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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 will need to complete and submit the required application materials by Dec. 20. To help members evaluate whether they should apply, LeadingAge Minnesota is hosting a Moratorium Exceptions webinar on Thursday, Aug. 9. 

Business office staff in care centers are encouraged to attend the annual Billing University on Aug. 8 and 9. This two-day intensive learning workshop delivers essential knowledge, skills and resources to help capture all appropriate reimbursement for the services you provide. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to help you improve performance and measure and report outcomes in your organization, LeadingAge Minnesota is proud to provide you with access to a new tool that will help translate your current MDS 3.0 data into actionable information. 

LeadingAge Minnesota is now accepting nominations for the recognition of Lifetime Honorary Membership. This honor is provided to persons of distinction by election each year during our Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum in September.  

The U.S. Department of Labor has rescinded the 2016 Persuader Rule that required employers to report whenever they seek assistance from consultants or lawyers to dissuade employees from joining unions. 

The OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training program has seen 100 nurses complete the Train the Trainer course! Those 100 RN Trainers are now supporting OnTrack Nursing Assistant programs all over the state. 

In keeping with the Minnesota State Transition Plan to comply with the Home and Community-Based Services Settings (HCBS) Rule, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has added a person’s evaluation of services and compliance with HCBS Standards to the MN Choices Tool. The questions are to be completed at the next reassessment visit on or after Aug. 1, 2018. 

Ruth Katz, Senior Vice-President of Public Policy/Advocacy at LeadingAge, opened the 2018 LeadingAge Minnesota Adult Day Conference with a strong message of support for providers of these valued services that help older adults age in place. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new tool as part of its four-part online training series on antibiotic stewardship. 

Many Americans are now aging without family caregivers nearby, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The 2018 LeadingAge Minnesota Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for candidates for the 2019 Board of Directors. Nominations are due by Friday, Aug. 10.

LeadingAge CAST has updated its Medication Management Selection Tool with vendor information for 20 products. The tool is designed to help you understand the range, uses and benefits of medication management technologies and to select solutions that best fit your requirements. 

A new training to assist staff in supporting and working with residents with mental illness has been added to the LeadingAge learning hub. The training is free for LeadingAge members. 

The Stars Among Us Award program is open for the 2019 recognition awards and we want to know, Who’s YOUR Julie? 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) held a statewide regulatory call for care centers on July 16 and provided updates on commonly-cited deficiencies and other topics. MDH recorded Monday’s call and will post the recording on its webpage within the next week, and it will remain archived there for 90 days. Here are notes from the call: 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) issued a form that can be used by case managers to modify rights for individuals requiring a modification of the rights enumerated in the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) standards for provider “owned or controlled settings.” 

Watch your email this week for information about the 2018 Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum, Sept. 18-21 at Madden’s in Brainerd. Registration will open on Friday.

As the Baby Boom Generation continues to age and rely more on the network of supports for older adults, the University of Minnesota recently reaffirmed its commitment to its high-quality Long-Term Care Administration courses. 

The Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) last week released an audit on the Medical Assistance eligibility process for seniors and those under age 65 with a disability. The audit found that DHS and the counties who implement the eligibility process “generally complied” with legal requirements for determining eligibility. Specific findings and recommendations include: 

A familiar Stars Among Us Award has been recast to reflect the spirit of its namesake for the 2019 recognition program. 

The downward trend in assisted living occupancy continues, according to data released by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). 

As we first reported in May, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing an entirely new case mix payment system to take effect on Oct. 1, 2019. In this week’s Advantage, we feature a review of this Patient-Drive Payment Model (PDPM) from Lancaster Pollard.  

LeadingAge Minnesota’s Sales & Marketing in Senior Housing Certificate Program concluded on July 10 with 34 professionals receiving their Certificate of Completion. 

With the next round of Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BCPI) about to begin, Health Dimensions Group (HDG) reviews some potentially game-changing program modifications that will likely increase participation in the next round of voluntary bundling. 

Funding for essential programs that help people age in place were recently approved by the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees. 

How can you improve the financial health of your care center? By having billing office staff attend the annual Billing University on Aug. 8 and 9. 

The last day to pre-register for the 2018 Assisted Living and Home Care Conference is Thursday, July 19. 

As we have covered previously, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is conducting numerous studies this summer that are related to reports it is required to submit to the 2019 Legislature. In addition to a study Elderly Waiver rates and of Adult Day Services, DHS is also reviewing rates and availability of transportation services for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver clients.  

In the U.S., 25 percent of adults age 65 or older experience a behavioral health issue, yet only 3 percent of them report seeking treatment from a behavioral health professional. A new webinar on Aug. 2 will share promising practices to help members better identify common behavioral health conditions in older adults and demonstrate practical strategies for meeting their needs. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week released a proposed rule on physician payment that would take effect for calendar year 2019. Included are several proposals for updating and changing those payment practices, but the changes of most significance to LeadingAge Minnesota members are the proposed expansion of coverage of telehealth services.