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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. 

This year’s LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament on Aug. 8 is nearly sold out! Don’t delay. Register today for a day of golf on the championship-style Keller Golf Course, networking and – most importantly – raising money to fund essential caregiver scholarships! 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued a number of regulatory updates in the two weeks since we last published Advantage. Care centers will want to take note of these items: 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is seeking proposals for the Minnesota Health Information Exchange (HIE) Grant Program. The program provides financial assistance to Minnesota health care providers to encourage implementation of admission, discharge and transfer alerts and care summary document exchange transactions. 

Register your team by July 16 for a workshop where you will discover new tools and approaches to your strategic planning process. As part of LeadingAge Minnesota’s Performance Excellence in Aging Services platform, the July 19 workshop A Systematic and Effective Approach to Strategic Planning unfolds the strategic planning process from preparation and prioritization to deployment and sustaining the plan.  

The New York Times recently published an article (‘It’s Almost Like a Ghost Town.’ Most Nursing Homes Overstated Staffing for Years. July 7, 2018) that calls into question staffing levels in nursing homes. The article cites data analyzed by Kaiser Health News that nursing homes submit to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) each quarter via the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system, as well as staffing data that facilities previously submitted annually using the CMS-671 form.   

OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training has been available for seven months and now has 55 organizations enrolled. Of those 55 organizations, 16 have been approved by the Minnesota Department of Health and 39 are in the application process.  

Thursday, July 12 is the last day to pre-register for the July 17 Adult Day Conference. Join more than 100 of your adult day colleagues at the summer’s one-stop event to learn, share and connect. 

Steven Przybilla is the new senior vice president, operations/chief operating officer, for Benedictine Health System effective July 1. 

The U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision issued a long-awaited opinion holding that the First Amendment prevents public sector unions from forcing government employees to pay union dues. While the decision applies only to public sector workers (and not private sector union employees), the decision will have an immediate impact in states like Minnesota where compulsory dues are required by law. 

Care center billing office staff are encouraged to attend the annual Billing University on Aug. 8 and 9. Content is reviewed and updated each year to stay current with the business environment, so it is applicable to both new and seasoned staff. 

This two-day intensive learning workshop is specifically designed to improve the financial health of the care center by equipping staff with the essential knowledge, skills and resources to capture appropriate reimbursement for services provided.

Find details and registration here.

Health Dimensions Group announced that Erin Shvetzoff Hennessey has been named the company’s next chief executive officer. She takes over the top leadership position from Sergei Shvetzoff, who has served in that capacity since October 2015. Shvetzoff will continue as chairman of the board of directors. 

A new, seven-minute QuickCast from LeadingAge is a fast way for members to get up to speed on HUD and Congressional proposals to change how rents of HUD-assisted residents, including older adult residents, would be calculated.  

Care center billing office staff are encouraged to attend the annual Billing University on Aug. 8 and 9. Content is reviewed and updated each year to stay current with the business environment, so it is applicable to both new and seasoned staff. 

As Congress broke for it July 4 recess, LeadingAge provided an update on where our legislative and regulatory issues stand on Capitol Hill and in the federal agencies. 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is well underway with conducting site visits to Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) providers who are “presumed not to be HCBS settings.” As some of these site visits have now been completed, we are able to provide information on what happens once DHS completes its visit. 

Are you looking for ways to boost your organization’s performance or 5-Star rating? Quality Apex is an affordable, secure, web-based analytics tool that translates your most current MDS 3.0 data into actionable information to improve quality and outcomes. 

The new AgingServicesJobs.Org platform has launched! Sign up for a live webinar demo on July 31 from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. to learn how to post a job. 

In November 2017, CMS began posting the number of hours worked by nursing staff submitted through the Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) system on data.cms.gov (see S&C memorandum 17-45-NH).

This annual two-day intensive learning experience for new and seasoned business office staff is Aug. 8-9. Billing University delivers training designed to improve the financial health of care centers with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to capture appropriate reimbursement and revenue for services and care provided. 

While the legislative session did not result in the clarifications to the Home Care Law that we had worked on with the Minnesota Department of Health, the HomeCare Association and the Long-Term Care Imperative, a minor change was made to the law regarding life-sustaining treatment.  

The Long-Term Care Imperative's annual nursing facility financial indicators survey shows a continued a trend of improvement that started in 2016, largely due to the new Value-Based Reimbursement (VBR) system that began on Jan. 1, 2016. Despite the improvement, the data makes clear that providers continue to face significant financial challenges.   

CAST has updated its EHR Selection Tool, which is designed to help aging services organizations plan for and choose the best electronic health record (EHR) system for their needs.

The new AgingServicesJobs.Org platform has launched! Sign up for a live webinar demo on July 31 from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. to learn how to post a job. 

The U.S. House and Senate Appropriations bills have many similarities, but also some differences, as it relates to housing assistance for older adults with low incomes. 

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Fundraiser is Wednesday, Aug. 8 at Keller Golf Course in Maplewood. You won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity to golf, network and raise money for one of our most meaningful initiatives – the statewide caregiver scholarship program. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced the following updates to the Nursing Home Compare and Payroll-Based Journal Data: 

Register by Friday, June 29 for the early bird registration fee for the July 25 Assisted Living and Home Care Conference.