June 10 Newsletter

 

 

 

 

June 10, 2026

 

Thank You to Everyone Who Submitted an Award or Scholarship Nomination

Thank you to all who submitted nominations for the HCAM Awards of Excellence, David Lebenbom Memorial Scholarship and Assisted Living Scholarship. We received 112 nominations, which are now being processed and judged by the HCAM Awards Committee. Winners will be announced the first week of August and recognized at the Awards Luncheon on September 14 during HCAM’s Annual Convention in Grand Rapids. 

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HCAM Attends AHCA/NCAL Congressional Briefing Fly-In

HCAM members and staff were in Washington, D.C. at the start of the week to advocate for our state’s nursing facilities and assisted living communities as part of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s Congressional Briefing. The team attended 8 meetings with Michigan’s Congressional delegation to discuss critical long-term care issues including urging federal lawmakers to take action on Medicare Advantage reform and address workforce challenges. Thank you to all of the attendees for your advocacy on behalf of the entire profession!

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Join Us in Two Weeks to Advocate for Long-Term Care in Michigan

HCAM’s Legislative Day at the Capitol will be Tuesday, June 23. This is an exclusive membership opportunity to help shape long-term care policy, discuss key issues and network with Michigan’s top policymakers. Register now.

Why Should You Attend? This event is an easy way to engage with legislative advocacy. Your story matters, and your voice should be heard. HCAM fiercely advocates on behalf of Michigan’s LTC sector on the issues that matter most, and this event is your opportunity to highlight the challenges providers face, discuss ways to overcome them and build valuable connections that will help strengthen the sector. 

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Michigan Medicaid RAC Audits Transition to HMS

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Office of Inspector General awarded the Michigan Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program to Health Management Systems (HMS) through August 31, 2028. HMS will conduct Medicaid post-payment audits on behalf of the state, which may include medical record requests, provider interviews, onsite visits, and claim reviews. HMS has also launched a new RAC Provider Portal for audit communications, record submissions and status tracking. Providers are encouraged to attend a training webinar on June 18, 2026, at 11 am ET and should ensure their CHAMPS Provider Enrollment contact information is current, as HMS will use this information for audit-related correspondence and notifications.

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MDHHS Announces PASARR Compliance Audits for Nursing Facilities

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act Preadmission Screening and Annual Resident Review (OBRA/PASARR) program will begin conducting random, in-person audits of Medicaid-certified nursing facilities to evaluate compliance with federal PASARR requirements. Facilities selected for review will be contacted by the department to schedule an onsite visit. During the audit process, MDHHS will review resident census information, compare facility records against state PASARR data, conduct chart reviews, interview staff regarding admission and care planning processes, and meet with residents to discuss implementation of PASARR recommendations.

MDHHS will conduct a debriefing with facility staff within 10 business days of the site visit and provide a written summary of findings and recommendations. Providers should take this opportunity to review their PASARR processes, ensure treatment plans appropriately incorporate PASARR recommendations, and confirm that documentation is complete and readily accessible. Facilities are encouraged to review Numbered Letter L 26-35-NF.pdf for additional details regarding the audit process and expectations. Questions? Email HCAM’s Mike Batts.

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Upcoming Nursing Facility Touchpoint Meeting June 11

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) continues to host a series of monthly touchpoint meetings with nursing facility providers. Meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month from 11 am to 12 pm. Providers must register separately for each meeting. The next meeting is tomorrow, June 11. Please click here to register.

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New CMS OBRA Discharge Assessment Fact Sheet Now Available (SNF)

CMS released a fact sheet to help skilled nursing facilities determine when an Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) Discharge assessment is required. The resource provides a quick reference for MDS teams and reinforces existing guidance in the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual. According to CMS, an OBRA Discharge assessment is only required when a resident meets one of the following criteria: 

♦ Is discharged from the facility to a private residence. 
♦ Is admitted to a hospital or other care setting (e.g., assisted living facility). 
♦ Has a hospital observation stay lasting more than 24 hours. 
♦ Is transferred to a non-certified bed. 

Key Clarifications 

CMS highlights several situations that can create confusion for providers: 
♦ An emergency department (ED) visit by itself does not automatically require an OBRA Discharge assessment, regardless of duration. 
♦ If a resident is treated in the ED and returns to the facility without being admitted to the hospital or placed in observation status for more than 24 hours, an OBRA Discharge assessment is generally not required. 
♦ An OBRA Discharge assessment is required when a resident remains in observation status for more than 24 hours, even​ if the resident later returns to the facility. 
♦ A Leave of Absence (per the RAI Manual, Ch. 2, pg. 2-14) does not require an OBRA Discharge assessment. 

The fact sheet is a supplemental resource and does not replace the detailed guidance in the MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual. Facilities should review each transfer individually and follow MDS 3.0 RAI User’s Manual guidance when determining whether an OBRA Discharge assessment is required.  

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Respiratory Protection Plan Available to Help Providers Comply with OSHA Requirements (SNF/AL)

Skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities are required by OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134) to establish and maintain a respiratory protection program when employees are exposed to airborne hazards, including infectious agents such as COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. Additionally, CMS health standards (42 CFR 483 Subpart B) mandate a safe environment for residents, which starts with healthy employees. Emergency preparedness rules (42 CFR 483.73) require an annual hazard vulnerability assessment to identify risks including airborne infections. To assist care providers in meeting these federal requirements, AHCA/NCAL, in collaboration with MCA Consulting, developed a comprehensive Respiratory Protection Plan training and toolkit containing everything needed for full compliance with OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard, including a customizable template plan, essential forms, training videos and detailed reference guides.

Resources include: 
♦ Access to OSHA-mandated forms for program documentation. 
♦ Step-by-step fit testing instructions and video to ensure proper respirator use. 
♦ Customizable templates tailored to your facility’s specific needs. 
♦ Practical guides and tools for straightforward implementation. 
♦ Video training for managerial staff and program administrators on respiratory protection requirements.  
♦ Video training for employees, meeting all annual OSHA training requirements. 

AHCA/NCAL offers a deeply discounted 3-year subscription to this complete, all-in-one resource package valued at more than $4,000. The 3-year subscription is $499 for HCAM/AHCA/NCAL members and $699 for non-members. It includes everything providers need for federal OSHA respiratory protection plan compliance. Members will need to login with their AHCA/NCAL usernames and passwords to subscribe. 

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Adult Foster Care Division Revises Technical Assistance Manual

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Adult Foster Care Division updated the Administrative Licensing Rules Technical Assistance (TA) Manual to reflect the new AFC rules that took effect earlier this year. The AFC division plans to review the TA quarterly for continuous improvement, and HCAM will provide updates when revisions occur. Questions? Email HCAM’s Jenny Post.

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