Category Archives: Press Releases

August 2022 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

Historic Flooding in Eastern Kentucky During late July 2022 Kentucky saw the worst flooding in our state’s history, bringing with it heavy rain, deadly flash flooding, and devastating and widespread damage, especially to those living in eastern Kentucky and central Appalachia. Eastern Kentucky is made up of hills, steep slopes, and “hollers” that are prone […]

February 2022 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

Advocacy Update! New Bill Would End Federal Requirement that State Medicaid Programs Recoup Costs from Families In February U.S. House Representative Jan Schakowsky introduced the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act, which would repeal a federal law which requires state Medicaid programs to recover long-term care costs from estates of deceased recipients.  The law often forces family […]

January 2022 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

Advocacy Update! Senate Bill 11  Your voice was heard, and the Senate Committee Substitute of Senate Bill 11 grants Assisted Living residents with the same rights as other long-term care residents.  In addition, Assisted Living residents will have access to the Ombudsman program. In case you missed it, Senate Bill 11 was filed on 1/4/2022 and is […]

October 2021 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

Thank you to Governor Andy Beshear for proclaiming October Residents’ Rights Month in Kentucky! Residents’ Rights Right to Be Fully Informed Right to Complain Right to Participate in One’s Own Care Right to Privacy and Confidentiality Rights During Transfers and Discharges Right to Dignity, Respect, and Freedom including freedom from abuse and neglect Right to […]

September 2021 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

New COVID-19 Guidance Issued September 10, 2021 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) memo QSO-20-38-NH REVISED 09/10/2021 regarding the Interim Final Rule (IFC), CMS-3401-IFC, Additional Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency related to Long-Term Care (LTC) Facility Testing Requirements was released Friday September 10. In this version of the latest […]

August 2021 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

Residents Eligible for Booster Shot State health commissioner Dr. Steven Stack announced on August 17, 2021 that residents of Kentucky’s long term care facilities are eligible to have a third booster shot against COVID-19. In a letter to providers and their pharmacies Dr. Stack wrote, “Due to the age, condition, and high COVID-19 mortality rate of nursing […]

May 2021 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

NEW GUIDANCE! Restrictions are reduced for long-term care On May 13, 2021, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services released Provider Guidance Update: Phased Reduction of Restrictions for Long Term Care Facilities. As everyone knows by now, long-term care was hardest hit by COVID-19 because residents of these facilities tend to be older and have multiple […]

January 2021 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

Visiting Residents in LTC Facilities The in the newsletter above on devastating effects of lockdowns on residents points out that in September 2020, The federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) eased visitation restrictions and permitted visits under limited circumstances. Since September nursing facilities have been allowed by federal COVID-19 guidance to coordinate Compassionate […]

December 2020 KY State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program E-Newsletter

From the Desk of the KY State LTC Ombudsman As 2020 comes to a close I want to take a moment to thank you. Thank you to the 35,000 long-term care residents in Kentucky. You have sacrificed so much to try and protect each other and health care workers during the pandemic. Thank you for trying new […]