All News
Prevent Diversion of Controlled Substances in Long-Term Care
On July 16, 2019 by Julie Apold
Registration is now open for the Preventing Diversion of Controlled Substances in Long-Term Care seminar on Aug. 13 in St. Paul. This 3.5-hour course will provide administrators and nursing leaders with an evidence-based overview of recommendations and best practices to prevent controlled substance diversion in their setting.
DHS Moving Forward with Consolidation of Disability Waivers
On July 16, 2019 by Jeff Bostic
The Health and Human Services budget bill that passed during the 2019 special session includes several provisions that advance a proposal known as Waiver Reimagine. Over the next several years, Waiver Reimagine will combine the four existing disability waivers under two new waivers, one for individuals living independently or with family and one for clients in residential settings.
Lourey Resigns as DHS Commissioner; Pam Wheelock Named Acting Commissioner
On July 16, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Tony Lourey resigned on Monday. Pam Wheelock, an experienced administrator with a career spanning the public, private and nonprofit sectors, will serve as acting commissioner.
Join the Safe Care Movement: Participate in Aug. 5 Workshop
On July 16, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Nearly 450 LeadingAge Minnesota member sites have taken the Safe Care for Seniors Pledge and committed to the 5-Step Action Plan! Don’t be left behind. Register today for the Aug. 5 Safe Care for Seniors Workshop and take your first step on a safety and quality journey that will benefit all who live and work in your setting.
Klobuchar Announces A Plan for Seniors
On July 16, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Senator and presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) last week announced A Plan for Seniors, a comprehensive plan that tackles Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, enhances health care and retirement security, reduces prescription drug prices, supports a world-class long-term care workforce, and combats senior fraud and abuse.
Nominations Open for 2020 Board of Directors
On July 16, 2019 by Gayle Kvenvold
Nominations are now open for two elected Director-at-Large positions on the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors. The terms begin on Jan. 1, 2020 and run for three years with eligibility for re-election to a second, three-year term.
Space Available for Interdisciplinary PDPM Workshops July 24 and 25
On July 10, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Is your organization ready for the Oct.1 implementation of Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), the new Medicare Part A payment classification system? Take advantage of these upcoming education and training opportuniteis:
Disruptions and the Future of Senior Living: NIC Founder Bob Kramer Featured at Annual Meeting
On July 10, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Bob Kramer, founder and strategic advisor for the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC), will be a featured presenter at the upcoming Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum, Sept. 17-20 at Madden’s in Brainerd.
Connect Conference: Summer’s One-Stop Solution for HCBS Providers; Early Bird Deadline July 22
On July 10, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
The first annual Connect Conference, Aug. 20-21 in Brooklyn Center, brings together Senior Housing, Assisted Living, Home Care and Adult Day providers for a two-day interactive experience full of education, idea sharing and important conversations about how we will serve older adults in the decades ahead. The early bird registration deadline is July 22 – less than two weeks away.
Bring Staff Together: Host All Staff Meetings
On July 10, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
An all staff meeting is a great opportunity to communicate and listen, allowing everyone to hear the same information at the same time.
Ready for CMS Phase III Training Requirements? EduCare is.
On July 10, 2019 by Guest Contributor
The November 2019 implementation and compliance date for Phase III of the Requirements of Participation is fast approaching. Are you ready for the new and additional training requirements in Cultural Competence and Trauma-Informed Care or the new and strengthened language around person-centered care and abuse prevention?
White House Issues Executive Orders on Affordable Housing, Health Transparency
On July 10, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
President Donald Trump signed two Executive Orders last month that will interest LeadingAge members. The first is focused on reducing and removing regulatory burdens that raise the cost of housing development. The second relates to price transparency in health care, but does not apply to aging services providers.
U.S. House Passes 2020 HUD Appropriations Bill
On July 10, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
The U.S. House approved a bill that increases overall HUD funding by 7%, rejecting the White House’s request to cut thr HUD budget by 18% for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. For HUD’s Section 202 Housing for the Elderly account, the bill increases funding by almost 19% compared to fiscal year 2019.
SNF Quality Reporting Program Train-the-Trainer Event – Registration Open
On July 10, 2019 by Julie Apold
Registration is open for a two-day Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Train-the-Trainer event for providers on Aug.13 and 14. The training, which is primarily intended for those responsible for training staff at care centers, includes:
New Requirement and Sanctions: Check and Document Exclusions List Monthly
On July 10, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry
A new requirement effective Aug. 1 requires providers to document that they have checked the Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) Excluded Group Providers and Excluded Individual Providers each month.
