Commun ty Matters Rolla 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
From left, Lori and Joe Gillardi play cards, one of the many activities they enjoy at Rolla Presbyterian Manor.
Cards on the table When it comes to life as residents, Joe and Lori Gillardi are ‘all in’ From their first days at Rolla Presbyterian Manor, Joe and Lori Gillardi have sampled just about every activity on the schedule, from morning devotions to music programs. Then, they started one of their own. The Gillardis, who moved in May from St. Peters, Mo., decided to invite neighbors to join them in a card game a few nights a week. They had been playing one of their favorite games, double solitaire, during the weekly Table Games activity and started teaching other players how to do it. “They’re always motivating us to do different things here, and the staff is always doing everything for us” in planning activities, Gillardi said. “I just wanted to do something for somebody else. Everybody here has been so nice; it’s like family.” The evening card game now draws a dozen or more players. They start right after dinner and play until about 10 p.m., he said. At first, Gillardi said, he had to do a lot of recruiting. Now, other residents look for him to ask when the next game is. CARDS, 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 in the blue box on the right. It’s That is also why it is so difficult to 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 Rolla Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Joelle Freeland at lfreeland@pmma.org. Telephone: 573-364-7336 Fax: 573-364-7336 Address: 1200 Homelife Plaza, Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. RollaPresbyterianManor.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.
Rolla Presbyterian Manor Art is Ageless® call for entries underway Rolla Presbyterian Manor has issued a call for entries for the Art is Ageless® juried exhibit to be held Feb. 23 to 26, 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 Joelle Freeland, 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 Rolla Presbyterian Manor, 1200 Homelife Plaza, or by contacting Freeland at 573-364-7336 or lfreeland@pmma.org or visiting ArtIsAgeless.org. Works need to be at Rolla Presbyterian Manor by Feb. 19, 2015. 3
Rolla Presbyterian Manor 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Return Service Requested
Make it new... By Allen Teal, Rolla Presbyterian Manor chaplain
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:5a (NIV) With turning of the calendar to a fresh allotment of 365 days, “new” is the word of the moment. A new year comes with a new start and new resolutions. The reality is that for many, very little will seem very new. There will be the same old problems, dreams and faces. Whether things seem old or new is more a matter of personal perspective. Almost everything can be given a fresh feeling when approached with a generous dose of optimism and a new perspective. 4
Create a positive attitude Tasks you dislike will suffer due to the attitude that you bring to the effort. Look for the upside. Many negatives in life are the result of feelings about a situation or a person. Stop approaching life with the feeling that nothing will change. Make your own change. Get a dose of optimism Lose the gloom and doom method of seeing the world. Expand the scope of things you are willing to try or the type of people with whom you are willing to associate. Before long, your life will be energized by fresh enjoyment and learning brought by new experiences and new relationships.
CARDS, continued from page 1
The Gillardis fill the days between games with regular attendance at morning devotions, exercise class, and church services, and they don’t miss many special events or parties either. Joe said it’s like being on vacation all the time. “It’s been a blessing. I wish I’d moved 10 years ago,” he said. The Gillardis’ son, Joe Jr., lives in Rolla, and they moved to be closer to him. Back in St. Peters, near St. Louis, Joe Gillardi also helped serve Meals on Wheels for more than five years. Finding some way to help or engage other people is just in his heart, he said. “God put that in me as my nature.”