Winner of the Compliance Crossword Contest and Round II

We had 117 entries last month in the first round of the compliance crossword contest. Twenty-six entries submitted the correct puzzle, so we held a drawing to select the winner last month. Last month’s compliance crossword puzzle contest winner was GLC – Shafter. We had some excellent responses and are pleased at the excitement in the field!

The compliance crossword puzzle will continue with the second set of questions available here. Be the first one after 2 p.m. Central Time on September 19 to submit the correct puzzle, and your facility, agency or department will have a catered event hosted by the compliance department with refreshments timed to accommodate all employee shifts. If we have multiple correct entries, a drawing will be held to select the winner.

To submit your entry, please scan your completed crossword entry and send it to crosswordcontest@goldenliving.com. Also, please write your name and the facility or department you represent on your submission. 

The contest  will end in November. Every month you will be provided with four crossword questions related to compliance that you will have to answer. After all 16 questions are released, you will uncover the mystery word that will be used to win it all!

Benefits News 8-18-14

• Get Ready for Open Enrollment — Update Your Address to Receive Important Information.
• Important KYN Health Screening Information and Deadline and How to Get a Better Level of Coverage for 2015.  (should link to http://www.yourgoldenbenefits.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Post5-12-142.pdf)
• KYN Screening Events Going on Now – August. Click Here for a List of Events Locations.
• Naturally Slim Program Application Deadline Aug 22. Only Days Left to Apply!
• Enter by Aug 31st to Win $250,000 — What Makes a Home Contest. Get $500 Gift Card When Your Loan Closes.

InnerCircle 8-18-14

Safety Awards Announced for Second Quarter 2014

• Executive Directors
• Directors of Nursing Services
• Department Managers
• Safety Committee Members
• Directors of Clinical Education
• Directors of Staff Development

SAFETY AND LOSS CONTROL

Congratulations to the employees of the Golden LivingCenters who will celebrate earning the Second Quarter 2014 Safety Incentive Program (SIP) award. (See list.) 

Preventing injuries is the key to our safety program along with new compliance requirements. Following our lift program to eliminate transfer injuries, as well as simply paying attention to prevent slips, trips, and falls are two key areas of the program. Using modified duty and effective claims management to minimize the cost if an injury occurs is secondary. New as of July 2013 are requirements that validate OSHA compliance programs.

For the Second Quarter 2014 SIP, facilities have been reminded to complete the one page emergency action guide.

Please proudly share your winning strategies with others in your team. If your facility did not earn the incentive, discuss at your next Safety Committee meeting which programs need to be reviewed and revamped to enable you to earn the SIP in the future. 

Award Money Allocated

Each winning LivingCenter is allocated $975 to spend in recognition of its safety accomplishments. (NO check is arriving in the mail!) The Safety Committee and management team should determine the best recognition program (prizes, party, etc.).

Document your decision and feedback in your Safety Committee minutes. Put up a banner or poster if you hold an event to signify that the funding was provided by the Safety Committee due to the great, safe work practices of the employees.

Deadlines

Remember that the money must be spent within 30 days of the award notification. For the second quarter 2014 award, the safety recognition celebration must be completed by Friday, September 19, 2014. (It is better to spend the money sooner to reward your employees.) Spend your award NOW and continue to remind staff to be safe in upcoming months. The documentation of how the money was spent must be submitted by or before, Friday, September 26, 2014, in order for the LivingCenter expenditures to be transferred to the appropriate accounts.

SIP Award Documents and Process

Please download these documents found on the Safety and Loss Control Intranet site under Safety and Loss Control Programs, then Safety Incentive Program. (Please follow instructions and keep copies for future reference.)

** SIP – Incentive Guidelines explains documentation and reporting requirements

SIP – Information Sheet – July 2013

SIP – Associate Award Acknowledgement Form must be completed and forwarded

along with the documentation log

SIP – Gift Card/Gift Certificates under $25

QUESTIONS

Contact the Safety and Loss Control department at 877-823-8375, ext. 4663.

To send in your completed expense form and receipts per the Safety Incentive Program guidelines: Fax to Rita Harris at 479-478-2125 or email her at Rita.Harris@GoldenLiving.com

ATTACHMENT

Second Quarter Safety Incentive Winners 2014

Compliance Crossword Contest Begins!

The compliance crossword puzzle has now begun with the first set of questions available here. Be the first one after 2 p.m. Central Time on August 15 to submit the correct puzzle, and your facility, agency or department will have a catered event hosted by the compliance department with refreshments timed to accommodate all employee shifts.

To submit your entry, please scan your completed crossword entry and send it to crosswordcontest@goldenliving.com.

The contest begins this month and will end in November. Every month you will be provided with four crossword questions related to compliance that you will have to answer. After all 16 questions are released, you will uncover the mystery word that will be used to win it all!

Benefits News – 8-4-14

• Get Your KYN Health Screening or Default to Tier 1 Level of Coverage for 2015.
• KYN Screening Events Going on Now – August. Click Here for a List of Event Locations.
• • Naturally Slim Program Is Taking Applications Aug. 11 – 22. This Is Our Last Program of the Year.
• Get Ready for Open Enrollment — Update Your Address to Receive Important Information.

