News

New efforts that improve the quality of life and care for care center residents will receive $6.5 million over two years through funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Congratulations to these LeadingAge Minnesota members for receiving Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) grants:  

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has posted the Jan. 24 webinar that featured Elderly Waiver (EW) rate reform, the rate study that occurred in 2018, and their recommendations to the Legislature; along with updates and training on the Residential Services Tool.  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Licensing and Certification Program is offering a free one-day MDS class, Basic Training for New MDS Nurses, on March 20. The class is intended for new MDS nurses with less than one-year experience. Space is limited, so register early!  

Employer applications are being accepted for the 2019 Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP). Hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, home care providers and adult day services facilities are encouraged to participate on behalf of qualified students in their community.  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has integrated responsibility for federal surveys and federal complaints into the Licensing & Certification (L&C) Program. What does this mean for care centers?  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) granted Minnesota final approval of its statewide transition plan to bring settings into compliance with the federal Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings regulations. 

A bill to dramatically expand authorized critical access swing bed admissions has been introduced in the Minnesota House. The bill,  introduced by Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester), would modify the authorized swing bed admissions from 2,000 bed days per year to 9,125 per year. We understand that a companion to this bill will be introduced in the Minnesota Senate in the coming days. LeadingAge Minnesota and the Long-Term Care Imperative oppose this legislation. 

Licensed home care providers and registered home management providers are required to notify the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) within 10 days when there is a change on the license or registration. A Change of Information Form is available on the MDH website. 

The Minnesota House Health and Human Services Policy Committee last week heard bills to address issues around the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS). The action taken by the committee is not in keeping with the goals of DWRS providers and creates a clear need for advocacy by impacted providers, including our Adult Day Services members. 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking public comments on evidentiary packages written for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) settings across the state. Comments are due by 4 p.m. on March 6. We encourage our Adult Day Members and Customized Living providers to check the DHS web site on evidentiary packages as there are a large number of LeadingAge Minnesota provider members listed.  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will provide information on the SNF Quality Reporting Program, the Payroll Based Journal System and other issues during a Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long Term Care Open Door Forum this Thursday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. Click here to review the full agenda.  

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking proposals for the next round of Nursing Home Performance-Based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP). Proposals are due May 1. Incentive payments for selected projects will begin on Jan. 1, 2020. 

The next Home Care Matters webinar, hosted by Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Home Care and Assisted Living Program, takes place on Wednesday, Feb. 20. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will sponsor two statewide Nursing Home Regulatory telephone conference calls – Tuesday, Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. to Noon and Monday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to Noon. There is no charge to participate.   

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is recommending the development of proposed licensing standards for Adult Day Services, among other recommendations, in a report that was recently provided to the Minnesota Legislature. 

During our recent round of District Meetings, we received several questions regarding changes that were made to the Elderly Waiver policies based on our legislative efforts in 2017. We are reprinting this helpful synopsis as a quick reference guide, which many LeadingAge Minnesota members have found helpful when working with case managers. 

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Commissioner Jan Malcolm shared updates regarding improvements at the Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) and overviews of the work done on the Elder and Vulnerable Adult Abuse Working Groups in front of the Senate Family Care and Aging Committee and the House Long-term Care Subcommittee.   

The Licensing and Certification Program at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released the 2019 training schedule dates for their free, one-day Basic Training for New MDS Nurses class.  

A new three-part online video training series aimed at helping post-acute care providers and family caregivers gain a better understanding of older adult mental illness is now available from the Lake Superior QIN East Metro Coordination of Care Community.       

All rental property owners, managers or operators must provide a Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) to each person who rented from them during the previous year by Wednesday, Jan. 31, unless the property is tax-exempt.