- Benefits Quick Links and Upcoming Events
- Reasons to Get Your Know Your Numbers (KYN) Health Screening
- KYN Health Screening Deadline is Nov. 15
- Open Enrollment Checklist
- Delta Dental Offers New Website Features
- Receive Your W-2 Statement Early
- Golden Perks Offer – Medical Air Transportation Membership
- Wells Fargo Offers FREE Financial Webinar and $500 Gift When You Close Your Loan!
Monthly Archives: October 2014
Compliance Crossword Puzzle Winners Rewarded
We are pleased to share that the first two rounds of winners from the Compliance Crossword Puzzle contest have been rewarded with their hosted meal and visit from the Compliance Team. Stay tuned for the announcement of the Round Three winner and final steps for the exciting Round Four and Contest Finale.
November Business Office Training Schedule Announced
- Executive Directors
- Facility Business Office Coordinators
- Business Office Managers
- Admissions Directors
- CBO Medicare Billers
- CBO Managers
- CBO Directors
- Business Office Consultants
- Directors of Business Office Operations
Instructor-led training sessions will be provided in November on the following business office topics:
- Medicaid Pending
- Direct Deposit
- Resident Trust
- Deferral Strategies
- Bad Debt
- Authorizations and Notifications
- Missing Documents
Business Office Consultants will be conducting the training sessions on the dates provided in the “November Training Schedule” attachment. Employees (excluding employees located in Georgia LivingCenters) can sign up for the sessions by going to the company website and accessing them through the Learning Management System (LMS).
LivingCenter employees in the state of Georgia can sign up for the sessions by going to the company website and accessing them in the new Learning Center.
Resident Trust
Resident Trust was broken into two parts (Part 1 and Part 2) for the online (self-paced) training sessions. The ILT session will include 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:
Medicare Amounts for 2015 Announced
- Executive Directors
- Facility Business Office Coordinators
- Business Office Managers
- Admissions Directors
- CBO Medicare Billers
- CBO Managers
- CBO Directors
- Business Office Consultants
- Directors of Business Office Operations
The Medicare Part A SNF coinsurance and Part B deductible amounts for 2015 are as follows:
- Part A – $157.50 will be the daily coinsurance amount for days 21–100 in each SNF benefit period (up from $152.00 in 2014)
- Part B – $147.00 will be the annual deductible amount (same as in 2014)
PART A PREMIUM
Approximately 99 percent of Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay a premium for Part A services because they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment (or they are widowed spouse).
Most people who choose Part A in 2015 will pay a monthly premium of $407.00 (down from $426.00 in 2014). Higher-income consumers may pay more.
PART B PREMIUM
The monthly Part B premium is based on a beneficiary’s yearly income. Part B premiums for 2015 can be found in the attached document titled “Part B Monthly Premiums for 2015”.
Attachment(s):
Part B Monthly Premiums for 2015
Questions:
Contact your CBO Medicare Manager
Complete Your Required Compliance and HR Training by Upcoming Deadlines
- All Employees
A Message from Amy Brantley, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, and Michael Karicher, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
The end of 2014 will be quickly upon us. As you know, Golden Living has several regulatory training requirements that employees must complete each year. Please take the time in your schedule to complete your training requirements as soon as possible. These trainings are available on the Golden Living Learning Management System (LMS).
Failure to complete this required training affects Golden Living’s ability to comply with Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and other government programs, so it is imperative that all employees meet this requirement by the end of the year.
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All Employees MUST Read and Acknowledge Our Code of Conduct Every employee also is required to read the company’s Code of Conduct and acknowledge reading this handbook. This book is located in PeopleSoft, which can be accessed on the “Facilities” or “Corporate” tabs on the intranet. Click on the PeopleSoft icon on the right side of the page. Once you sign in to PeopleSoft, click on: Self-Service > Employee > Tasks > Code of Conduct. Every employee also is required to read the company’s Code of Conduct and acknowledge reading this handbook. This book is located in PeopleSoft, which can be accessed on the “Facilities” or “Corporate” tabs on the intranet. Click on the PeopleSoft icon on the right side of the page. Once you sign in to PeopleSoft, click on: Self-Service > Employee > Tasks > Code of Conduct. |
SLRT ChangesHUMAN RESOURCES
Last week you received a reminder communication for mandatory training. Very recently, changes have occurred with SLRT requirements that supersede the information published in that email communication. We thank you for your patience with these changes.
