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Commun ty Matters Lawrence Presbyterian Manor

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

Happy birthday, Kansas

Residents share favorite state memories Each year, people across Kansas celebrate their state’s birthday on Jan. 29. As the 34th state to enter the Union, Kansas will turn 154 years old this month. Although Kansas Day is not a public holiday, there are statewide observations that include museum exhibits, school activities and performances. At Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, we celebrate Kansas Day with trivia and crafts throughout all levels of living. We recently asked residents why they love Kansas or to share their favorite thing about Kansas. Here is what we found out: “I love Lawrence and the friendly people of all walks of life. And of course the sports!” – Jean Stokes “My favorite thing is the Presbyterian Manor. Having been a transplant from Nebraska, it’s nice having everything in one place.” – Ruth Warren “We have really nice sunsets.” – Emily Russell “The Flint Hills and two-lane roads!” – Audrey Mortensen “The variety of the seasons we have, and the friendliness.” – Henry Roberts “I love the birds migrating and the sunflowers. And it’s in the middle of the country and convenient for travel.” – Patricia Blair “The sky...you can see flocks of birds.” – Esther Kinsey CELEBRATE, continued on page 3

HIPPA, continued from page 1

Protected Health Information

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Community Matters

is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Rhonda Parks, executive director Angela Fonseca, marketing and administrative services director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact afonseca@ pmma.org. Telephone: 785-841-4262 Fax: 785-841-0923 Address: 1429 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. LawrencePresbyterianManor.org

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. That is also why it is so difficult to obtain information about friends in 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. 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

Save the Dates Reminder: Our annual Mardi Gras Breakfast will be 7 to 9 a.m. Feb. 17. Join us for a fun morning filled with food, music and fellowship! Reminder: The Sweetheart Luncheon will be Feb. 13.

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.

CELEBRATE, continued from page 1

“I love the Flint Hills, and I like the change of seasons. I also like the simple life compared to big cities.” – Mary Alice Barr “The wheat fields when they are ready for harvest.” – Kerstin Roberts “The history that comes along with Kansas.” – Faye Young “The sunflowers.” – Effie Simmons “The people – the people here are just fantastic. And I love the sunsets out of my window. I try to be home each day to see them.” – Stella Walker 3

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