News Archives
November 2019 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
Phase 3 Requirements Take Effect Nov. 28 Despite Lack of Interpretive Guidance
On November 26, 2019 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the Phase 3 Requirements of Participation for care centers will take effect Nov. 28, but the agency will not release interpretive guidance and training materials for these requirements until early 2020.
Register Now: Safe Care for Seniors: “The Basics” Webinar
On November 26, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Ready to join the movement that is sweeping across aging services settings in Minnesota? Join us on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. for The Basics: An Introduction to Safe Care for Seniors webinar.
How to Download the Staff Behavioral Health Training
On November 26, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
Our new Staff Behavioral Health Training is now available. The six-part training series, which is free for LeadingAge Minnesota members, is provided via brief videos and e-learning workbooks -- making it easy for staff to fit in the training during their shift. To help you easily access the series, we have created a direct link and quick video to help you download this incredible staff resource.
Making Zero Harm Possible: Shyann Topel, Buffalo Lake Health Care Center
On November 26, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Shyann Topel, Safety Director and Safe Care for Seniors Champion at Buffalo Lake Health Care Center, is the most recent recipient of the Make Zero Harm Possible Award from LeadingAge Minnesota. The award recognizes staff in aging services settings who demonstrate their commitment to safe, quality care and to treating the people they serve with respect and dignity – always.
6 Tech Themes to Help You Choose Your Next Tech Step
On November 26, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Technology is transforming senior living, from helping older adults stay connected, receive care and services at home, and stimulate physical and cognitive abilities to positively contributing to workforce recruitment and retention. What are the six themes helping providers choose their next tech steps?
The Importance of Personal Goals
On November 26, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
You can help people transcend their job titles by supporting both their personal and professional goals.
Coming Soon: Employee Retention Survey
On November 26, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
Have 5 minutes? Want to know key insights into staff retention? Get ready to take a brief survey next week to help us and you better understand the state of employee engagement practices in our field.
CMS Awards QIO-QIN Contract to Superior Health Quality Alliance
On November 26, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently awarded a five-year contract to Superior Health Quality Alliance (Superior Health) to serve as a Quality Innovation Network – Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) in Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin.
New Bill Calls for Minimum Staffing Requirements in Nursing Homes
On November 26, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
A new bill in Congress, the Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents Act, would revise minimum staffing requirements for skilled nursing settings that participate in Medicare and Medicaid. LeadingAge opposes the legislation as it fails to address the underlying causes and rising challenges of workforce shortages across the long-term care continuum.
Senior LinkAge Line Issues Advisory on Medicare Plan Finder
On November 26, 2019 by Jonathan Lips
The Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging (MAAA) is advising Medicare Beneficiaries who have used the Medicare Plan Finder to call health plans and confirm costs.
CMS Addresses Survey Question on Refrigeration Temperature
On November 26, 2019 by Jonathan Lips
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has provided clarifying guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on food safety requirements regarding refrigeration temperatures. When checking refrigeration temperatures, CMS said that the actual temperature of the food should be checked and that surveyors should not cite based just on the refrigerator thermometer readings.
Hospitals Now Required to Share Your Quality Data with Patients
On November 26, 2019 by Julie Apold
As part of the new discharge planning rule that is effective Nov. 29, hospitals are required to provide patients preparing to transition from acute care to post-acute care with access to information about their provider choices. The information includes performance on quality and resource utilization measures, such as number of pressure ulcers, proportion of falls that lead to injury, and number of readmissions back to the hospital.
Coming Soon: Electronic Monitoring Templates
On November 26, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry
The new electronic monitoring requirements for nursing homes and assisted living go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. To help you prepare for the new requirements, we will soon provide you with templates you can use to develop policies and communicate the changes to residents and staff.
Rest in Peace: Lorry Massa
On November 26, 2019 by Gayle Kvenvold
The former president and chief executive officer of the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA), Lawrence “Lorry” Massa passed away peacefully at his home in Alexandria on Nov. 22.
#DearCandidate: Pete Buttigieg Brings Long-Term Care Plan to the National Stage
On November 26, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
One of the greatest challenges facing our field, our state and our country just hit the national stage. Presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg this week introduced his Dignity and Security in Retirement proposal to ensure every American has access to affordable health care.
