The Iowa State Fair is upon us and will begin on Thursday.  I am reminded of many years past where contests of all sorts came to one arena and allowed creative genius to flourish. Residents and tenants are in a class all of their own, and I am certain if we would interview them we would find many previous blue ribbon dessert winners and winners of prized animals such as the big steer and ram. The Iowa State Fair brings together a wide variety of people with varied experiences and preferences, much like those living in long-term care facilities.

Showcasing those life histories are like many of the blue ribbons won and should be displayed, shown and discussed with pride. Activity directors are encouraged to offer time where stories may be told and possible creative aspects may be captured as requested for Residents' Rights Month found in the Resident/Tenant Rights section below. 

CMS grants skilled nursing $820 million raise in final payment rule: article.

Close to 1,400 nursing homes lose a rating star due to new staffing info: article.

CMS rolls back enforcement policies 

On June 15, 2018 CMS released a Quality, Safety and Oversight (QSO) (formerly Survey and Certification - S&C) memo, setting forth final revised policies. This memo, QSO 18-18-NH, replaces S&C memo 16-31-NH. This new guidance went into effect July 15, 2018.

Residents' Rights Month is in October. Consumer Voice invites long-term care facility residents and tenants to participate in the 2018 Residents' Voice challenge. Submissions may be a poem or song or drawing showing what residents' rights are to them and to show what using their resident voice means to them. Details may be found at the following website and are due Sept 1, 2018: http://theconsumervoice.org/events/residents-rights-month-2018.

Music Therapy Effective in Lowering Aggression, Study Finds: 

http://www.providermagazine.com/news/Pages/2018/JULY%202018/Music-Therapy-Effective-in-Lowering-Aggression,-Study-Finds.aspx

Text-to-911 now available across Iowa

For Iowans who find themselves in an emergency, the option to text 911 rather than call is now available for most of the state, the Governor's Office announced.

Monthly discharge information may be emailed to katie.mulford@iowa.gov or faxed to Katie's attention at 515-725-3313.

Beginning Aug 1, 2018, providers and authorized representatives needing to file an appeal on behalf of a member for managed care appeals will need to complete form 470-5526. The form will need to be signed by both the member and the authorized representative and then submitted to the Medicaid member's MCO or dental carrier along with the appeal information. 

Managed Care appeals:

Amerigroup Iowa, Inc. members:

Grievances and Appeals Department

Amerigroup Iowa, Inc.

4800 Westown Parkway, Ste. 200

West Des Moines, IA 50266

Or email completed form to iga@amerigroup.com

UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc. members:

Grievance and Appeals

P.O. Box 31364

Salt Lake City, UT 84131-0364

Delta Dental of Iowa

Attn: DWP Appeals and Complaints

P.O. Box 9040

Johnston, IA 50131-9040

MCNA Dental

Attention: Grievances and Appeals Department

200 West Cypress Creek Road, Suite 500

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

State fair hearings:

Send completed form to:

Department of Human Services

Appeals Section, 5th Floor

1305 E. Walnut St.

Des Moines, IA 50319-0114

Or email completed form to: appeals@dhs.state.ia.us.

If you have questions, please contact the IME Provider Services Unit at 1-800-338-7909, or email imeproviderservices@dhs.state.ia.us.

If the member's MCO or dental carrier is not listed on the form, call DHS Appeals (515) 281-3094 to obtain the mailing address.

The next VOP Statewide Conference Call will be hosted by Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Stacia Timmer and held on Wednesday, Sept 19 at 2:00 pm.  Look for an upcoming email that will include the link to the Statewide VOP call that was held on July 18.

Applications are being processed. If someone is interested in becoming a Volunteer Ombudsman, please have them email volunteervop@iowa.gov.

CEU credit will be given to Volunteer Ombudsman who review the following:

Improving Nursing Home Quality Standards: Consumer Voice materials available

Materials are now available from the June 22nd Member Call - Protecting Seniors Through Improving - Not Eroding - Nursing Home Quality Standards.  The webinar provided background on existing law, including the Nursing Home Reform Law (OBRA ’87) and Affordable Care Act; Trump Administration actions to roll back protections; the continuing widespread abuse of antipsychotic and other psychotropic drugs; the links between nurse staffing levels and quality; and nursing home financial structures and the rise of private equity models that divert resources away from providing high quality care. Speakers also provided information on state-specific data and steps we can take to improve quality. 

Watch the recording here and download the slides here.  Find the handout on how you can help protect nursing home resident protections here.

Cross-Training: Abuse in Later Life

August 7 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm)
Iowa Bankers Association - Johnston
More Information | Register (Not eligible for VOP CEUs)

Dementia Care: Opioid Use & Impact for Persons Living with Dementia 
September 18 (12:30 - 2:00 pm)
More Information | Register (Eligible for VOP CEUs)

The mission of the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is to protect the health, safety, welfare and rights of individuals residing in long-term care by investigating 

complaints, seeking resolutions to problems and providing advocacy, 

with the goal of enhancing quality of life and care.
 
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to others who may be interested.

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