Safe Care for Seniors Workshop – Aug. 5
On July 10, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Did you take the Safe Care for Seniors pledge and find yourself asking “now what?” Get that answer and more at our final in-person Safe Care for Seniors workshop on Monday, Aug. 5 in Saint Paul. Register Today!
Salary Survey Deadline Extended
On July 10, 2019 by Jeff Bostic
The deadline for the annual salary survey, which is a joint project of LeadingAge Minnesota, Care Providers of Minnesota, and the Healthcare Human Resources Association of Minnesota, has been extended until the end of July for those members who have not returned it yet.
Care Center Financial Survey Results Show Slow Improvement
On July 10, 2019 by Jeff Bostic
Despite a continued trend of improved financial performance in care centers that started in 2016, new data from the Nursing Facility Financial Indicators survey makes clear that providers continue to face significant financial challenges.
2019 Annual Meeting Open for Registration
On July 2, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Registration is now open for the 2019 Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum, Sept. 17-20 at Madden’s in Brainerd. Fresh off a year of significant disruption and challenge and a historic legislative session, Annual Meeting is the place where leaders with vision will gather to form community, assess our challenges and opportunities and to formulate strategies to navigate the future.
Training Opportunities for Oct. 1 PDPM Implementation
On July 2, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Look to LeadingAge Minnesota for your training needs to prepare for the Oct.1 implementation of Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), the new Medicare Part A payment classification system. Don’t miss these opportunities:
Assisted Living Certificate Program Begins Aug. 6, Space Still Available
On July 2, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
The popular Assisted Living Certificate Program kicks off the fall series on August 6. This six-part program is a comprehensive series for assisted living/housing-with-services managers and home care nurse managers to build essential skills and knowledge required for these essential leadership positions.
Connect Conference is Aug. 20-21; Early Bird Deadline Approaching
On July 2, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Housing, Assisted Living, Home Care and Adult Day providers take note, the early bird registration deadline for the first annual Connect Conference is July 22 – less than three weeks away.
Conduct Stay Interviews with Your Team
On July 2, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
Stay Interviews are a great way to connect with staff. These structured conversations can help leaders touch base with new staff to ensure the onboarding process is a positive experience and also be used with long-standing staff to find out what your organization does well. What keeps loyal staff coming back each day?
Dementia Resources Available through Minnesota Historical Society
On July 2, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Historical Society has developed several offerings for adults with dementia and their caregivers. Resources, tools and community engagement opportunities for residents and clients of care centers, assisted living, and Adult Day Service include:
Anxiety Shared Pathway Toolkit Now Available
On July 2, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Anxiety is one of the leading causes of hospital readmissions and crosses many diagnoses. A new toolkit developed on behalf of the Lake Superior Quality Improvement Network (QIN) will help transitional care units and home care agencies prepare staff to mitigate anxiety symptoms and offer integrated therapy programs to alleviate anxiety and improve outcomes.
New National Advocacy Effort Aimed at Enhancing an Aging Advocates Network
On July 2, 2019 by Libbie Chapuran
LeadingAge national has launched new tools to enhance and expand our aging advocate network.
New Resources and Tools You Can Customize: Antibiotic Stewardship Programs
On July 2, 2019 by Sue Boyd
For long-term care infection preventions, sometimes the hardest part of Antibiotic Stewardship is just getting started. Minnesota One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative has posted new resources and tools to support Antibiotic Stewardship in Long-Term Care on the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) website.
HHS Issues Proposed Rule to Eliminate Certain Nondiscrimination and Language Access Provisions
On July 2, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
A new proposed rule from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeks to eliminate nondiscrimination protections in health care and aging services settings for LGBT people and those with limited English proficiency. LeadingAge Minnesota opposes the proposed rule’s removal of these protections.
Adult Day: Rising to the Challenge and Leading Person-Centered Care in the Community
On July 2, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Growing demand for adult day services is putting new expectations on providers, including a need to serve people with more medical needs -- and providers, including those in Minnesota, are rising to the challenge.
New Information and Training on Veteran Community Care Networks
On July 2, 2019 by Roni Falck
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is shifting the way in which it works with community providers to expand the provider network and improve customer service for veterans and timeliness of payment for providers.