News

This is a watershed year for how services are regulated for seniors in Minnesota. Bills are being introduced, and while there is broad consensus on concerns and principles, there is also divergence on areas that will affect the lives of seniors, their access to services, and your functioning as a provider. It is essential for those providing care and services in assisted living settings to be a part of the conversation at the Capitol. Register today for our Day at the Capitol on March 12!  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), on last week’s statewide regulatory call, reviewed top deficiency trends for nursing homes and focus areas to be targeted during CMS oversite surveys. MDH highlighted the increase in deficiencies on both complaint and survey being cited at Immediate Jeopardy level (I/J) in 2019. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), on last week’s statewide regulatory call, reviewed top deficiency trends for nursing homes and focus areas to be targeted during CMS oversite surveys. MDH highlighted the increase in deficiencies on both complaint and survey being cited at Immediate Jeopardy level (I/J) in 2019. 

From Jan. 1, 2019 – Feb. 20, 2019, 14 I/Js were cited. A majority were the result of complaint investigations. Some of the areas identified that resulted in I/Js in 2019 are:

Free of Abuse and Neglect:

• Suspicious bruising in groin, breast and neck area not identified, reported or investigated
• Rough handling by staff
• Inappropriate physical touch and yelling at resident

Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices (also #1 deficiency cited at I/J on standard and complaint survey and #1 deficiency cited at G on complaints, #2 deficiency cited at G on standard surveys in 2018)

• Transfer with a mechanical lift – straps not properly connected to sling and sling too large
• Failure to supervise residents at risk for falls, repeated self-transfers resulting in falls with multiple fractures
• Smoking while using oxygen

Treatment/Services to Prevent/Heal Pressure Ulcers (also #1 deficiency cited at G on standard surveys in 2018)

• Did not provide treatment for prevention of stage 3-4 pressure ulcers

Quality of Care

• Did not notify the physician for a resident with bloody stools and on Coumadin resulting in hospitalization and transfusion

MDH also summarized the top 2018 tags related to surveys, complaints, and E tags.  A complete breakdown of deficiencies with a scope of D, G and J are posted on the MDH website.  Here is a sampling of that data.

Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan yesterday released the One Minnesota budget that proposes to spend $49 billion in the next two years on a wide range of priorities. The budget contained mixed news for older adult services. While it supports the interim work on older adult protection, the budget does not include increased Elderly Waiver funding, only partially funds the DWRS increase for adult day providers, assumes a fee-driven approach for assisted living providers and reduces Value-Based Reimbursement for care centers. 

The momentum for Safe Care for Seniors continues to build – from the 700 people who took the Safe Care for Seniors pledge at Institute & Expo earlier this month to the members who have since made their public commitment to respect, safety and dignity via the Make the Pledge link on our web site. This week, we provide a more detailed review of Safe Care for Seniors and what members can anticipate receiving from LeadingAge Minnesota to effectively implement the program in their organization or setting. 

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to offer more than $33,000 in educational scholarships to eligible caregivers and other employees of LeadingAge Minnesota member organizations for 2019. 

We often receive questions from members wrestling with varying restrictions and requirements for medical marijuana under federal and state law. New guidance from LeadingAge national will help members explore issues surrounding the expanding area of medical marijuana, including: 

Have you tried recruiting through LeadingAge Minnesota’s job board AgingServicesJOBS.org? Check it out! Email Jenna Kellerman for a promo code to post your first job for FREE! 

Are you looking for Manger/Supervisor Training? Does your organization need tools to promote a culture of engagement, service excellence and continuous improvement? We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Align, bringing you access to an Employee Engagement Solution (manager/supervisor evaluation and training!) and two Customer Experience Solutions.  

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) released a final report on Elderly Waiver (EW) rates that suggests numerous changes to reflect how services are provided and what type of staff provide them. The good news for providers is the evaluation reinforces the point that current rates do not reflect the true value of the service provided. 

LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to announce that Sue Boyd will join our team as the Director of Clinical Care and Nurse Consultant. Sue’s first day is Thursday, Jan. 31 and she will hit the ground running at next week’s Institute & Expo. 

The OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training is excited to announce our expansion into North Dakota! 

The 2019 Legislative Session began on Tuesday, Jan. 8, and committees are getting underway this week. Your LeadingAge Minnesota advocacy team is ready to work on your behalf throughout session this year. To give you a clearer picture of the policies we are supporting, our team has prepared a legislative preview document to give you an in-depth look at the priorities for this session:  

Section 202 communities will not see their December 2018 and January 2019 contracts renewed because of the partial federal government shutdown. HUD expects Section 202 provider to rely on their reserves to cover expenses during the shutdown, which could have grave consequences on older adults who rely on these programs. WE NEED YOUR HELP! 

Each year, the state calculates the average wages of RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and TMAs in care centers using the data provided from the annual cost reports and then computes the statutory limits on the amount that Supplemental Nursing Services Agencies (SNSAs) can charge per hour for each type of staff. The new caps were effective Jan. 1.  

Yesterday marked the start of Minnesota’s 2019 legislative session, and we know now who will lead two key state agencies that impact our members and the people they serve – the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  

It’s the story that rarely gets reported: the high quality of life older adults receive in our member settings. We recognize and celebrate the work you and your staff teams do to serve each resident as an individual, treat all in your care with respect and dignity, and prevent harm from occurring in the course of caregiving. Now let’s get that story told. We’re developing a virtual storyboard and need you to help us write the chapters. 

A Jan. 16 webinar from LeadingAge national will provide an overview of Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs). An I-SNP is a type of Medicare managed care plan that is designed explicitly to serve the needs of Medicare beneficiaries needing a nursing home level of care. Aging services providers are exploring I-SNPs as an opportunity to lead a payment model that financially rewards them for redesigning care and services to lower cost and improve outcomes through a more integrated approach, but there are considerable challenges and financial risks that providers should be aware of before going down this path.  

The Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and aging services providers have a lot at stake. Don’t miss a free, one-hour webinar on Jan. 9 for insights into the current political environment, our priorities at the Capitol, and ways you can support our advocacy efforts.  

Are you curious about the OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training program that more than 30 organizations have launched? Sign up for a demo webinar on Jan. 16!