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A bipartisan bill to modify the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training lock-out that is currently mandated in law was introduced this week by U.S. Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN) and U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (R-WI). The bill eliminates the statute’s rigid provisions and grants CMS greater flexibility in reinstating providers’ valuable CNA training programs.  

Responding to provider concerns, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is updating its new website for the Patient-Driven Payment Model and planning an earlier release of the RAI manual. 

To help provide a representative picture of the current state of senior housing, your input is needed for the annual State of Seniors Housing. All organizations that complete surveys will receive a complimentary copy of The State of Seniors Housing 2019, which compiles the survey results for comparisons to your own operations.  

Faye Baylor, a volunteer with the Minnesota Veterans Home in Fergus Falls, was honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the Volunteer of the Year Award at this month’s Institute & Expo.  

After a brief government shutdown and continued uncertainty on a final appropriations bill, funding that supports affordable housing for seniors was signed into law this week. 

Just one week until the Safe Care for Seniors Informational Webinar! Register today for this high-level overview of some of the most important work we will undertake – preventing harm in the course of caregiving. 

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. 

Careers in Aging Week is March 3 -7. This is a great time to make people aware of the wide variety and rewarding careers in aging services. LeadingAge national has provided FREE resources our members can use to take advantage of this great opportunity. We also encourage members to visit our Workforce Center for ideas that support recruitment activities all year long!  

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. 

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Provider Preview Reports are now available for review prior to the April 2019 Nursing Home Compare site refresh. Corrections to the underlying data are not permitted but providers can request a CMS review by March 4 if they believe their quality measure scores are being displayed inaccurately. 

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 LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to offer more than $33,000 in educational scholarships to eligible caregivers and other employees of LeadingAge Minnesota member organizations for 2019. 

Bill Foussard, a member of the Board of Directors for Cerenity Senior Care in Saint Paul, was recently named Board Trustee of the Year by LeadingAge Minnesota. 

Walter Griffin, a resident at Ebenezer Park Apartments in Minneapolis, was honored at last week’s Institute & Expo with the Spirit of Aging Award. 

Andrea Boedigheimer, Resident Assistant at Carondelet Village in Saint Paul, was recently named the Caregiver of the Year by LeadingAge Minnesota. Andrea received her award at last week’s Institute & Expo, accompanied by a standing ovation and a rousing round of applause from the nearly 2000 attendees that filled the room. 

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 and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updated guidance concerning the federal emergency preparedness requirements Appendix Z of the State Operations Manual – Emergency Preparedness. The memorandum was effective Feb. 1, 2019, and CMS directed that its content be communicated to state agency survey staff within 30 days.  

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.  

As a leading employer in your community, offering students practice interviewing opportunities for their first job is a great way to form a relationship with students entering the workforce and local schools. 

OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training is excited to announce our expansion into North Dakota!  

If you took the Safe Care for Seniors pledge at Institute or are just hearing about the movement that was started during last week’s event, now is the time to learn more! Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 27 for a high-level overview of Safe Care for Seniors, including our goal to prevent harm in the course of caregiving.  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed policy changes supporting its MyHealthEData initiative to improve patient access and advance electronic data exchange and care coordination throughout the healthcare system. 

Two studies, one issued by the Commonwealth Fund and one by the congressional Joint Economic Committee, show the difficulty long-term services and supports costs pose for older people and their families now and how these costs likely will increase for the future as informal, unpaid family caregiving becomes less available. 

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. 

LeadingAge national has developed a quick glance tool that contains the deadlines Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) must meet for submitting data under the SNF Value-Based Payment  program, the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP), and the Payroll-Based Journal reporting requirements.  

We often receive questions from members wrestling with varying restrictions and requirements for medical marijuana under federal and state law. New guidance from LeadingAge national will help members explore issues surrounding the expanding area of medical marijuana, including: 

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. 

Have you tried recruiting through LeadingAge Minnesota’s job board AgingServicesJOBS.org? Check it out! Email Jenna Kellerman for a promo code to post your first job for FREE! 

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.   

Are you looking for Manger/Supervisor Training? Does your organization need tools to promote a culture of engagement, service excellence and continuous improvement? We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Align, bringing you access to an Employee Engagement Solution (manager/supervisor evaluation and training!) and two Customer Experience Solutions.