WISCONSIN LONG-TERM CARE UPDATE
October 13, 2006

• Bureau of Quality Assurance Changes Name to “Office of Quality Assurance”
• PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES
• DHFS-DDES, BQA, BQC MEMOS
• NEW LEGISLATION

Bureau of Quality Assurance Changes Name to “Office of Quality Assurance
”Earlier this week it was announced that the Bureau of Quality Assurance (BQA) would be transferred from the Division of Disability and Elder Services (DDES) to the Office of the Secretary of Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS).  In addition, the BQA will be renamed the “Office of Quality Assurance” (OQA).  This new “office” status is viewed by many as a promotion of the office and its mission.  Otis Woods will continue to lead OQA, as its director.  OQA is responsible for assuring the safety, welfare and health of persons using health and community care provider services in Wisconsin.  OQA is the area where the surveyors that visit nursing homes and other care providers are supervised.  To view the DHFS Announcement: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/rl_DSL/Publications/06-023.htm

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICES 

Senate Select Committee on Health Care Reform
Tuesday, October 17, 2006   10:00 AM State Capitol, 411 South
Public Hearing: 

Department of Health and Family Services Update and Long Term Care DHFS Helene Nelson, Secretary Department of Health and Family ServicesKevin Hayden, Administrator Division of Health Care Financing

• Review of the DHFS 2007-09 budget items that relate to the Deficit  Reduction Act.
• Update on Family Care and the Relocation Initiative.
• Pay for Performance Initiative.
• Individual Cash Accounts.
• Explanation of Department efforts to ensure Medicaid is not paying for services third party payers should be covering.
• Efforts to maximize federal dollars.

• Peter Leonis, Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
• Mary Ann Hack Representative for Indiana Long Term Care Partnership Insurance Program
• Laura DeGolier and Jim Harbridges National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors

• Tom Frazier Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups
• Lynn Breedlove Disability Rights Wisconsin

• Bill Bruce, President St. Joseph's Community Health Services Hillsboro, WI
• Mike Schafer, CEO Spooner Health System
• Tom Moore, Executive Director Wisconsin Health Care Association
• John Sauer, Executive Director Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
• Craig Thompson, Legislative Director Wisconsin Counties Association
• Karen Bullock, Chief Executive Officer Community Health Partnership, Inc. Representing the Wisconsin Partnership Program
• Paul Soczynski, Chief Operating Officer Community Care, Inc. Representing the Wisconsin Partnership Program

Special Legislative Council Committee on Placement of Sex OffendersThursday, November 30, 2006   10:00 AM   State Capitol, Room 225-NW

• Testimony by members of Citizens for a Safe Wisconsin.
• Testimony by a representative of DHFS and Corrections on assessment and treatment of sex offenders.
• Testimony by invited speakers on requirements of federal law for state sex offender registry.
• Discussion of options for legislation relating to placement of sex offenders in the community, community notification when sex offenders are placed in the community, and public education on supervision and placement of sex offenders.

DHFS - DDES and BQA, BQC Memos

DDES-OQA Memo 06-026 (October 12, 2006)
Hospital Death Reporting Requirements On September 29, 2006, the Office of Quality Assurance received direction from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services  (CMS) via "CMS Letter S&C 06-3" to communicate information to hospitals in Wisconsin.  Please see the memo for more details. 

DDES-BQA Memo 06-024 (October 11, 2006)
Medication Sentinel Events in WisconsinTwo avoidable medication events, leading to unfortunate patient deaths, recently occurred in Wisconsin  hospitals. This memo describes these events and describes some practices for providers to consider in order to prevent such incidents from  occurring in their facilities. 

DDES Memo 2006-18 (October 6, 2006) Memo Not Yet Available.
Notice of implementation of surcharge for stays beyond discharge date at Centers’ Intensive Treatment Programs starting January 1, 2007.  Supersedes DDES information Memo 2005-08. 

DDES-BQA Memo 06-023 (October 5, 2006)BQA Transfer and Name Change
Effective October 15, the Bureau of Quality Assurance will transfer from the Division of Disability and Elder Services (DDES) to the  Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Services  (DHFS). The Bureau of Quality Assurance will be renamed the Office of Quality Assurance and will report directly to the DHFS Secretary’s  Office. 

DDES-BQA Memo 06-021 (September 29, 2006)Resident Medication Regimen and Administration Review
A physician or pharmacist must review and  document each resident's medication regimen for positive outcomes not less  than once every 12 months. The facility shall keep a copy of the  medication regimen review in each resident's record. In a CBRF where staff administers medications, there must be an annual on-site review of the medication administration process; which, at a minimum, includes a review  of medication storage.  The on-site portion of the medication administration review may be conducted by an RN. The facility shall keep a written record of findings from the on-site review, and also have the written report  available for Department review.  

DCFS 2005-02 (Revised) (September 28, 2006)e-WiSACWIS System Security (Revised Reporting Dates)
This memo is to inform counties of the periodic e-WiSACWIS security compliance reviews that will be conducted by DCFS with assistance from county security delegates.  Security compliance reviews will be conducted on a semi-annual basis (previously quarterly).   

NEW LEGISALTIVE BILLS 

--- No New Bill Introduced This Week -----