News Archives
November 2020 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
Grow Your Workforce Through Apprenticeship
On November 11, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
The Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) is hosting a series of events during National Apprenticeship Week. Attend their virtual event “Introduction to Apprenticeship for National Apprenticeship Week” on Friday, November 13 at 10:00 AM to learn about registered apprenticeship as a workforce development model. The event will offer an overview of registered apprenticeship and the benefits of growing and sustaining an innovative workforce through employment-based training. Click here to register for the event using the event password: kaPpjyMH983
Legislative Caucuses Elect Leadership
On November 11, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
For two more years, Minnesota will continue to have the distinction of having the only divided Legislature in America, with the Republicans holding on to control of the Minnesota Senate by a one-vote margin and the House DFL retaining control of the House, albeit with a smaller majority than last year.
COVID-19 Resilience Tips & Resources in New Pandemic Playbook
On November 11, 2020 by Terri Foley
As a sign of hope in the battle with COVID-19, the new multi-media Pandemic Playbook: Moving From Fear to Action from LeadingAge features a 10-minute video documenting a New Jersey nursing home’s victory over COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic.
Additional NHSN Training on POC Test Reporting Tool
On November 11, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
CDC has announced two more training session opportunities on the new point-of-care testing tool on NHSN. Trainings will be held this week on Thursday, November 12 at 2:00 PM Central Time and Friday, November 13 at 11:00 AM Central Time. Register for these training sessions here. The slides have been posted here. CDC has promised to post a recording of the training session in the future.
State PPE Support Remains Available for Providers in Need
On November 11, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge throughout the state, many providers are again experiencing PPE shortages – especially with gloves – and we thought it would be helpful to remind members of the process for requesting supplies from the State.
Take-Aways from Updated MDH 5-Point LTC COVID-19 Battle Plan
On November 11, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Health released its Long-term Care COVID-19 Response: November 2020 Update and provided some updates regarding benchmarks with respect to how COVID-19 is impacting senior care providers and the people they serve.
Emergency Use Authorization Published for Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for COVID-19
On November 11, 2020 by Kari Everson
Monoclonal antibody therapy is a COVID-19 treatment that appears to prevent the progression of COVID-19 disease, decrease the length of illness, and may prevent hospitalizations. An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) was published today allowing the emergency use of monoclonal antibody therapy (Bamlanivimab) for adults and children with a positive COVID-19 test. Recipients must be 12 years of age or older or at least 40kg in weight. There are specific criteria for use of this therapy including:
- The recipient should have a confirmed COVID-19 infection;
- The recipient should be early in the disease progression; and
- The recipient should be symptomatic but not severely ill.
DHS Posts Cost Report Information; Working on Rate Notices
On November 11, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
DHS has posted the materials for the annual care center statistical and cost report for the year ending September 30, 2020 and the corresponding instruction manual on the DHS Nursing Facility Provider Portal. DHS also indicates that there will be a Supplemental Schedule to the 2020 cost report that is not yet final but is being developed to address various issues including use of federal relief funds. DHS expects the 2020 Supplemental Schedule to be available in mid-December, and they ask that providers refrain from submitting any 2020 Cost Reports before December 15. As always, cost reports are due by February 1.
Latest Five-Star Analysis Reports Sent to Care Centers This Week
On November 4, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
LeadingAge sent all care center members their Five-Star Analysis reports this week. The pandemic has taken a toll on the collection and reporting of quality data, so while the staffing data is relatively new, the data on inspections and quality measures is from many months ago. We will continue to provide these reports regularly and expect CMS to be updating the data more regularly soon.
Assessing Emergency Staffing During the Pandemic
On November 4, 2020 by LeadingAge
Nov. 13 webinar explains the process, requirements and recommendations to apply for emergency staffing assistance from the state. No charge for members to participate. Click here for details and registration.
Unemployment Claims Questions? Nov. 11 Webinar Provides Answers
On November 4, 2020 by LeadingAge
Get up to speed on the many changes and new questions that have arisen about unemployment compensation for workers in health care settings since the pandemic. Nov. 11, 1:30 – 3:30. Click here for details and registration.
Supporting Family Caregivers
On November 4, 2020 by Roni Falck
November marks National Family Caregivers Month, which celebrates the often-invisible workforce of family caregivers supporting vulnerable adults living at home. A recent AARP study estimates that nearly 42 million Americans care for family members above the age of 50, an increase of 20% from 2015. Family caregiving is both a gift and a challenge, and like so many things in 2020, the challenges of family caregiving have become more acute due to limited mobility and access to services.
MHCEA Conference Registration Now Open
On November 4, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
The Minnesota Healthcare Engineers Association (MHCEA) will host its 2020 Fall Conference on December 3-4. Registration for the conference is now open, with an early-bird rate available until this Friday, Nov. 6.
