KABC Hosts First Caring for Older Kansans Panel Discussion

Libby Hastings • November 15, 2024

On November 12th, KABC hosted our first Caring for Older Kansans Panel Discussion at the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center, bringing together an audience of around 40 attendees to explore the pressing issues facing long-term care in Kansas. The event was moderated by award-winning journalist Jim McLean, political correspondent for the Kansas News Service and Senior Contributor with Kansas Public Radio, who expertly guided the conversation.


Panelists


The panel featured three distinguished experts in the long-term care field:


  • Janis DeBoer, former Deputy Secretary of Programs at KDADS and a 30-year veteran in long-term care, shared her knowledge on Medicaid services, nursing facility challenges, and the importance of community-based services.
  • Camille Russell, former Kansas Long-Term Care Ombudsman, highlighted the importance of person-centered practices and shared her experiences advocating for nursing facility residents.
  • Rep. Susan Concannon (R-Beloit) from District 107 offered a legislative perspective, emphasizing the need for reform in the long-term care system while navigating a challenging political environment.


Key Issues Discussed


The conversation touched on several critical topics:


1. Challenges in Nursing Facilities

Janis DeBoer noted that nursing facilities have long been difficult to manage, with a lack of effective quality care metrics and a system built more for providers than consumers. Rep. Concannon echoed this, citing the disconnect between government funding and accountability.


2. Policy and Data Gaps

The panel emphasized how the transition from the Kansas Department on Aging (KDOA) to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) deprioritized senior issues. DeBoer stressed the need for statewide data to support advocacy efforts, while Camille Russell called for policymakers to hear directly from nursing home residents and an increase in grassroots advocacy efforts. 


3. Workforce Challenges

Workforce shortages remain a significant barrier to quality care. DeBoer called for increased pay throughout the industry and better working conditions for CNAs. The panel agreed that a cultural shift is needed to make long-term care jobs more attractive and sustainable.


4. Transparency and Consumer Awareness

The panel discussed the need for greater transparency in the system, including access to quality care metrics and ownership information. Rep. Concannon pointed out that while survey data is accessible, most consumers are unaware of it.


5. Shifting Toward Community-Based Services

DeBoer underscored the cost-saving and quality-of-life benefits of reducing nursing facility stays by investing in community-based services. Research shows that these services increase the likelihood of individuals returning home and living independently.


Key Takeaways


The event highlighted three primary areas for improvement:


  1. Greater Transparency: Make information on facility performance and ownership readily available to consumers and the public.
  2. Improved Communication: Foster collaboration among stakeholders, including policymakers, service providers, and families, to address systemic gaps.
  3. Diversifying Service Options: Reduce Kansas's reliance on institutional care by expanding and strengthening community-based services for older adults.


Special Highlights



Sherman Smith of the Kansas Reflector attended the event to document the discussion, capturing key moments and engaging with attendees and panelists. The participation of Senator Francisco (D- Lawrence) and Representative McDonald (D-Olathe) further underscored the importance of legislative involvement in shaping the future of long-term care in Kansas.


This event was an impactful step toward fostering dialogue, raising awareness, and advocating for meaningful change in long-term care policy and practice in Kansas. We look forward to continuing the conversation and driving progress for older Kansans.

Understanding the Special Focus Facility Program

By Libby Hastings • April 21, 2025
Understanding the Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program: What Families Need to Know When Choosing a Nursing Home in Kansas When searching for a nursing home for a loved one, families often look for a place that will offer safe, reliable, and compassionate care. One important—but often overlooked—resource that can help inform that decision is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program , managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). What Is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) Program? The SFF Program was created by CMS to address the most persistent quality problems in nursing homes across the country. Every nursing home that accepts Medicare or Medicaid is regularly inspected to ensure it meets health and safety standards. Most nursing homes will have a few issues identified during these inspections—typically six to seven deficiencies on average—but some facilities consistently fall far below acceptable standards. These nursing homes: Have twice as many deficiencies as the average facility, Have more serious issues , including those that cause actual harm to residents, And show a long-term pattern of poor performance over a span of about three years. Facilities like these may fix issues temporarily, but often fail to address the root causes—resulting in a harmful cycle of repeated violations. That’s where the SFF program comes in. How the SFF Program Works CMS uses inspection data to score nursing homes based on both the number and severity of their deficiencies. Facilities with the highest scores (i.e., the most and most serious problems) are added to a list of SFF candidates . Each state is allowed only a limited number of active SFFs at a time—currently, only 88 facilities nationwide can be enrolled in the program. However, CMS maintains a much longer list of SFF candidates that also meet the criteria but haven't yet been selected for the program due to space limits. Once a facility is chosen as an active SFF: It is inspected every six months instead of the usual once a year. It may face progressive enforcement , such as financial penalties or losing eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid. It must show real, lasting improvements to graduate from the program. A facility "graduates" from the SFF program only after it has two consecutive inspections (after being named an SFF) with no more than 12 relatively minor deficiencies and none at a higher severity level. If a facility continues to have serious violations, CMS may consider terminating its participation in Medicare and/or Medicaid. Why This Matters to Kansas Familie s Being informed about a nursing home’s history can help protect your loved ones. Facilities in the SFF program—or on the candidate list—have serious quality concerns. While some may be working hard to improve, others may continue to struggle with systemic issues that put residents at risk. As of March 2025, the following nursing homes in Kansas are included in the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program: Excel Healthcare and Rehab Topeka (recently closed) Access Mental Health (Peabody) The following facilities in Kansas are currently on the SFF candidate list : Clearwater Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Good Samaritan Society- Liberal Kearny County Hospital Long-Term Care Unit Legacy at College Hill (Wichita) Legacy on 10th Avenue (Topeka) Medicalodges Jackson County Medicalodges Post Acute Care Center (Kansas City) Meridian Rehabilitation and Health Care Center (Wichita) Riverbend Post Acute Rehabilitation (Kansas City) Tanglewood Nursing and Rehabilitation (Topeka) The following facilities graduated from the SFF program: Advena Living of Cherryvale Life Care Center of Osawatomie Anew Healthcare Oxford is a facility that is no longer participating in the Medicare and Medicaid Program. We encourage families to take time to research and ask questions when considering a nursing home. You can access the full national SFF and candidate list on the CMS website here . KABC offers free unbiased Consumer Information Reports on all licensed adult care facilities in Kansas, helping you make an informed choice when deciding between long-term care options. Final Thoughts The Special Focus Facility Program exists to push underperforming nursing homes to do better—but it’s also a signal to the public. When selecting long-term care, knowing whether a facility is on this list can be an important part of making the best choice for your loved one. If you have questions about how to find quality nursing home care in Kansas or want help understanding a facility’s inspection history, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

Advocacy in Action (April 2025): Legislative Recap

April 2, 2025
As we move further into 2025, we want to share an update on our legislative advocacy efforts this session. KABC remains committed to championing policies that protect and support older adults and individuals in long-term care. Here’s a look at key legislative developments and where things stand: