Commun ty Matters Manor of the Plains
January 2015
HIPAA 101 A simple question doesn’t always have a simple answer. “Why did my friend go to the hospital?” seems to be a simple question, but the answer is blocked by a federal law. While most think of the law as the protector of medical records, privacy isn’t even in its name. We call it HIPAA (pronounced HIP-pah), but the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 also has been known as the Kassebaum-Kennedy Act or Kennedy-Kassebaum Act. Sen. Nancy Landon Kassebaum, R-Kan., was a leading sponsor of the bill, along with Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. The official explanation is: “An Act To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage in the group and individual markets, to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in health insurance and health care delivery, to promote the use of medical savings accounts, to improve access to long-term care services and coverage, to simplify the administration of health insurance, and for other purposes.” The main intent was that the health industry would save money by computerizing paper records. That led to concerns over privacy, which led to new privacy regulations. HIPPA, continued on page 2
Manor of the Plains residents enjoy a weekly Bible study. From left, Barbara Meanor, Carol Sherer, Virginia Orrison, Sarah Godbey, who leads the study, and Mae Rodgers.
New perspectives, renewed faith Visiting minister leads residents in weekly Bible study Katie Morgison had been a regular churchgoer and Sunday school student for several years. But she says she’s learned more about the Bible in the last few years of meeting with the Manor of the Plains study group than she’s ever learned before. Morgison is one of about 10 residents who are finding new depths to their faith through weekly prayer, Bible study and discussion. The group has been meeting every Tuesday for more than three years with Sarah Godbey, lay minister of visitation from First Methodist Church in Dodge City. Godbey said many residents have been church members for years, and the church wanted to offer them a convenient way to continue to grow in their faith. The study group is open to anyone who wants to attend. Godbey said she has tried a few different formats for the lessons and found the group’s members responded well to a DVD series. FAITH, continued on page 4
HIPPA, continued from page 1
Protected Health Information
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Protected Health Information, called PHI, is any information about a person’s health status, any health services provided to the person and any payment specifics about those services. Details of your medical record may not be shared without your consent. That’s one reason there are so many forms to sign at the doctor’s office; they must have your consent to process your visit for billing, insurance purposes, etc.
and enter your email address That is also why it is so difficult to in the blue box on the right. It’s obtain information about friends in that easy! the hospital. It is subject to strict
HIPAA regulations. Violations result in expensive fines, and health care workers are required to receive training on how to keep all medical information safe.
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Manor of the Plains by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.
Jerry Korbe, executive director Kurt Lampe, marketing director Lisa Montoya, activities director Jacque Soltero, health care activities director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Kurt at klampe@pmma.org. Telephone: 620-225-1928 Fax: 620-225-3982 Address: 200 Campus Dr., Dodge City, KS 67801-2760
Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. ManorofthePlains.org
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Some key privacy points: • When your health information is shared, only the minimum necessary should be disclosed. • Health information is to be used only for health purposes. Without your consent, it can’t be used to help banks decide whether to give you a loan or by potential employers to decide whether to give you a job. • If someone wants to share your health information, you have to give your formal consent. • You can ask for copies of all this information and make appropriate changes to it.You also can ask for a history of any unusual disclosures. • Your health care provider and insurance company must explain how they’ll use and disclose health information. (Information from WebMD.)
Retirement community regulations Retirement communities that provide state-licensed services, such as assisted living and health care, must abide by the strict privacy regulations. Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America employees receive training and updates regularly. Vendors also are trained to ensure resident privacy is maintained. PMMA employees know they are not to chat about residents in the hallways – or anywhere – because that violates their privacy protections. The privacy laws are why health care staff can’t talk to other residents about the people in their care. It’s not that they are being unhelpful or that they don’t care about your feelings. They are required to keep the information confidential. Another key component of the privacy rules that affect health care residents is that the “information” may not be linked to an individual. In the rules, “information” includes photos of faces. That’s why we ask residents to sign consent forms when we take pictures for our newsletters, web sites and other marketing purposes. Family concerns Information from AARP explains that health care staff can discuss conditions and treatments with family members, but you must give written permission for your loved ones to see your official medical records. Older adults may have their adult children sign a letter or form designating them as a personal representative. This will give the health care providers the coverage they require to avoid HIPAA violations, according to AARP.
