Assisted Living News 2025Dec12

Survey Update

DHHS has completed 79 Assisted Living surveys this year, 41 of those were during the six week government shut down. Based on the reviews they have completed the average is 10 citations per review. Below are the top 10 citations in the state: 

1.       Food safety—cleanliness, storage of food, cleaning schedules, food dates, hair restraints, storage temperature and serving temperatures

2.       Non-licensed health care providers—competencies for medication aides and additional tasks

3.       Evidence of meeting resident needs—following care schedules and services, hand hygiene, and other requirements

4.       Annual ongoing training—ongoing training requirements for medication aides, administrators and other licensed staff

5.       Registry and background checks for staff—should be completed on schedule for all required staff

6.       Orientation—to the facility policies and regulations as required

7.       Employee Health Screenings—as documented in your policy and procedures

8.       Administration—if other citations are received, the administrator may be cited for lack of follow through on requirements

9.       Administration of medication—ensuring staff training is documented and there are written instructions for additional activities, counts on medications, etc.

10.  Self-administration of medication—ensuring there is an assessment that is current to evaluate the resident for self-administration.

Public Comment Period A&D and TBI Waivers

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is announcing the 30-day public comment period for the renewal of the 1915(c) Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Aged and Adult and Children with Disabilities  (AD) Waiver (NE.0187) and an amendment to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver (NE.40199). The public comment period will run from December 5, 2025, through January 5, 2026. Upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the proposed changes would take effect July 1, 2026.

DDD will host several online presentations outlining the proposed changes via ZOOM:

- December 10 | 2:30–4:00 PM CST

- December 11 | 8:30–10:00 AM CST 

- December 16 | 2:30–4:00 PM CST

- December 17 | 4:30–6:00 PM CST

Meeting links and materials will be available beginning December 5, 2025 at 9:00 am, on the DDD Public Comment site. Hard copies of the draft waiver application may be requested by mail, email, or phone at 402-471-9156.

Public comments may be submitted by:

- Email: DHHS.HCBSPublicComments@nebraska.gov 

- Fax: 402-471-8792 

- Mail: DHHS – Division of Developmental Disabilities 

      301 Centennial Mall South 

      P.O. Box 95026 

      Lincoln, NE 68509-5026

All comments must be received or postmarked by January 5, 2026.

Following the close of the comment period, DHHS will prepare a summary of input received, including any resulting waiver modifications and explanations for comments not adopted. This summary will be included in the final submission to CMS.

Thank you for your engagement in this important public process.

Winter/Holiday Life Safety Code Reminders

If considered a limited care facility needing to comply with the Life Safety Code:

State Fire Marshall has provided reminders on heating during extreme weather in health care facilities. Facilities should consider creating a plan to address the loss of heating systems within the building. Guidance can be found here. It is also the time of year when we need to provide reminders to residents and families on what decorations are safe to display at the facility. Guidance on these requirements can be found here. 

Life Plan Community Weekly Recap. Here is your weekly LPC Weekly Recap.