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The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule on arbitration agreements that nursing facilities must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) has developed a Rules Development Team, which held its first meeting last week, to facilitate rulemaking for the licensure of Assisted Living Directors. 

Several elements of the new Elder Care and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act of 2019 take effect on Aug. 1, including retaliation protections, new fines, a maltreatment compensation fund, revisions to the Home Care Bill of Rights and the new Health Services Executive license. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has not released guidance on many of these provisions at this time.  

The August 20-21 Connect Conference features success stories of collaborations, ideas and innovation from several LeadingAge Minnesota member communities. Project case studies include:    

The 2019 Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum, Sept. 17-20 at Madden’s in Brainerd, features much-anticipated keynotes, forums and breakout sessions that inform strategic planning for member organizations. 

You’ve taken the Safe Care for Seniors pledge, but are you ready to take the next step? Time is running out to register for the Aug. 5 Safe Care for Seniors workshop.   

For the third year, our partners at LeadingAge National have arranged a powerful three days of programming specific for student leaders Oct. 27–30 in San Diego at their Annual Meeting, as well as scholarships to help defray expenses. This program is targeting students enrolled full-time in undergraduate or graduate programs at accredited colleges or universities (ages 18 and up), with a goal to expose and connect students to opportunities in the field of aging services.   

Ziegler, a national specialty investment bank and a leader in the not-for-profit senior living finance sector, announced the addition of Mark Landreville as a managing director and Christina Rappl as an assistant vice president to its senior living finance practice.   

Hosting a focus group allows leaders to hear from a select group of staff about a specific topic.   

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee held a hearing yesterday on the latest report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Improved Oversight Needed to Better Protect Residents from Abuse. The report states that abuse deficiencies cited in nursing homes have more than doubled between 2013 and 2017.  

Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) identified as not meeting the 80% reporting threshold under the Quality Reporting Program (QRP) recently received a letter from National Government Services, the Medicare contract agency for Minnesota, informing them that they will be subject to a 2% reduction on their Medicare fee-for-service rates beginning Oct. 1, 2019. If you received this letter, you have the opportunity to request reconsideration by Aug. 15.  

In response to a request from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC), Eldermark Software recently met with the investigation teams and supervisors from OHFC and the Licensing & Survey Compliance division to provide some basic training on the software used by many senior living providers across the state.   

New Minnesota Food Code requirements went into effect on Jan. 1 and one topic providers want to learn more about is the requirements for establishments serving highly susceptible populations:  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently released the application materials for this year’s round of the nursing facility moratorium exceptions process. Care centers interested in applying should complete the required application materials and return them to MDH by Dec. 20. Following a presentation to a review committee early next year, MDH will have a list of approved projects by April 3, 2020. 

Nominations are now open for two elected Director-at-Large positions on the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee is also accepting nominations for Lifetime Honorary Memberships. 

Under regulations enacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hazardous waste pharmaceuticals may not be sewered (flushed or poured down a drain) for disposal after Aug. 21, 2019. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has posted a fact sheet about changes in management of hazardous waste pharmaceuticals to its website.  

As we reported last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a proposed rule that would lighten some regulatory burdens for nursing facilities and delay implementation of certain Phase 3 requirements. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a proposed rule that would lighten some regulatory burdens for nursing facilities and delay implementation of certain Phase 3 requirements. 

The annual Billing University for Care Centers, Aug. 14-15 in St. Paul, is a popular two-day training conference that updates the essential knowledge, skills and resources for billing office staff so that accurate and complete reimbursement is captured. 

This year’s Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum, Sept. 17-20 in Brainerd, has a variety of education sessions that explore organizational culture, diversity and inclusion. 

The first annual Connect Conference, Aug. 20-21 in Brooklyn Center, is on its way to becoming the must-attend event of the summer. Redesigned as an interactive event bringing together Senior Housing, Assisted Living, Home Care and Adult Day, Connect is about breaking down silos to share ideas and important conversations about how we will serve older adults in the decades ahead. Early bird registration deadline is Monday, July 22.  

In Hardwiring Excellence: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, Making a Difference, Quint Studer says “rounding” is about engaging in direct conversation with staff, asking pointed questions and role modeling specific behaviors. Sometimes this is also referred to as “managing by walking around.”  

Do you know a retired leader in our field who has made significant contributions to the overall success of LeadingAge Minnesota either by service as a leader at the district, committee or board level and/or by consistent service as an event volunteer or in other supportive roles? Nominate them for a Lifetime Honorary Membership. 

A new report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University found that housing production is not keeping pace with the nation’s growth of households, which is creating higher housing costs and increased housing affordability struggles for low- and moderate-income households.  

Mark your calendars for the August Assisted Living/Home Care Nurse Leader Network (ALNET)!  The ALNET regional meetings in June drew over 100 participants, demonstrating the growing interest in the meetings, the value of the content being presented and networking opportunities for nurse leaders.

A report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) discusses serious care deficiencies found in hospice services and the shortcomings in federal regulation and oversight to prevent these kinds of harm to beneficiaries.  

The final countdown to Phase 3 of the Requirements of Participation that take effect Nov. 28 has begun. These requirements, among other changes, mandate that every care center have a designated and specially trained Infection Preventionist running a comprehensive infection prevention and control program. Are you prepared? 

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.  

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. 

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.