PMMA’s focus turns to the future in the 1990s This month, we continue to look back at our history as Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America celebrates 65 years of the art of life. In 1990, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America moved into a new corporate office building in northeast Wichita, and Manor of the Plains in Dodge City opened.
was donated by American States Insurance Company. Construction began in December 1992. Jane O’Bryan was named the first administrator.
That year, the “Tradition of Caring” capital campaign also kicked off with a goal of $6.4 million. The first leg of the campaign was conducted in Emporia, where $600,000 was raised. Each campus had its own campaign to raise funds toward the $6.4 million goal. The campaigns raised funds to meet current Good Samaritan Program needs and provide a future endowment for Good Samaritan needs, assist in covering debt service and provide capital improvements at PMMA campuses.
Also in 1992, four Presbyterian Manor campuses—Wichita, Newton, Salina and Lawrence—received recognitions from the Kansas Association of Homes for the Aging. Wichita Presbyterian Manor won the Excellence in Service and the Recognition awards. The service award recognized Wichita’s ethics committee, which led to the campus working to become “restraint free” before the movement became popular around the country. Lawrence and Salina also received recognition awards, which signify high marks in the Department of Health and Environment’s annual survey of Kansas nursing facilities. Newton received the Innovation of the Year Award for the Apple-A-Day preschool, which opened in January 1992.
Local volunteers in Fort Scott, Kansas, led efforts to raise funds for a new retirement complex. The “Time to Secure the Future” campaign set out to raise $500,000 in base contributions toward the construction of a 40-unit residential complex in Fort Scott. The land
In July 1993, Dr. Mary Carman
A rendering of PMMA’s Fort Scott campus before construction began in 1992.
A 1992 groundbreaking ceremony for Fort Scott Presbyterian Village.
became chairperson of the PMMA board of trustees. Carman, who served on the advisory council at Newton in the 1980s, was a professional psychologist on staff at Prairie View. She was instrumental in the creation of one of the first special care units for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia at the Newton Presbyterian Manor campus.
Manor of the Plains Art is Ageless® call for entries is underway Manor of the Plains has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held March 4-15, 2015. Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2016 Art is Ageless calendar. The Art is Ageless® Program encourages Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity. “We’re expecting
this to be another great year,” said Kurt Lampe, marketing director. Local competition winners will join winners from 17 other Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America communities to be judged at the systemwide level. Entry forms can be picked up at Manor of the Plains, 200 Campus Dr., or by contacting Lampe at 620-225-1928 or klampe@pmma.org or visiting ArtIsAgeless.org. Works need to be at Presbyterian Manor by Feb. 20, 2015. 3
Manor of the Plains 200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 Return Service Requested
FAITH, continued from page 1
“Some were too basic and they didn’t like them as well. I have to pick the hard studies because these guys want the meat,” she said with a laugh. Recently, the group completed the series “Deeper Connections,” which covered the parables, prayers and life of Jesus. Their Advent series was titled “Under Wraps.” Bob Meanor said many of them learn something new every week. “This is most fun study I’ve ever been in because of all the work Sarah has done,” Meanor said. “We are amazed that all of this is in the Bible.”
the videos and group discussions help her get more out of the stories. “This is much deeper than just going to church.” Irene Hastings said she comes for the same reason. “I never had the time to do this while I was working and raising a family,” she said. Richard Maxwell, who taught Sunday school for many years, said he’s grateful to Godbey for coming to the campus every week. Godbey says she’s getting a lot out of their time together, too.
“I’ve learned an awful lot about my faith from things they’ve shared with me – their ups and downs,” she said. “I’ve grown a lot Carol Sherer agreed. When she was working as a nurse, by having these friends and mentors, and from being Sherer said, she didn’t take time to study the Bible. Now together each week.” 4