LeadingAge MN Weighs In: Licensed Assisted Living Director Rule
On November 20, 2019 by Kari Thurlow
LeadingAge Minnesota last week submitted recommendations and guidance to the Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) on several issues related to rules development of the Licensed Assisted Living Director credential.
Download Free Staff Behavioral Health Training
On November 19, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
When you said one of your greatest needs for staff training is behavioral health, we listened and responded. A new video training series from LeadingAge Minnesota is now available -- and it’s free!
ICan? Yes, You Can: Free Video Training for Frontline Quality Improvement Projects
On November 19, 2019 by Terri Foley
Looking for ways to energize frontline staff? Ask them to identify and solve problems that can save time and improve care using the free ICan: Quality & Innovation from the Front-Line program.
Benedictine Communities Recognized in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Nursing Homes” Report
On November 19, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Benedictine Health System announced 14 communities were recognized in the 2019-2020 U.S. News and World Report “Best Nursing Homes” report as high-performers in overall quality in both the nursing home and short-stay rehabilitation categories.
Making Zero Harm Possible: St. Therese of Woodbury Safety Champions
On November 19, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
The Safe Care Champions from St. Therese of Woodbury were recently recognized with a Make Zero Harm Possible award from LeadingAge Minnesota. The award recognizes individuals and staff teams in aging services settings who demonstrate their commitment to safe, quality care and to treating the people they serve with respect and dignity – always.
Experience the Frontline
On November 19, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
Are you looking for ways to connect with your staff? Do you have a goal to build relationships with your team and to improve the culture of your organizations?
Legal and Clinical Ethics in Serving LGBT+ Older Adults
On November 19, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
The American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) has published Legal and Clinical Ethics in Serving LGBT+ Older Adults, authored by attorneys Robert Rodè and William McDonough of LeadingAge Minnesota business partner member Voigt, Rodè, Boxeth & Coffin, and Jane Danner of Volunteers of America National Services.
Advocates Call for Bipartisan Action on Long-Term Care Funding
On November 19, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Testifiers in a hearing in the U.S. House Ways & Means Committee last week called for bipartisan legislative action to address the needs of a growing aging population facing high costs of healthcare and housing.
GAO Calls for Better Abuse Oversight for Nursing Homes
On November 19, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
In a report released last week, the Government Accountability Offices (GA)) alleges that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has yet to enforce several of its recommendations after an earlier GAO report found oversight gaps in abuse reporting requirements for nursing homes.
CMS Updates Emergency Preparedness Requirements
On November 19, 2019 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has made two revisions to emergency preparedness requirements for nursing facilities under a rule taking effect Nov. 29, 2019. Read a summary of the rule’s impact prepared by LeadingAge national.
MDH Provides Guidance for Influenza Outbreak Management
On November 19, 2019 by Sue Boyd
It’s now officially influenza season! The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has posted Interim Guidance for Influenza Outbreak Management in Long-Term Care Facilities to help nursing homes prepare for the flu season and identify, report and manage respiratory outbreaks.
Elderly Waiver Rate Caps Increase Jan. 1
On November 19, 2019 by Jeff Bostic
The customized living and overall case mix caps in the Elderly Waiver (EW) program increase effective Jan.1 because they are tied to the increase in nursing home rates. The customized living caps increase by 6.14%, which is the full amount of the 2019 nursing home increase. The overall caps are going up by only 5.39% due to some increases that did occur for home delivered meals and PCA services.
Employee Retention – Help Us Help You!
On November 19, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
To help us better understand the state of employee engagement practices in senior care, we are asking for your participation in a brief survey. As a leader in senior care, you offer critical insights that will help us understand what engagement approaches are being used and discover optimal methods for improving retention and performance through engagement.
Minnesota Nursing Home Report Card Adds Short-Term Stay Data
On November 19, 2019 by Sue Boyd
The Minnesota Nursing Home Report Card has added the results of the short-term stay resident surveys to the star rating.
MDH Releases 2019 Home Care Bill of Rights
On November 19, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued the final version of the Minnesota Home Care Bill of Rights. These changes were approved by the Minnesota Legislature during the 2019 legislative session and were effective Aug. 1, 2019. MDH worked closely with consumer and provider stakeholders on updating the versions, which enhanced the clarity of this important information.