News Archives
May 2021 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
Next Week: 2021 Virtual Institute, May 18-21
On May 12, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
FORWARD – that is the theme of the 2021 Virtual Institute, May 18-21, and it most definitely reflects the spirit of optimism we're feeling from our members. Over 3,000 people are registered to attend this historic virtual conference customarily held in St. Paul during February.
LeadingAge MN Foundation Awards COVID-19 Grants to 55 Member Sites in Rural Minnesota
On May 12, 2021 by Terri Foley
LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation (LAMF) recently awarded more than $425,000 in COVID-19 grants to members to fund staff support and virtual adult day services in rural areas.
Scholarships Available Through LeadingAge MN Foundation: Deadline June 7
On May 12, 2021 by Lori Meyer
Workforce challenges have become even more acute in the wake of COVID-19. One way to retain the caregivers and staff you have is to help them achieve their higher education goals and advance their careers within the aging services field where they are so needed. To that end, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is offering educational scholarships to eligible caregivers and other employees of our member organizations for 2021.
Assisted Living Resident Contract Template Now Available
On May 12, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
New resident contract requirements for licensed assisted living settings will be effective Aug. 1. To help members develop new contract language, LeadingAge Minnesota has a new resource available this week in our website store: an assisted living resident contract. The contract template includes rent and service plan components, a meal plan agreement, and the additional required information on the right to designate a representative.
Gayle Kvenvold Selected As 2021 Most Admired CEOs Awards Honoree by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal
On May 12, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
Gayle Kvenvold, President and CEO of LeadingAge Minnesota, was announced as one of the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journals 2021 Most Admired CEOs honorees.
HUD Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership Webinars
On May 12, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
Last week’s HUD and HHS announced a joint effort to increase vaccine access at HUD-assisted communities. Yesterday, the Department announced it is hosting COVID-19 webinars focusing on housing and health partnerships, the COVID-19 vaccine, and community health workers.
PIPP Boot Camp Recording Available
On May 12, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has posted materials related to applying for the Performance Incentive Payment Projects (PIPP) program on the nursing facility provider portal (see the links posted about halfway down the main page). Proposals are due by July 1, with rate increases starting on Jan. 1, 2022.
At the Capitol: With Days Until Session Adjourns, Most Legislative Work Remains Unfinished
On May 12, 2021 by Matt Steele
This week, lawmakers enter the final stretch of the legislative session before adjourning on May 17 at midnight, regardless of the status of the budget. Most at the Capitol view the Monday deadline as irrelevant given several circumstances that almost guarantee that lawmakers will leave their work unfinished at the end of their constitutionally allotted time.
Resilience Tip: Bouncing Back to Purpose
On May 12, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
You've been trudging along throughout the pandemic. Months of serving others and trying to preserve yourself can leave you feeling little purpose outside of keeping on going. Even though we can generally find our professional and personal roles rewarding, at this time, we might question how helpful we are or how much we can enjoy from day to day.
MDH Reports Vaccination Rates Continue to Rise in LTC Settings
On May 12, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 60% in all reporting care centers and 53% in all reporting assisted living settings. MDH and providers continue to work toward a goal of 70% staff vaccination rates. MDH is now limiting reporting for providers who are meeting the goal rates for residents and staff, and as of the most recent report, 31% of providers are meeting the goal.
Identifiers Indicating Vaccination Status
On May 12, 2021 by Kari Everson
The change in guidance allowing for increased flexibility with PPE, visitation, and testing based upon vaccination status prompted questions regarding how to quickly identify the vaccination status of residents, staff, and visitors. Many long-term care organizations discussed using bracelets, different name tags, stickers or other means of readily identifying an individual’s vaccination status.
Executive Order Removes Conflict with CDC and CMS Guidance for Long-Term Care Settings
On May 12, 2021 by Kari Everson
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published updated infection prevention and control recommendations in response to COVID-19 vaccinations, QSO 20-38, and QSO 20-39 at the end of April. Immediately after these guidance documents were posted, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) directed nursing homes to pause before following the staff PPE and dining and activities portions of the recommendations due to potential conflicts with Gov. Walz's executive order.
