Featured News
Seniors Need Leadership from Lawmakers; Ask Them to Finish Their Work
On June 30, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
By now, you know that the Minnesota State Legislature adjourned at the end of last month without spending any of the state's $9 billion budget surplus. Even though negotiations have crumbled, we cannot stop our advocacy!
Sample Side Rail Tools Now Available
On June 30, 2022 by Kari Everson
LeadingAge Minnesota has worked with nurse partners to develop tools to assist members with side rail assessments in assisted living settings.
MDH Releases New Side Rail FAQ for Assisted Living
On June 23, 2022 by Kari Everson
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has recently released new guidance on using side rails in assisted living communities.
Level 3 deficiencies in assisted living organizations related to side rails have climbed exponentially over the last several months. LeadingAge Minnesota had several lengthy conversations with the Minnesota Department of health focused on this side rail issue.
State News
Policy Change Made to Assisted Living Resident Privacy Rights
On June 30, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
Lawmakers included a change to the Assisted Living Resident Bill of Rights in the Health and Human Services Policy Bill that passed in the final days of the 2022 legislative session, which requires potential documentation for affected residents.
COVID-19 Testing: Resource Roundup and MDH Upcoming Changes
On June 30, 2022 by Kari Everson
Testing residents and staff for COVID-19 became a standard throughout the pandemic, and guidance frequently changed, which gives way to uncertainty on current guidance and recommendations for testing requirements, test interpretation, and test procurement.
Updates on DHS Background Studies
On June 30, 2022 by Jonathan Lips
As we have shared earlier, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website now confirms the extension of the July 2 deadline by which employees with emergency background studies must clear fingerprint-based studies until the end of the year. Individuals who received emergency studies must have a fully compliant study by Dec. 31 to continue working after that date. Information about emergency studies and ongoing updates about the transition from emergency studies to full compliance.
Federal News
CMS Releases Nursing Home Survey Guidance for Phase 3 Requirements
On June 30, 2022 by Jonathan Lips
On June 29, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released long-awaited updates to the nursing home surveyor guidance found in Appendix PP to the State Operations Manual.
CMS Plans Site Visits to Assess HCBS Settings Rule Compliance
On June 23, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has been notified by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of their plans to conduct site visits of several provider settings this summer to review their compliance with the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule. Site visits will occur the week of July 25.
CMS Relaxes Frequency of Inspection for Vaccination Requirement Compliance
On June 16, 2022 by Jonathan Lips
This week, CMS announced that survey oversight of the staff vaccination mandate for Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers will continue to be performed during initial and recertification surveys but will now only be performed in response to complaints alleging non-compliance with this requirement, not all complaint surveys. This news comes after CMS determined that 95% of nearly 12,000 providers and suppliers surveyed by states have been in substantial compliance with this requirement.
Notable News
Age-Friendly Minnesota Community Grant Program Launch
On June 30, 2022 by Terri Foley
Community grants of up to $99,000 are being offered by the Age-Friendly Minnesota Council in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. As the first step in this process, communities can submit an interest form by Aug. 1. A virtual Responders Conference will be held during the application period to address applicant questions.
Seeking Nursing Home Administrators and Assisted Living Directors to Respond to U of M LGBTQ LTC Survey
On June 30, 2022 by Kari Everson
The University of Minnesota and Rainbow Health are partnering on a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health to improve the experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) older adults in assisted living and nursing homes. This study will focus on the effects of LGBT-specific policies on the provision of care and improving care through the development and implementation of an online staff training program.
Upcoming Nurse Assistant Testing Availability for July
On June 30, 2022 by Anna Mowry
Minnesota State and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are communicating updates to LeadingAge Minnesota regarding the status of nursing assistant test sites as they continue to open and increase their capacity.
Member News
New Business Partner: Introducing Midwest Interiors, LLC
On June 30, 2022 by Jenny Prosser
LeadingAge Minnesota is proud to introduce a new business partner member – Midwest Interiors, LLC. To help you get to know them, we asked them to share information about what they do and who they serve. Here’s more from Midwest Interiors:
New Business Partner: Introducing Impact Medical
On June 23, 2022 by Jenny Prosser
LeadingAge Minnesota is proud to introduce a new business partner member – Impact Medical. To help you get to know them, we asked them to share information about what they do and who they serve. Here’s more from Impact Medical:
Vista Prairie Communities Names Rachelle Strasburg Vice President of Sales and Marketing
On June 23, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
Vista Prairie Communities, a member of LeadingAge Minnesota and a nonprofit provider of assisted living, independent living, memory care and care suites in Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin, is pleased to announce that Rachelle Strasburg will join the organization as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
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