InnerCircle 8-4-14

Compliance Reminders from Amy Brantley

As defined by the Corporate Integrity Agreement, CIA, which Golden Living has made with the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, some of you have been identified as either a “Covered Person” or a “Relevant Covered Person”.    As a “Covered Person” or “Relevant Covered Person” you have certain responsibilities to ensure that we maintain compliance with the provision of this agreement.

All “Covered Persons” and “Relevant Covered Persons” must:

• Read and attest to the Code of Conduct located in Peoplesoft.
• All New Hires must read and attest within 30 days of hire or within 30 days of being identified as a Covered Person or Relevant Covered Persons

Golden Living (Corporate) and Salude Employees:

• Complete General Compliance Training, CIA Training and HIPAA Training located in the Learning Management system by October 1, 2014.
• All New Hires must complete within 30 days of hire or within 30 days of being identified as a Covered or Relevant Covered Person.

Golden LivingCenter Employees: 

• Complete General Compliance Training, CIA Training and HIPAA Training located in the “new” Learning Center by October 1, 2014.
• All New Hires must complete within 30 days of hire or within 30 days of being identified as a Covered or Relevant Covered Person.

AseraCare Employees:

• Complete General Compliance Training, CIA Training and HIPAA Training located in the “new” Learning Center by October 1, 2014.
• All New Hires must complete within 30 days of hire or within 30 days of being identified as a Covered or Relevant Covered Person.

Aegis Employees:

• Complete General Compliance Training, CIA Training and HIPAA Training located in the “new” Learning Center by July 31, 2014.
• All New Hires must complete within 30 days of hire or within 30 days of being identified as a Covered or Relevant Covered Person.

All Relevant Covered Persons will be required to complete 14 hours of additional training as assigned by the Compliance Department.

Specialized Training:

• Golden Living (Corporate) and Salude Employees:  Complete 10 hours of assigned specialized training in Golden University by October 1, 2014.
• Golden LivingCenter, AseraCare and Aegis Employees: Complete 10 hours of assigned specialized training in the “new” Learning Center by October 1, 2014.
• All New Hires must complete one hour of training (or one course that equals one hour or more) within 10 days of hire or within 10 days of being identified as a Relevant Covered Person. 

Periodic Training:

• Golden Living (Corporate) and Salude Employees:  Complete four hours of assigned periodic training in Golden University or the LMS by October 1, 2014, unless a new deadline is communicated by the Compliance Department.
• Golden LivingCenter, AseraCare, and Aegis Employees:  Complete four hours of assigned periodic training in the “new” Learning Center by October 1, 2014, unless a new deadline is communicated by the Compliance Department.

Thank you for your completion of the required hours of training before the deadline. The Compliance Department staff is available to assist with any questions or technical issues you have about these requirements. Please call 800-613-5989 or contact us at compliance@goldenliving.com.

Business Training Schedule Announced for August

• All Employees

Instructor-led training sessions will be provided in August on the following business office topics:

• Medicaid Pending
• Direct Deposit
• Resident Trust
• Deferral Strategies
• Bad Debt
• Authorizations and Notifications
• Missing Documents
• Business Office Duties and Frequency
• Weekly Business Office Meeting Template
• Private Collections

Business Office Consultants will conduct the training sessions on the dates provided in the “August Training Schedule” attachment.  Employees can sign up for the sessions by going to the company website and accessing them through the Learning Management System (LMS).

IMPORTANT:  These training sessions will not be available through LMS for LivingCenter employees located in the state of Georgia, due to the transition to the company’s new Learning Center.  An article announcing the availability of these sessions in the new Learning Center will be provided in a future issue of InnerCircle.

Resident Trust

Resident Trust was broken into Part 1 and Part 2 for the on-line (self-paced) training sessions.  The ILT session will cover information from both parts; therefore, employees need only to sign up for the Resident Trust Part 1  ILT session.

Questions:

Contact your Business Office Consultant or Director of Business Office Operations

Attachment:

Business Office Training Schedule August 2014

An Important Reminder About Contractor Communication

As a reminder, we need to maintain the integrity of separate employer status for a contractor’s employees.  A number of facilities have contracted for certain services to be performed in their facility.  This includes, for example, ABM or Platinum/HCSG.

Due to contracted employees working at the facility, it is important to maintain the integrity of contractors’ separate operations.

Facility involvement in contractor supervision could expose both the facility  and contractors  to certain legal responsibilities for the actions or status of each others employees or associates and could interfere with contract performance.  In order to maintain separate identity and integrity, the facility should not determine, set or recommend matters involving the following for a contractor’s employees:

a.         Wage rates

b.        Fringe benefits

c.         Work schedules (The facility should not attempt to coordinate schedules of a contractor’s employees.)

d.         Work assignments (If specific work is needed, the facility must go to a contractor’s supervisor about the need and not directly to a contractor’s employee.  Further, the facility should only convey the need and not direct or recommend the contractor’s methods or individuals for meeting that need.)

e.         Discipline or discharge of a contractor’s employees (If there is an issue with a contractor’s employee, the facility should only communicate that issue to the contractor’s supervisor who should then be left to determine appropriate action(s) without directions or recommendations from the facility.)

f.          Contractors’ union issues or contract negotiations

g.         Who a contractor hires

If you have questions or need clarification on specific issues, you may contact Human Resources or a company labor and employment attorney.