All News

Yesterday marked the start of Minnesota’s 2019 legislative session, and we know now who will lead two key state agencies that impact our members and the people they serve – the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  

It’s the story that rarely gets reported: the high quality of life older adults receive in our member settings. We recognize and celebrate the work you and your staff teams do to serve each resident as an individual, treat all in your care with respect and dignity, and prevent harm from occurring in the course of caregiving. Now let’s get that story told. We’re developing a virtual storyboard and need you to help us write the chapters. 

Adult Day Services providers now have access to two new resources from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to help them remain compliant: a webinar on licensing surveys, regulations and expectations and several sample policies and forms. 

It is with a heavy heart that we share that Bob Armitage, a respected leader, mentor and friend, died peacefully on Jan. 5 in the company of his family.  

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation’s 2019 Silent Auction is right around the corner and we need your help. This annual fundraiser, which takes place as part of the Institute, has raised almost $20,000 over the past two years—thanks to the generosity of the LeadingAge Minnesota community.  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a new report that provides six key steps nursing homes can take to avoid preventable harm. The report comes out just as LeadingAge Minnesota is preparing the final details of its Safe Care for Seniors Programs that is set to launch in just a few short weeks. 

Interviews are your opportunity to show off your workplace. In a time of high employer competition, it is important to let job seekers experience your organizational culture so that they can picture working in your environment. Young workers overwhelmingly report that they seek a job that matters. Show them how they can make a difference in your organization!  

A Jan. 16 webinar from LeadingAge national will provide an overview of Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs). An I-SNP is a type of Medicare managed care plan that is designed explicitly to serve the needs of Medicare beneficiaries needing a nursing home level of care. Aging services providers are exploring I-SNPs as an opportunity to lead a payment model that financially rewards them for redesigning care and services to lower cost and improve outcomes through a more integrated approach, but there are considerable challenges and financial risks that providers should be aware of before going down this path.  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) received proposals from four care centers – all LeadingAge Minnesota members -- for funding through the moratorium exceptions process. 

Most people at or near retirement age would rather stay home than move into a senior living community, but the gap between the two options is narrowing, according to a recent article in McKnight’s Senior Living. 

In our recent assessment of Adult Day Services surveys by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), we found several deficiencies in record keeping regarding Individual Service Planning. In this edition of our “Adult Day Services: A Closer Look” series, we review the requirements for the most common deficiencies in Individual Service Planning and link you to resources that will help you comply with the requirements.  

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a new State Medicaid Director Letter titled 10 Opportunities to Better Serve Individuals Dually Eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. 

More home health agencies (HHAs) than skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have adopted electronic health records (EHRs), according to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). 

The Minnesota Legislature is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, Jan. 8 and aging services providers have a lot at stake. Don’t miss a free, one-hour webinar on Jan. 9 for insights into the current political environment, our priorities at the Capitol, and ways you can support our advocacy efforts.  

Are you curious about the OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training program that more than 30 organizations have launched? Sign up for a demo webinar on Jan. 16!  

The best way to kick off a new year? Joining LeadingAge Minnesota at one of its seven district meetings taking place in January. Our hot topic agenda features a sneak peek at our new Safe Care for Seniors program, and two breakout sessions that will help prepare care centers and housing with services/assisted living prepare for new opportunities in payment, regulations and more in 2019. Our meetings start next week, so don’t delay - register today!   

As we continue to address the workforce challenges in aging services, we encourage you to get engaged with organizations that are educating your potential workforce at a crucial time in their development. 

Cybersecurity, telehealth and interoperability are the top three concerns for healthcare IT executives in 2019.  

The federal government remains in a partial shutdown, which could impact affordable housing as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is one of the federal funding bills in limbo. It is unclear at the time we distributed this newsletter how long the shutdown will last. This articles provides some details on what a shutdown means for affordable housing funding, plus an update on a new hemp law and funding for Alzheimer's education. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking comments on draft guidance intended to streamline the use of electronic health records (EHRs) and other health information technology (IT). Comments are due Jan. 28.  

A 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) approved in October will begin with benefits payable to more than 62 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2019. 

The newest upgrade to AgingServicesJobs.Org integrates your job posting into a premium job board with access to special pricing. Premium job boards include:   

Although the annual Medicare open enrollment period ended Dec. 7, special enrollment periods remain for most beneficiaries who live in one of the 66 Minnesota counties that are losing their Cost Plans as of Dec. 31, 2018. Members are reminded to refer residents and families with questions or in need of additional assistance to the Senior Linkage Line.  

As reported in McKnight’s Senior Living this week, most people at or near retirement age would rather stay home than move into a senior living community -- but the gap between the two options is narrowing. 

LeadingAge national has submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expressing opposition to its proposed rule broadening the factors used in public charge determinations, meaning whether a legal immigrant would become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.   

LeadingAge national has submitted comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expressing opposition to its proposed rule broadening the factors used in public charge determinations, meaning whether a legal immigrant would become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence.   

LeadingAge Minnesota filed comments last week with the United States Department of Labor (DOL) to voice our support for a proposal that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to operate power-driven patient lifts independently. 

The role of the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) was reviewed in a previous edition of Advantage. One important clarification to that story is the designation of a Person in Charge (PIC). When present, the CFPM functions as the PIC. However, when the CFPM is not present and food service is being offered, the CFPM must designate a PIC. 

The United States spent $3.5 trillion on health care across all payors and out-of-pocket costs, according to the new National Health Expenditure (NHE) report.

LeadingAge Minnesota is offering a Food Manager Certification Course on Tuesday, Feb. 5 to individuals seeking a new or renewal certification. This one-day ServSafe Manger course meets the criteria for Food Protection Manager Certification in Minnesota* and will provide eight hours of approved sanitation education required for CDMs.