On September 14, 2012, CMS published a Survey and Certification letter addressing “Hand in Hand: A Training Series for Nursing Homes.” This training is in response to Section 6121 of the Affordable Care Act, which requires that CMS ensure that nurse aides receive regular training on caring for residents with dementia and prevention of abuse.
While the Hand in Hand training is geared toward the training of nurse aides, CMS highly encourages it be used for all caregivers, administrators and even state surveyors. While training on dementia and prevention of abuse for nurse aides is required by the ACA, nursing homes do not have to use the Hand in Hand training as a means of training its nurse aides.
The Hand in Hand training will be mailed to all nursing homes, CMS Regional Offices and State Survey Agencies in September 2012. The link to the Survey and Certification Letter is here.
If you have questions or concerns regarding the foregoing or would like additional information, please contact your regular Hall Render attorney, or Todd Selby at tselby@wp.hallrender.com or 317.977.1440; Brian Jent at bjent@wp.hallrender.com or 317.977.1402; or David Bufford at dbufford@wp.hallrender.com or 502.568.9368.
