News

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has extended the public comment period for the latest round of evidentiary packages written for home and community-based settings (HCBS) across to June 9. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) held a statewide regulatory call for care centers on May 13 and shared updates on commonly-cited deficiencies and other topics. MDH will post a recording and transcript of the call on its webpage shortly. Meanwhile, here are a few highlights from the call:  

The Minnesota Department of Health periodically receives guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on specific regulatory or survey issues, which the Department will forward to LeadingAge Minnesota and other stakeholders when applicable. This guidance typically comes in the form of an email written by the CMS Central Office in response to a question submitted by a state survey agency or a provider. This week MDH forwarded three questions-and-answers (identified with CMS tracking #s), which it described as clarifications from the Central Office. 

LeadingAge Minnesota is issuing Safety Alert based on an emerging theme we have identified in the Minnesota Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) substantiated maltreatment reports. To help members prevent similar harm in their settings, we are distributing this Safety Alert to share learnings from these events and solutions for consideration. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will host a statewide Nursing Home Regulatory telephone call on Monday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to Noon. Here are the connection details for the May 13 event:  

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking public comment for the next 30 days on the second batch of evidentiary packages written for home and community-based settings across the state. A number of LeadingAge MN members who provide Adult Day Services or Customized Living Services are included in this batch of evidentiary packages.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has posted the instructions and goal sheet for the 2019 Quality Improvement Incentive Payment (QIIP) program. The deadline for care centers to submit their selected quality improvement topic is 11:59 pm on July 1.  

The Minnesota Legislature returned from its spring recess this week and wasted no time in getting down to business. Today in the Minnesota House, lawmakers will be voting on the House HHS Finance omnibus bill (HF2414). Tomorrow AARP will host a Telephone Town Hall with Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan on their key priorities for the remainder of the legislative session, which will include discussion on the protection of older adults in assisted living settings.  

Housing with Services and Assisted Living providers regularly find themselves in challenging situations, working to meet the needs and preferences of all residents, their families, and communities, while at the same time, assuring safe and secure settings and care, staffing in sufficient numbers and competencies to deliver the care promised, supporting staff to carry out their demanding jobs, and staying tuned to operate in a way that maintains the viability of the organization. As the demands swirl, how do we deal with the challenging situation that presents itself?  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has announced that Michelle Larson was named the full-time Director for the Health Regulation Division. She had been serving as the interim director of that division. 

Don’t delay -- the deadline for the bonus round of the HCBS Scholarship Grant is April 19. You can find the application here.  

A free conference on caring for a person with memory loss will be held on June 1 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the McNamara Alumni Center. The conference is sponsored by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. 

Employer applications for the 2019 Summer Health Care Internship Program are due April 12. Care centers, home care providers and adult day services providers are encouraged to participate. 

Registration is open for the Minnesota Health Care Engineers Association (MHCEA) Spring Conference, set for Friday, May 3 at the Grand Casino Hinckley Convention Center. 

Employer applications for the 2019 Summer Health Care Internship Program are due April 12. Care centers, home care providers and adult day services providers are encouraged to participate.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) announced it has awarded $8.6 million in Live Well at Home grants to help older Minnesotans remain in their homes rather than move to nursing homes or other more expensive settings. Several of the award recipients are LeadingAge Minnesota members. 

Reminder: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is currently accepting applications for the bonus round of the HCBS Scholarship Grant. The application deadline is April 19. You can find the application here.

The House Long Term Care Committee advanced a Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS) bill to its next committee stop this week that will be helpful in some ways to DWRS providers if it ultimately becomes law, but also impose new burdens. 

Information guides, sample policies and other materials relating to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 101, Life Safety Code® 2012 edition, are available to download at no charge from the LeadingAge Minnesota website (scroll down to Life Safety Code Documentation: Guides and Sample Forms).  

Reminder: The Minnesota Department of Health is currently accepting applications for the bonus round of the HCBS Scholarship Grant. The application deadline is April 19. You can find the application here.