Are You Willing to Host a Clinical Experience?
On November 4, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
Healthcare programs require clinical experiences for students to complete their education programs. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, fewer sites are partnering with educational institutions to allow clinical experiences in their settings. LeadingAge Minnesota is partnering with educators and other stakeholders to identify provider member locations that are willing to accept healthcare students for clinical experiences. If your site is willing to consider hosting clinical experiences, please complete the following 1-minute survey. We will use the survey information to match clinical sites with education institutions in need of partnership. Contact Jenna Kellerman at jkellerman@eadingagemn.org with any questions.
CMS Releases PPS Rate Update for Certified Home Health Agencies
On November 4, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
Last week, CMS released the final CY2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update rule. The final rule includes updates of interest to Medicare Certified Home Health Agencies. The rule:
Required Participation in the DHS Labor Market Survey
On November 4, 2020 by Jenna Kellerman
Beginning in early 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is gathering data about direct care workers in Home and Community Based Services organizations. Organizations are asked to identify a contact person to complete this survey and can submit their contact information here.
Assisted Living Director Rules to be Posted for Public Comment December 1
On November 4, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
On October 25th, staff of the Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) submitted the draft Licensed Assisted Living Director rules to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). The rules will be posted for a 30-day public comment period to begin December 1, 2020 (LeadingAge Minnesota will provide a link as soon as it is available). A Statement of Need and Reasonableness (SONAR) has also been prepared and can be viewed on the BELTSS website along with the updated rule draft.
Legacy Assisted Living Providers in Limbo
On November 4, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
Last week, MDH shared a discussion document with LeadingAge MN staff outlining key questions regarding the application of physical plant and design requirements under the assisted living licensure law to existing settings and those settings under development. At the time 144G passed the Legislature, there was a common understanding among stakeholders that existing providers would be grandfathered under current building codes and new physical plant requirements would not apply. We further understood that these “legacy providers” would include those settings currently under development, so long as they had applied for building permits on or before July 31, 2021.
MDH to Convene Assisted Living Licensure Rules Advisory Committee to Consider Proposed Rules
On November 4, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
MDH has released Proposed Rules for Assisted Living Licensure. It is important to note that these rules are not yet final, and changes may be made through the rulemaking process.
COVID-19 Resource Round-Up: Planning for Winter Holidays
On November 4, 2020 by Terri Foley
As staff, residents, and families plan for the Thanksgiving holiday, the CDC has published winter holiday guidance and recommendations for COVID-19 safe practices. Members may want to link to this page on your organization’s website and post it in your employee publications in the coming weeks. This guidance includes tips for hosting gatherings, attending events, and traveling safely if necessary.
Rising COVID-19 Cases Creates Huge Jump in “Red” Counties
On November 4, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
As community spread of COVID-19 continues at a rapid pace in Minnesota, it has consequences for care centers under the CMS staff testing mandate. The most recent CMS data, for the period from 10/15 through 10/28, has 29 counties with red status, due to a test positivity rate of over 10%. That’s up from 13 counties just a week before. Care centers who are using the CMS data to determine their testing practice and who are now in a red county will have to implement twice a week staff testing.
Reporting Antigen Test Results
On November 4, 2020 by Kari Everson
Antigen tests are a rapid test used to determine whether or not an individual has a current infection. Multiple antigen testing methods are available in long-term care settings including the BD Veritor antigen test machine, the Sophia Quidel antigen test machine, and the Abbot BinaxNOW card tests.
Election News: Balance of Power Likely to Remain the Same in MN Legislature
On November 4, 2020 by Kari Thurlow
As of the writing of this article, votes are still being counted in several close races in St. Cloud, Rochester, Austin and a few key suburbs, however, it is looking like there will not be a major shift in party control in the Minnesota Legislature. Minnesota entered the 2020 election with the only divided Legislature in the country. DFLers were seeking to gain control over the Minnesota Senate, allowing for single party control of the state Government, something that hasn’t happened since 2013. It needed only to knock off two Republican incumbents and hold its own seats to retake the Senate.
Clarification on Return to Work by Healthcare Personnel Exposed to COVID-19
On November 4, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
We received a question recently asking if a healthcare worker who experiences a high risk exposure to COVID-19, but who is asymptomatic and has not tested positive for the virus, may return to work prior to the end of his or her 14-day quarantine – if staffing needs are acute. The answer is yes, but only if certain conditions are met.
MDH Posts Additional Environmental Guidance on Indoor Visitation
On November 4, 2020 by Jonathan Lips
In new Guidance for Selecting In-building Visitation Area in Long-Term Facilities (11/04/20) released today, MDH provides more details about divider specifications in rooms or visitation areas, as well as specifics on room ventilation and airflow diagrams.