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CMS Issues Blanket Regulatory Waivers to Support COVID-19 Response
On April 1, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 30 issued several regulatory waivers to equip long-term care providers, hospitals and others with flexibility to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The waivers address some critical needs where our members have been asking for help, and this news from CMS was a great way for all of us to start the week!
Department of Labor Defines “Health Care Provider” Exempted Under Families First Act
On April 1, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
While the Families First Corona Response Act (FFCRA) requires private employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid leave and paid expanded FMLA leave to employees unable to work or telework for several specific COVID-19 reasons, it allows employers to exclude “health care providers” from receiving the paid leave and paid expanded FMLA leave.
1,000 Nursing Assistant Students Trained by OnTrack
On April 1, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
More than 1,000 Nursing Assistants have been trained using the OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training curriculum. With a pass-rate trending higher than the state average, OnTrack continues to see success in the second year of operation.
Resource Round-Up: COVID-19
On April 1, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
Each week we will feature a recap of the tools and resources we have provided over the past seven days to help you prepare and respond to COVID-19:
MN COVIDSitters Resource
On April 1, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
Students from the University of Minnesota have banned together to offer support to healthcare workers during COVID-19. They are serving both the metro area and central Minnesota, with a toolkit provided to teach students in other areas of the state to start a similar program. Support can be accessed via their website: www.mncovidsitters.org.
Supporting the Basic Needs of Staff in a Time of Crisis
On April 1, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
With the challenges facing our economy and public assistance programs during COVID-19, it is important to ensure that staff are receiving the support they need to stay safe in terms of housing, food, financial and childcare security. Here are some resources to make sure staff can access as needed:
CARES Act Expands Federal Small Business Loans, Can Support Aging Services
On April 1, 2020 by Roni Falck
About $350 billion of the $2 trillion economic stimulus package signed into law last week are directed to provide loans to small businesses, with the opportunity for loan recipients to receive forgiveness and not have to repay the amount borrowed. On April 3, smaller 501c(3) organizations will be able to access these funds. This article provides a summary of the provisions and guidance for borrowers and lenders.
$2 Trillion Economic Stimulus Package Supports Aging Services Providers
On April 1, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
final package includes many of the priorities we have been advocating for, including an emergency fund to support health care providers that include aging services and temporarily suspending sequestration reductions to all free-for-service Medicare claims.
Governor Signs $330 Million Bill to Respond to COVID-19
On April 1, 2020 by Libbie Chapuran
Governor Tim has signed into law an additional $330 million package of initiatives to combat the health and economic challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. The bill includes, amongst other provisions:
MDH Guidance on Administering Nebulized Medications
On April 1, 2020 by Kari Everson
Nebulized medications are currently not defined or classified as an aerosol generating procedure, according to guidance recently released by MDH. However, since there is a possibility of transmission with nebulizer use, MDH is recommending the following steps to minimize risk to health care providers when administering nebulized medications:
Care Center Occupancy Data Shows Decline in 2019
On April 1, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
After showing some improvement in 2017, occupancy results for care centers that participated in the Long-Term Care Imperative annual occupancy survey have declined slightly throughout 2018 and 2019. Occupancy for 2019 was the lowest we’ve ever found, 87.1%, and it declined each quarter throughout the year.
Temporary Change in Ombudsmen Services
On April 1, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
The state Ombudsmen for Long-Term Care resolve complaints, protect rights, and promote access to services for residents before, during and after emergencies like COVID-19. While the Ombudsman has temporarily discontinued in-person visits in long-term care settings under its scope of authority due to COVID-19, residents still have the right to access the Ombudsman program. Below is an excerpt from a letter for Cheryl Hennen, the state Ombudsman, and phone numbers and a brochure to share with residents and families:
A Fond Farewell and Debt of Gratitude to a Cornerstone of LeadingAge Minnesota
On April 1, 2020 by Gayle Kvenvold
It is with both tears and cheers that we share the news that Adam Suomala will be transitioning over the course of the next two months to an exciting new opportunity in our field as he becomes the Executive Director of the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging (MNCLOA).
Webinar: How to Prepare for a Surge
On March 25, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
Is your setting ready for an influx in a surge of residents? Do you have a surge plan? Join LeadingAge for a webinar on Thursday, March 26 from Noon-1 p.m.
