospice special focus program. This proposal is included in the CY2024 home health rule. LeadingAge national is supportive of the idea of a special focus program for hospice but are concerned that the algorithm proposed by CMS will not actually capture the poorest performing hospices. The letter outlines concerns regarding the algorithm and asks CMS to delay the program implementation in order to refine the algorithm and go through notice and comment rulemaking on a new version in future rulemaking. We also ask that providers be given a “preview year” where they can see where they would fall under the algorithm and both providers and CMS could see potential pitfalls with the methodology and smooth them out before going live. The letter can be found here.

A recent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audit report estimates that the COVID-19 Uninsured Program (UIP), which was designed to reimburse providers for testing, treatment and ultimately COVID-19 vaccines for uninsured individuals, overpaid providers by $784 million for services provided between March 1 and December 31, 2020 based upon their review of a 300 randomly identified patients. The payments were deemed inappropriate because either the services was not delivered, was not related to COVID-19 or the recipient was insured. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) administered the program through March 22, 2022, when it ran out of funds. The program was funded by appropriations made to the Provider Relief Fund. OIG recommended HRSA recoup the identified overpayments. Most of these payments went to hospitals and physicians though all health care providers were eligible to receive payments for uninsured individuals served. Most older adults would have had those services covered via Medicare, Medicare Advantage or Medicaid. More OIG audit reports are expected related to use of COVID-19 funds.

OLTL sent out an announcement detailing the upcoming training programs offered by Northampton Community College for Fall 2023, all of which are provided at no cost to you. There are a variety of training topics being offered, including Staff Training, Morale, and Retention, Fire Safety Awareness, Active Threats Awareness and Response, and more. While most trainings continue to be offered online, the following courses will have limited in-person availability in Erie, Monroeville, and Altoona: Fire Safety Awareness for PCH- Train-the-Trainer Mental Health and Wellness Verbal De-Escalation Redirection Techniques Infection Control and Wound Care

The state Senate announced this week that it will return to session on Aug. 30 to begin finishing the final pieces of the 2023-2024 state budget. While the general appropriation bill was signed into law on Aug. 3, the PA General Assembly has yet to pass coinciding code bills that carry out the state spending plan. Following this step, there should be more clarity around budget funding and efforts to mitigate nursing facility rate volatility. The House is not scheduled to return until Sept. 26. We continue to press for funding details through our ongoing advocacy conversations with the legislative and executive branches and will update our members once we have more information to share. In the meantime, please reach out to Legislative Affairs Director Austin Cawley if you have any questions or would like to meet with your state lawmaker or have them tour your community.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and CMS are hosting a virtual event focused on patient access to health data on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 12-5 p.m. The event will bring together patients, providers, payers, and health IT developers to discuss how HHS policies are working in practice and how to maximize the impact of these policies. The event will also highlight educational tools and resources, such as patient-facing apps that enable the availability of patient information and make that health information easier to understand. A Registration link to this virtual event can be found here. If you are interested in sharing a patient experience with accessing and using patient data, please use the Health IT Inquiry and Feedback Portal at https://www.healthit.gov/feedback.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is developing a new Master Plan for Older Adults to address the needs of older people and people with disabilities. The Department of Aging (PDA) is asking for feedback through this survey to assist in the development of the new Master Plan and capture the experience of older adults and adults with disabilities. There is also space at the end of the survey to share other suggestions or issues you find important. The survey will be open until Sept. 30. More information about the Master Plan for Older Adults can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Aging website. Click here for the Department's informational flyer. o LeadingAge PA will be sharing talking points in the near future to guide your comments and encourages you to share your comments with Director of Regulatory Affairs Anna Warheit as we prepare our own submission. LeadingAge PA also sits on the department’s Long-Term Care Council and will play an active role in helping to craft the plan as this effort unfolds. The PDA has also been hosting virtual listening sessions throughout August to present an overview of the Master Plan for Older Adults and collect feedback across the state. The final virtual listening session will be held on Friday, Aug. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. (register here): o The Area Agencies on Aging and the Centers for Independent Living will also host in-person listening sessions in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties where the public can learn about the plan and submit input. The Department has created a list of these sessions organized by county on its website. This list will be updated as more sessions are scheduled.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (Aug. 24, 2023) — LeadingAge PA, the leading voice for senior services across Pennsylvania, today announced it has awarded 33 scholarships totaling nearly $40,000 through its 2023 Professional Development Scholarship program.

Skilled nursing

MECHANICSBURG, Pa — Messiah Lifeways has announced that they have selected Culinesse, LLC, a boutique hospitality brand, as their new culinary management partner. This search was prompted by Messiah Lifeways’ desire to enhance its current culinary experience and deliver innovative dining and hospitality throughout its continuum of care, in alignment with senior living trends and its mission of serving older adults with Christ-like love.

LeadingAge PA sponsor, CliftonLarsonAllen, shares recent industry updates, blog posts and upcoming events

LeadingAge PA sponsor, CliftonLarsonAllen, shares recent industry updates, blog posts and upcoming events

NAZARETH, Pa. (June 28th, 2023) – After more than 36 years leading Morningstar Living, Susan Cooper Drabic is retiring as President and CEO.

Meyer, Capitol Seniors Housing, The Arbor Company and IMC Construction celebrate the completion of the new 76,500 square foot assisted living community. Marlton, NJ – Meyer, an award-winning architecture and interior design firm based in Philadelphia, celebrated the grand opening of Arbor Terrace Marlton, a brand-new assisted senior living community in Evesham Township, New Jersey, alongside project partners Capitol Seniors Housing, The Arbor Company and IMC Construction.

CMS proposed the 2.3% as the second phase of the PDPM parity adjustment reduction

CLA’s Startup Academy is designed to equip new business owners with the basic knowledge they need to handle unfamiliar concepts of accounting, tax, finance, and more.

Doylestown, PA – Today Doylestown Hospital and Presbyterian Senior Living (PSL) announced an agreement for the transfer of ownership of Pine Run Life Plan Community (“Pine Run LPC”), a 532 unit/bed, five-star-rated Life Plan Community in Bucks County, PA.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa — Earlier this year, Messiah Lifeways announced a partnership with Messiah University to provide opportunities for students to interact with our community. We are now in the process of piloting a Messiah Lifeways Students in Residence Fellowship in partnership with Messiah University.

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (June 01, 2023) – LeadingAge PA, an association representing more than 400 senior services providers, today announced its new initiative — LTSS Evolve — aimed at igniting change within the aging services ecosystem and evolving the way care is delivered and regulated in Pennsylvania.