NEPHIMA Quarterly Meeting September 2022

NEPHIMA held a quarterly meeting on September 7, 2022, at the Café an American Bistro in Plains Township, Pennsylvania.

Lisa Wheeler, RHIT presided at the business meeting.  There was no old nor new business. Recommendations for speakers/topics were requested.

There were four in-person presentations, as follows:

1. Stephanie Sakson, RHIA—”Long Term Care Updates”
   1. There have been no long-term care regulatory updates since 1997 (25 years).
   2. Proposed regulatory changes will be in four (4) parts and include the following topics:
      1. Medical Assistance increase in payments to retain staff.
      2. Renovations to include private rooms.
      3. Financial strength of facilities to establish ownership/chain of command.
      4. Name of records revised from “clinical” records to “medical” records; verbal and telephone orders; advanced posting of resident menus.
2. Joshua Muchler—“KeyHIE”
   1. Groundwork for health information exchanges was described in detail, including rules emanating from HIPAA, growth in electronic health records, and the Omnibus Rule that expanded individual access.
   2. Integration to and from KeyHIE is shared by many computer systems, giving providers greater access to pertinent patient health information from numerous entities.
   3. Patients may opt in or opt out of the KeyHIE system.
   4. KeyHIE information is to be used for patient care (TPO—treatment/payment/other.)
3. Kate Spencer and JoAnna Van Tine—”National Alliance on Mental Illness”

Recent developments in the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) were described.  Both community engagement and volunteer coordination are necessary.  Kate and JoAnna described some of their personal involvement in NAMI and encouraged contact to NAMI for any mental health issues.

Links: NAMI Homefront –
https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education/NAMI-Homefront
Northeast Region website where you can become a member or look at our different programs and events.  https://www.naminepa.org/

4. Troy Edwards, Veterans’ Coordinator at SCI, Dallas

Difficulties veterans face when returning from deployment or retiring from the military were described at length, including areas to contact for assistance.  The information was riveting and lead us to understand the reasons for the vast number of military mental health concerns and suicides.

Take a look at the brochures below.