Last month, a new 15-minute module was implemented entitled SLRT-Handling Union Presence. With this implementation, the requirements have changed as to who should complete this training. Please see those changes below. The course will be denoted in the LMS with a red “M.” For those using the Learning Center, the course will appear in the transcript. If you have completed the older version of SLRT this year, you will not be required to take SLRT-Handling Union Presence.
| Business Line | Positions |
| GLC | VP Field Services, AVP, Senior ED, ED, Assistant ED, DNS, ADNS, Dietary Services Manager |
| Aegis | RVP, Area Directors |
| AseraCare | RVP, Area Director of Operations, ED, DOCS |
| Corp | HR VPs, HR Directors, HR Consultants |
| 360 Staffing | ED, DNS, ADNS, Director of Operations – any of the positions above filled by 360. |
For all other positions, the SLRT – Handling Union Presence course will appear but is not designated as mandatory.
The older version of SLRT is still available as an optional course for those who wish to learn more about labor relations.
Harassment Training
As a point of clarification, positions designated in PeopleSoft as supervisors are required to complete Harassment training. The course is annotated with a red “M.” For all other employees, the course will appear as optional. In the Learning Center, the Harassment course will appear in the learner transcript for those required to complete the training.
EMAIL ALERTS
Alert notifications will be sent in an email to employees who have not completed their required trainings for the year. The alerts will continue to escalate to management levels until the employee has completed the training. Note: Those who are currently on the Learning Center do not receive alerts. Use the Custom Report to manage the compliance of these completions.
LMS REPORTS
A report is available for tracking completion rates for required training. The report is titled “Blending Learning Progress Report.” This report combines completion rates for training that is done in groups as well as training completed through e-learning. If you are responsible for tracking required trainings and do not see this report, please e-mail LearningManagementSystem@goldenliving.com.
Learning Center REPORTS
To view completions in the Learning Center, take advantage of the Custom Reports, which is located under the Reports heading for the ED and DCE.
COMPLIANCE
Golden Living employees are required to complete General Compliance and HIPAA training by Monday, Dec. 1.
The deadline for Aegis Therapies was Aug. 31. If you are an Aegis employee who has not completed the required courses, do so at your earliest convenience.
AseraCare employees are required to complete these courses byFriday, Oct. 31.
All new hires are required to complete General Compliance and HIPAA training within 30 days of hire.
LivingCenters can conduct the trainings in a group setting and use the instructor-led process to validate that the employees completed their training. The Director of Clinical Education or the designated person in your location can launch the training for a group of employees and enter the attendance in the LMS. Aegis and AseraCare managers can use the instructor-led training by obtaining authorization from the Vice President of Compliance.
In the LMS, these sessions are identified as instructor-led (ILT) courses. An e-learning module has been developed to show you the steps to complete this process. Under “Software Application” in the LMS, click on “Learning Management System” and then “LMS – Managing Instructor-Led Training” to launch the e-learning module.
RESOURCES
For questions regarding SLRT or Harassment training sessions, send an e-mail to HR_Training@goldenliving.com.
For questions regarding General Compliance and HIPAA training sessions, send an e-mail to Compliance@goldenliving.com.
For general LMS questions, send an e-mail to Learningmanagementsystem@goldenliving.com or contact the Support Center at
1-800-866-6636 for technical issues.
Federal Employment Posters Coming: Please Hang Them in Your LivingCenter
- Executive Directors
Within the next week each LivingCenter will receive two federal employment posters. One is required of all employers in the United States. The other is for employers who have contracts with the US Government. Golden Living has contracts with the Veteran’s Administration. The posters provide your employees information they may need. These posters, laminated 11″ x 14″ must be hung in a prominent location within the center – by time clocks, employee break rooms or another prominent location your employees see everyday. Your state also may require you to post notices in order to maintain compliance with state labor laws. To determine what your state requirements are please contact Labor Law Posters (800) 745-9940 or e-mail SusanW@laborlaw.com. Labor Law is an expert in required state & federal posters. Mention you are with a Golden LivingCenter to take advantage of the discounted price of $6 each for the state poster.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Eide, HR Regulatory, 479-201-3140, Jennifer.EideCorp@GoldenLiving.com.
