News

LeadingAge Minnesota has agreed along with its Imperative partner and organizations representing consumers and their families to support an historic compromise bill to enhance regulatory oversight and consumer protection in assisted living settings and nursing homes.  

Unfortunately, cuts to care centers are still on the table at the Capitol. But we still have time to act!  

The LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors will meet for their annual planning retreat in June to review how the Association is meeting member needs. In advance of that, they hope to hear from members in the 2019 Member Value Survey.  

In just a few short weeks, LeadingAge Minnesota will release the list of members who have made the Safe Care for Seniors pledge and are committed to the 5-Step Action Plan. Are you on the list?

Long term care providers in Minnesota have a lot on their plates. As much as you may want to build your workforce pipeline by starting a Nursing Assistant Training Program, it may feel like more work than you can handle. 

With less than 2 weeks to go in the legislative session, much work remains to be done. LeadingAge MN and its members are in the trenches advocating for our priorities and leaving no stone unturned as we push to the finish line. Here is a quick update on where things stand: 

Safe Care for Seniors is a movement that we will bolster through the support of all who live and work in in our communities, and those who help guide our work. One key group to engage is your Board of Directors. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has posted to its website Information Bulletin 19-02: Update: MDH Nursing Home Facility Reporting Related to Federal Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, or Mistreatment; and Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act.  

The Legislature returned from its spring recess and picked up the pace on passing its major finance bills, including the Health and Human Services budget. 

The final Safe Care for Seniors workshop has been scheduled. It will take place Monday, May 13 at LeadingAge Minnesota in Saint Paul. See the Workshop Conference Brochure and Register Today!   

As we reported previously in Advantage, the Nursing Home Compare Five Star Rating system has implemented some significant updates effective today (April 24) that could reduce scores for many providers. We have prepared an Issue Paper to help members understand how these scoring changes work as well as provide suggested talking points for use with external stakeholders.  

Our recent Housing with Services (HWS) legislative survey shows mixed results on the key workforce indicators we track annually. While employee vacancy rates declined for all HWS staff, employee turnover rose dramatically for home care aides. 

The House is scheduled to vote on the Health and Human Services Finance Bill (HF 2414) on Wednesday, April 24. This bill would have a serious and potentially devastating impact on senior care. It’s time to have one more conversation with your lawmaker – and the best time to do that is at the State Capitol on the day of the vote. 

When lawmakers return to the State Capitol next week, they will be taking an important vote on issues that matter most to you, your staff and the people you serve. At a time when the State has a $1 billion surplus, our aging population is growing, and we face severe workforce shortages, the House Health and Human Services (HHS) Finance Bill cuts care center funding and fails to invest in housing and supportive services for seniors. We need your help in sharing the devasting impact this bill would have on the people you serve and the dedicated staff who provide them with care and support.  

The Legislature is on its annual spring break this week, so we thought this would be a good time to update you with where things stand. There are several key issues at stake, with differing approaches taken in the House and the Senate. Now is a critical time for all lawmakers to hear from providers, caregivers, trustees and seniors about the concerns we may have with various proosals. Here is a summary of the key issues:  

House File 2414, the House’s Omnibus Health and Human Services Bill, contains several sections that would have a serious and potentially devastating impact on senior care. The bill cuts nursing home funding, over-regulates assisted living, expands swing beds and fails to invest in Elderly Waiver.  

The two Minnesota Senate Committees that have oversight over the Health and Human Services (HHS) budgets unveiled their omnibus budget bills this week. We were very pleased that the Senate bills do not include the Governor's proposals to cut nursing home funding or create a new, but seriously flawed, property rate system for nursing homes.  

As noted in an earlier Advantage story, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced key changes to the Five-Star quality rating system and Nursing Home Compare effective April 24. The changes include:  

Registration is now open for the fourth Safe Care for Seniors regional workshop that will take place in Owatonna on May 9. You may also register for the workshops in Duluth on May 1 and Redwood Falls on May 7. The Detroit Lakes workshop on May 2 is full. 

The Minnesota House Health and Human Services (HHS) Finance Division yesterday unveiled its nearly 1,000-page budget bill, and it doesn’t contain a lot of good news for senior care providers. LeadingAge Minnesota and the Long-Term Care Imperative oppose this bill and are asking members to join us in turning up the volume on the devastating impact it could have on the growing number of seniors you serve and those who provide them with care.