News Archives
September 2022 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
New Member Resource: A Guide to Effective Individual Development Plans
On September 29, 2022 by Anna Mowry
September is National Workforce Development Month and to celebrate a new member resource, A Guide to Effective Individual Development Plans, is now available.
New CMS Food Service Manager Rules Kick in October 1
On September 29, 2022 by LeadingAge
Federal requirements to be a qualified long-term care facility director of food and nutrition services are changing Saturday (Oct. 1) to ease training and staffing obstacles while keeping standards high, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
New AL License Requirement Added for Renewals After August 1, 2022
On September 29, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
An announcement from MDH of a new assisted living license requirement has caused some confusion among providers who have just completed their first AL license renewal. The new provision applies to AL licenses renewed beginning August 1, 2022 and requires evidence showing that at least one resident was served during the previous licensing period to the renewal process.
Care Centers to Select New QIIP Goals
On September 29, 2022 by Jeff Bostic
DHS announced in August that they had opened the selection process for all care centers in the Medical Assistance program to select a new goal to work on for another round of the Quality Improvement Incentive Payment Program (QIIP). Each year, based on their progress toward the goal they select, care centers receive a rate increase of $0 to $3.50 per resident day for QIIP.
Check your MNITS Mailbox if you are a HCBS Provider: Revalidation in Process
On September 29, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
The revalidation process has begun for providers enrolled with DHS as a Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) provider which includes waiver services for Adult Day Services, Assisted Living (Customized Living), as well as Home Health Agencies.
CDC and CMS Release Updated SARS-CoV-2 Guidance for Nursing Homes and Assisted Living
On September 29, 2022 by Kari Everson
Late on Sept. 23, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated COVID-19 guidance for nursing homes and assisted living. The updated guidance reflects the increased prevalence of vaccine-acquired and disease-acquired immunity. The updated information includes:
Scott Bjerketvedt Named CFO at Ecumen
On September 28, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
Ecumen, a LeadingAge Minnesota member organization and one of the country’s leading nonprofit providers of housing and services for older adults, announced that Scott Bjerketvedt has been promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer.
Grow Your Workforce with OnTrack
On September 28, 2022 by Anna Mowry
September is National Workforce Development Month, and one of the most proven member resources to grow your workforce is OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training.
Study Finds Adult Day Closures Linked to Participants’ Cognitive Decline
On September 28, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that pandemic-related closures of adult day services left older adults and caregivers without critical support. The magnitude of the impact of adult day closures on well-being, particularly among members of racial/ethnic minority groups, has yet to be measured because nationally representative data sets associated with adult day center participation do not yet exist.
HUD Makes $174.6 Million in Grant Funding Available for Construction
On September 28, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced $174.6 million in grant funds through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the development of new affordable multifamily rental homes for low-income seniors and ongoing project rental assistance and supportive services. The grants are offered under HUD's Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program and will be awarded to nonprofit organizations across the country.
Nursing Home Citations for Past Noncompliance
On September 28, 2022 by Kari Everson
Recently, LeadingAge Minnesota received more questions about citations for past noncompliance actions and how those citations impact the five-star rating, calculating fines, and appeals.
NHSN to Update Vaccine Parameters for Up-to-Date
On September 28, 2022 by Kari Everson
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated vaccine recommendations and included bivalent vaccines recently made available. They also revised the definition of up-to-date.
Resident and Family Satisfaction Surveys to Inform Assisted Living Report Card
On September 28, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
In partnership with Vital Research, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Minnesota Board on Aging are preparing for data collection for the Assisted Living Report Card. Assisted living directors will be informed by letter of the plans for this year's statewide assisted living resident quality of life and family satisfaction surveys in early October.
Specialized Equipment and Assistance to Lower Communication Costs Available for Eligible Individuals
On September 15, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
Lifeline and the Telephone Assistance Program are two programs that help make communication services more affordable.
New Five-Star Reports Available with Staffing Domain Changes
On September 15, 2022 by Julie Apold
New Five-Star Reports that reflect recent changes to the Five-Star Staffing Domain are ready to view in the LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal. Primary contacts have access to the portal to view these reports.
Nurse Aide Candidates Will Have Four Chances to Pass the Knowledge Exam Beginning Oct. 3
On September 15, 2022 by Anna Mowry
Beginning Oct. 3, Nurse Aide Registry candidates will have up to four chances to pass the knowledge exam until March 2023.
