News Archives
March 2020 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
Webinar: How to Prepare for a Surge
On March 25, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
Is your setting ready for an influx in a surge of residents? Do you have a surge plan? Join LeadingAge for a webinar on Thursday, March 26 from Noon-1 p.m.
#ThankACaregiver: Face Aging MN Launches Caregiver Appreciation Campaign
On March 25, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
Professional caregivers provide critical support to those most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 – our seniors. They deserve our gratitude. Face Aging MN has launched a new #ThankACaregiver campaign to encourage Minnesotans to share a message of appreciation with a senior caregiver via a web portal.
Delayed Implementation of Updated MDS
On March 25, 2020 by Julie Apold
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is delaying the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 v1.18.1 release, which had been scheduled for Oct. 1, 2020, in response to stakeholder concerns.
MDH Cancels March 26 Assisted Living Licensure Advisory Committee Meeting
On March 25, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
Due to COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has cancelled the Assisted Living Licensure Rules Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for March 26.
BENHA Provides Guidance on Continuing Education During COVID-19
On March 25, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
While the license renewal cycle for nursing home administrators historically activates in May, the Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) recognizes that these are unprecedented times. In a news release distributed this week, BENHA provided the following counsel regarding continuing education or clock hours to renew your license:
LeadingAge MN COVID-19 HUDDLE Moves to Friday
On March 25, 2020 by Libbie Chapuran
Recognizing the number of update calls you participate in mid-week, we have moved our COVID-19 HUDDLE to Fridays.
Links to Governor’s Executive Orders
On March 25, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
In response to COVID-19, Governor Tim Walz has released a series of Executive Orders. We have provided summaries of these via our daily update emails. Below you will find links to the Executive Orders that affect you and your staff:
CMS Will Limit and Prioritize Survey Activity for Next Three Weeks
On March 25, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has directed state agencies to suspend standard surveys for long term care facilities (nursing homes), hospitals, home health agencies, ICFs, and hospices during a 3-week prioritization period from March 20–April 10.
Just-In-Time COVID-19 Training Module Available from EduCare
On March 25, 2020 by Heidi Simpson
In response to the growing need for COVID-19 training and education, our online training partner EduCare released a new course focused on COVID-19 symptoms and reporting protocols, proper preparation protocols, state infection prevention and control practices and what to do if you suspect a respiratory illness.
National Health Plan Association Indicates Plans Will Follow CMS SNF Policies During Emergency
On March 25, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
The American Association of Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which include many plans that offer Medicare Advantage plans to Minnesota consumers, recently announced that they are going to be matching the recent “blanket” CMS waivers on the three day stay and benefit period requirements.
HUD Issues Updated Rent Increase Guidance for PRAC Owners
On March 25, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
As of March 18, HUD has restarted routine processing and approval of Section 202 PRAC rent adjustments to increase Reserve for Replacement deposits. There have been several updates to field office procedures for reviewing Capital Needs Assessments (CNAs) and determining how capital needs should be reflected in annual PRAC project operating rents.
CMS Announces Reporting Relief for QRP and VBP
On March 25, 2020 by Julie Apold
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced it is implementing exceptions and extensions for upcoming measure reporting and data submission deadlines for several quality reporting programs.
Emergency Funding: MDH Grant Deadline is Today; New Details for Nursing Homes
On March 25, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
The deadline to apply for the first round of emergency assistance funding from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), a total of $50 million for health care provider, is midnight TODAY.
CMS Waives Three Day Stay Requirement during National Emergency
On March 18, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
As part of the national emergency declaration in response to COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that they are waiving the three-day hospital stay requirement before a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medicare A stay.
Update: Assisted Living Licensure Rulemaking
On March 18, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
At an Assisted Living Licensure Rulemaking Advisory Task Force meeting last week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported that it is hoping to have a complete draft rule prepared and posted to its website and sent to the Revisor by mid-April.
Support Resources for Staff
On March 18, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
Now more than ever, staff may be experiencing housing, food, and childcare insecurities. If you have staff who need additional support from community organizations such as Emergency Housing Assistance, Minnesota Food Helpline, or energy assistance programs, please see the Community Support Resource Guide for referral sources.
DOJ Targets Grossly Substandard Care in Nursing Homes
On March 10, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a National Nursing Home Initiative that will coordinate and enhance civil and criminal efforts to pursue nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
The Key to Serving Middle-Income Older Adults? Partnerships
On March 10, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
It’s a statistic that can’t be ignored: 54% of the 14.4 million middle-income older adults in 2029 will lack the financial resources to pay for seniors housing and care. We know it will take public and private collaboration to address this looming crisis. We also know there are steps providers should be taking now to be best positioned for these partnerships.
CEUs Available for March 30 Performance Excellence Workshop
On March 10, 2020 by Julie Apold
Regulations. Payment. Consumers. What do they all have common? Quality. You need a comprehensive strategy for continuous quality improvement, and we have the solution. Your first step to Performance Excellence in Aging Services begins March 30.
Status Report: Assisted Living Surveys and Report Card
On March 10, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
The development of an Assisted Living Resident and Family Survey and Assisted Living Report Card are well underway, reported Peter Spuit, Home & Community Based Services Program Consultant for the Aging and Adult Services Division at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), at last week’s LeadingAge Minnesota Assisted Living Committee meeting.
DHS Announces $6.7 Million in Nursing Home Investments and Improvements
On March 10, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
More than 100 nursing homes across Minnesota, including several LeadingAge Minnesota members, have begun kicking off 36 projects to promote better care and quality of life for their residents. The Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) projects, funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), range from efforts to improve mental health and social connections to reducing falls and infections.
Red Cross Closes Nursing Assistant Training; Get OnTrack
On March 10, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
The American Red Cross will stop offering nursing assistant training courses in April. Organizations that utilized the Red Cross courses are encouraged to reach out to OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training to continue developing a pipeline of caregivers.
BENHA Accepting Public Comment on Proposed Rules for Licensed Assisted Living Directors
On March 3, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) has published the proposed rule for Licensed Assisted Living Directors and is accepting public comments through May 4.
Priority EW Bill Passes Out of the House LTC Committee
On March 3, 2020 by Libbie Chapuran
A bill to enhance Elderly Waiver rates to better reflect the actual cost of care passed its first hurdle on Monday in the Minnesota House Long-Term Care Committee.
HUD Proposes 5-Year Renewals for 202/PRACs
On March 3, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
LeadingAge is seeking feedback from affordable housing providers on a proposal to transition five-year Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRACs) from their current annual renewal cycle with budget-based rent increases to a five-year renewal cycle subject to annual appropriations with an operating cost adjustment factor.
What’s So Different About Marketing and Selling Senior Housing?
On March 3, 2020 by Barbara Landeen
In a word, a lot. The senior housing market is different than almost any other, and sales and marketing professionals need specific skills to effectively position your community and assist consumers in one of the most important decisions of their life.