Employment and Wage Verification Process Has Changed
One of our top priorities is to maintain the confidentiality of your personal and employment information. However, there may be times when you will need verification of your employment or wages such as:
- Applying for a loan
- Refinancing a mortgage
- Completing a rental application
- Responding to a government agency
Thomas & Thorngren, Inc. is authorized by Golden Living to provide employment and wage verification. Thomas & Thorngren’s employment and wage verification service is completely safe and confidential to protect the sensitivity of your information.
- 100% secure
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) compliant
- Information will be provided within 3 business days
- Easy to use
Information verification will only be used for purposes that are permissible under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Your wage information will not be provided to a third party without your written authorization.
How the Verification Process Works – Simplified!
Just have your requester go to ThomasandThorngren.com and click on the GREEN BUTTON. The requester will need the Golden Living company code, which is GOLD279. The requester will be asked to provide your Social Security number and your written authorization to be able to verify and maintain the privacy and security of your information.
Thomas & Thorngren, Inc. will provide the verification to agencies that have been authorized by you to receive your information.
Handy Wallet Card
For your convenience, we will be sending all employees a flyer and wallet card containing employment and wage verification instructions in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you may access the flyer online. Be sure to carry the wallet card with you so it’s handy when you need it.
Click here to open and print flyer with tear-out wallet card.
Questions?
If you have questions about verification of employment and income or the wallet cards, contact the HR Service Center at 800-777-2363, options 2, 2, 1 Monday through Friday from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm CST.
Benefits News 10-13-14
New Change of Therapy OMRA Policy
- Executive Directors
- Registered Nurse Assessment Coordinators
- Business Office Managers
- CBO Medicare & Insurance Billing Specialists
- CBO Managers
- CBO Directors
- Clinical Assessment Reimbursement Specialists
- Business Office Consultants
- Directors of Business Office Operations
Effective for a Change of Therapy (COT) Other Medicare Required Assessment (OMRA) with an assessment reference date (ARD) on and after Oct. 1, 2014, the following new policy is in effect:
A COT OMRA may be completed when a resident is not currently classified into a therapy RUG group, but only if both of the following conditions are met:
- Resident has been classified into a RUG-IV therapy group on a prior assessment during their current Medicare Part A stay.
- No discontinuation of therapy services (planned or unplanned) occurred between day 1 of the COT observation period that classified the resident into the non-therapy RUG group and the ARD of the COT OMRA that classified the resident into a therapy RUG group.
Under these circumstances, completing the COT OMRA to reclassify the resident into a therapy group may be considered optional. In addition, the COT OMRA which classifies into a non-therapy group, or the COT OMRA which reclassified the resident into a therapy group, may be combined with another assessment.
Refer to the “SNF PPS Clarifications Memo V1.0, September 2014” attachment for examples outlining the new policy, which was published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Double-check Process
The process below remains in effect for Medicare Part A patients and patients that have Medicare Advantage plans that follow PPS billing requirements.
Process: Prior to updating a billing record in AS400 for a COT OMRA that has a therapy RUG, check the RUG score on the prior COT assessment.
- If the prior assessment has a therapy RUG, update the COT billing record in AS400.
- If the prior assessment has a non-therapy RUG, send an email to the Clinical Assessment Reimbursement Specialist (CARS) who will review the prior assessment.
The Clinical Assessment Reimbursement Specialist (CARS) will let you know whether or not the COT therapy RUG can be updated in AS400.
Questions?
Contact your CARS or Medicare Billing Manager
DCAR “Additional Comments” Section Expanded
- Executive Directors
- Facility Business Office Coordinators
- Admissions Staff
- Business Office Managers
- Business Office Consultants
- Directors of Business Office Operations
The “Additional Comments” section was expanded on the Daily Census Activity Report (DCAR) to provide more room for entering comments.
The revised one and two page versions (dated October 2014) of the DCAR can be obtained from the Policy Center.
- Click the Policy Center icon on the company homepage
- Click “Documents” on the blue tab at the top
- Select site “Golden Living Centers” or “Golden Living Centers (Covered)”, as applicable.
- Click “All Documents” on the left to access “Published” documents
- Select “Business Office” from the “Arrange By:” drop-down list
- Click the + symbol to expand the “Business Office” folder
- Click on “Business Office Forms”
Questions?
Contact your Business Office Consultant or Director of Business Office Operations
InnerCircle 