PHI Releases a New Report on the Direct Care Workforce in the U.S.
On September 15, 2022 by Anna Mowry
A new report providing insights and data on the nation's direct care workforce was recently released.
The report, Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts, is released annually by PHI, which researches, supports, and promotes the nation's direct care workforce. The report includes workforce projections and demographic overviews of home care workers, residential care aides, and nursing assistants in nursing homes.
Preventing Ingestion-related Adverse Events
On September 15, 2022 by Julie Apold
LeadingAge Minnesota has recently updated a Property/Grounds Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Tool (Ingestion-related events) as a guide to conduct regular safety checks to ensure that your property and grounds are maintained in a safe and sanitary manner.
Updated SNF QRP User’s Manual Now Available
On September 15, 2022 by Julie Apold
The Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program (QRP) Quality Measures Calculations and Reporting User’s Manual Version 4.0 is now available. Changes go into effect on Oct. 1.
Reminder: Keep Transitioning Temporary Nurse Aides Working Under the 1135 Waiver
On September 15, 2022 by Anna Mowry
Nurse aides hired or who worked during the 1135 waiver have until Oct. 6 to be placed on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry.
Governor Walz Announces $2.5 Million Investment to Extend the NextGen Free Nursing Assistant Training Program
On September 15, 2022 by Anna Mowry
Last week, Governor Walz announced an additional $2.5 million in American Recovery Plan funding to continue the state’s Next Generation Nursing Assistant Training Program (NextGen) until Feb. 2023.
Assisted Living Facility Capacity Changes Can Now Be Requested Throughout the Year
On September 15, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
The Health Regulation Division (HRD) of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will now take requests to change the capacity of assisted living settings any time throughout the year. MDH has reversed its previous practice, which limited change of capacity requests to the time of license renewal.
CMS releases draft version of Nursing Home MDS
On September 15, 2022 by Erin Huppert
A draft version of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Nursing Home Comprehensive Item has been released ahead of the October 2023 implementation date. The sheer volume of proposed updates means that operators and their software providers have their work cut out for them to be ready by Oct. 1, 2023.
Foundation Golf Tournament Raises More Than $59,000
On September 6, 2022 by Jenny Prosser
With workforce pressures reaching unprecedented levels, the 2022 LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Fundraiser helped raise nearly $60,000 to benefit the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation. The golf event was held on Aug. 2 at Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury.
Enroll Today! Nursing Program Openings for the Fall Semester
On September 6, 2022 by Anna Mowry
The Minnesota State HealthForce Center of Excellence has created a new Nursing Program Openings webpage to show which colleges and universities around the state of Minnesota have available seats in their nursing programs for the Fall 2022 semester.
Need LALD Clock Hours? 13 On-Demand CEUs Available
On September 6, 2022 by Sharon Hollister
A selection of on-demand webinars approved for clock hours for Licensed Assisted Living Directors is available for purchase. We've designed 11 self-paced webinars on a variety of topics which provide up to 13 clock hours.
Licensed Assisted Living Director Course Available Online, On-Demand
On September 6, 2022 by Sharon Hollister
LeadingAge Minnesota's Assisted Living Director Licensing Course is available online and self-paced.
Now Available On Demand: Confronting the Workforce Crisis Through a DEI Lens, Virtual Governance Intensive
On September 6, 2022 by Barbara Landeen
The 2022 Governance Intensive for executive leadership and board members is available on demand. Confronting the Workforce Crisis Through a DEI Lens: A Governance Perspective explores the deepening workforce crisis through the lens of building a diverse and inclusive culture, examining the two matters from a governance perspective.
Billing Basics for Care Centers Now Available On-Demand
On September 1, 2022 by Sharon Hollister
The 2022 Billing Basics for Care Centers five-part webinar series is available on demand.
Congressman Emmer Visits Guardian Angels With Members of MN Legislature
On September 1, 2022 by Dan Nelson
Last week, Congressman Tom Emmer joined Guardian Angels CEO Traci Larson, State Rep. Paul Novotny, and State Sen. Mary Kiffmeyer at Guardian Angels Care Center, a skilled nursing community in Elk River. LeadingAge Minnesota staff also attended the meeting.