Summer 2021: DHS to Require Submission of COVID Relief Spending Schedule for Care Centers
On May 12, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
After previously delaying the requirement for care centers to submit COVID-19 Relief spending information while awaiting federal guidance, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that the special COVID Supplemental Schedule for the cost report year ended Sept. 30, 2020 must be submitted this summer.
New CMS Rule Sets COVID Vaccine Requirements for Nursing Facilities
On May 12, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
On May 11, CMS announced an interim final rule establishing new requirements for nursing facilities. The rule requires care centers to offer COVID-19 vaccine to residents and staff, to educate residents and staff regarding the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine, and to report COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics treatment information to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Health Information Exchange Opportunity for Nursing Homes
On May 5, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
Audacious Inquiry (Ai), a health information technology company, will present a free webinar on May 25 from 9-10 a.m. to share information with LeadingAge Minnesota nursing home members about a health information exchange opportunity.
Preparing to Comply with the New Assisted Living Licensure Law – a Four-Part Workshop
On May 5, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
The assisted living licensure law represents a significant and historic change in how assisted living is provide and regulated in Minnesota and goes into effect Aug. 1. There is much for providers and individuals to do to prepare for its implementation.
Legal Issues Related to Employee Vaccination, May 12 Webinar
On May 5, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
Can you mandate staff get the COVID-19 vaccine? Can you ask staff if they have been or will get vaccinated? What about offering incentives? Know your risk before you act.
Vista Prairie Communities Appoints New CFO
On May 5, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
Vista Prairie Communities (VPC), a nonprofit provider of assisted living, independent living, memory care and care suites in Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin, has announced the appointment of Dewey Pettit as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Assisted Living Management Agreement Considerations New Resource
On May 5, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
LeadingAge Minnesota members have access to several new attorney-developed resources related to management agreements under assisted living licensure. The three documents include:
- Assisted Living Licensing Scenarios - Selected Pros and Cons
- AL Management Agreement Considerations
- AL Management Agreement Scenarios
HUD Details June Restart to Physical Inspections
On May 5, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
On Thursday, HUD provided more information about their June restart to physical inspections for both regular UPCS and NSPIRE demonstration properties, including an FAQ document, a flyer for residents, a memo to property owners, and an inspector notice. HUD has also informed us that they are working on several translations for the resident flyer.
Biden Issues Executive Order on Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors
On May 5, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
On April 27, President Biden issued an Executive Order to increase the federal minimum wage for employees of federal contractors to $15 per hour.
Reminder: DHS Grant Monies Available
On May 5, 2021 by Lori Meyer
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), through the Nursing Facility Rates and Policy (NFRP) Division and the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative, is seeking applications from qualified Minnesota Medicaid-Certified Nursing Facilities that are interested in applying for grant funds for several project opportunities.
At the Capitol: The Legislature Begins Conference Committees as the End of Session Nears
On May 5, 2021 by Matt Steele
This week, lawmakers are starting to reconcile the differences in significant budget bills passed off the House and Senate floors in conference committees. Conference committees mark one of the final steps in the budget-making process before the bills are sent to the Governor for his approval. We expect our most important issues to be debated in conference committees in the upcoming days.
Vaccination Rates Continue to Lag Goal for Long-Term Care Staff
On May 5, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
LeadingAge Minnesota has pulled together recent data on vaccination rates for long-term care staff in Minnesota and the general population in Minnesota and nationwide.
LTC Imperative Urges Lawmakers to Address Urgent Assisted Living Issues
On May 5, 2021 by Kari Thurlow
Even as assisted living licensure applications opened last week and state legislators entered their final weeks of the legislative session, there continue to be substantive and technical issues with the assisted living licensure law, jeopardizing the access to needed assisted living services for Minnesota seniors.