#ThankACaregiver: Face Aging MN Launches Caregiver Appreciation Campaign
On March 25, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
Professional caregivers provide critical support to those most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 – our seniors. They deserve our gratitude. Face Aging MN has launched a new #ThankACaregiver campaign to encourage Minnesotans to share a message of appreciation with a senior caregiver via a web portal.
Delayed Implementation of Updated MDS
On March 25, 2020 by Julie Apold
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is delaying the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 v1.18.1 release, which had been scheduled for Oct. 1, 2020, in response to stakeholder concerns.
MDH Cancels March 26 Assisted Living Licensure Advisory Committee Meeting
On March 25, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
Due to COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has cancelled the Assisted Living Licensure Rules Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for March 26.
BENHA Provides Guidance on Continuing Education During COVID-19
On March 25, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
While the license renewal cycle for nursing home administrators historically activates in May, the Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) recognizes that these are unprecedented times. In a news release distributed this week, BENHA provided the following counsel regarding continuing education or clock hours to renew your license:
LeadingAge MN COVID-19 HUDDLE Moves to Friday
On March 25, 2020 by Libbie Chapuran
Recognizing the number of update calls you participate in mid-week, we have moved our COVID-19 HUDDLE to Fridays.
Links to Governor’s Executive Orders
On March 25, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
In response to COVID-19, Governor Tim Walz has released a series of Executive Orders. We have provided summaries of these via our daily update emails. Below you will find links to the Executive Orders that affect you and your staff:
CMS Will Limit and Prioritize Survey Activity for Next Three Weeks
On March 25, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has directed state agencies to suspend standard surveys for long term care facilities (nursing homes), hospitals, home health agencies, ICFs, and hospices during a 3-week prioritization period from March 20–April 10.
State Works to Inventory and Increase Availability of PPE
On March 25, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
In an effort to ensure that Minnesota health care facilities have the resources needed to treat patients, Governor Walz this week issued Executive Order 20-16 which requires any Minnesota business, nonprofit or non-hospital health care facility – excluding nursing homes – to submit an inventory of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and donate what they are not using for critical health care or essential services. This process should result in more PPE becoming available.
Just-In-Time COVID-19 Training Module Available from EduCare
On March 25, 2020 by Heidi Simpson
In response to the growing need for COVID-19 training and education, our online training partner EduCare released a new course focused on COVID-19 symptoms and reporting protocols, proper preparation protocols, state infection prevention and control practices and what to do if you suspect a respiratory illness.
National Health Plan Association Indicates Plans Will Follow CMS SNF Policies During Emergency
On March 25, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
The American Association of Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which include many plans that offer Medicare Advantage plans to Minnesota consumers, recently announced that they are going to be matching the recent “blanket” CMS waivers on the three day stay and benefit period requirements.
HUD Issues Updated Rent Increase Guidance for PRAC Owners
On March 25, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
As of March 18, HUD has restarted routine processing and approval of Section 202 PRAC rent adjustments to increase Reserve for Replacement deposits. There have been several updates to field office procedures for reviewing Capital Needs Assessments (CNAs) and determining how capital needs should be reflected in annual PRAC project operating rents.
CMS Announces Reporting Relief for QRP and VBP
On March 25, 2020 by Julie Apold
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced it is implementing exceptions and extensions for upcoming measure reporting and data submission deadlines for several quality reporting programs.
Emergency Funding: MDH Grant Deadline is Today; New Details for Nursing Homes
On March 25, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
The deadline to apply for the first round of emergency assistance funding from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), a total of $50 million for health care provider, is midnight TODAY.
CMS Waives Three Day Stay Requirement during National Emergency
On March 18, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
As part of the national emergency declaration in response to COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that they are waiving the three-day hospital stay requirement before a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medicare A stay.
MDH Issues Visitor Restrictions for Residential Settings with At-Risk Residents
On March 18, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued updated guidance advising residential settings with at-risk residents, including housing with services establishments and their arranged home care providers, residential hospices, and licensed-only nursing homes, to impose strict limitations on visitation and to take other operational steps to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.
Update: Assisted Living Licensure Rulemaking
On March 18, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
At an Assisted Living Licensure Rulemaking Advisory Task Force meeting last week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported that it is hoping to have a complete draft rule prepared and posted to its website and sent to the Revisor by mid-April.
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