News
Category: Featured News
Welcome to the Featured News category. The following news items include major developments in the aging services world, as well as important notifications and timely reminders.
Resident, Staff, and Visitor COVID-19 Screening
On October 6, 2022 by Kari Everson
On Sept. 23, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updates to multiple COVID-19 infection prevention and control practices. One of the areas that required further clarification was screening practices for residents, staff, and visitors. On yesterday's call, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) clarified these practices for providers.
Temporary Nurse Aide Training Program Extended in Minnesota
On October 6, 2022 by Anna Mowry
Minnesota's statewide request to extend the temporary nurse aide training program has been approved, allowing caregivers to continue serving seniors.
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:
NHSN to Update Vaccine Parameters for Up-to-Date
On September 22, 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 22, 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.
LeadingAge Minnesota Annual Meeting Underway
On September 22, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
This week, LeadingAge Minnesota members from organizations around the state are gathering at Madden's on Gull Lake in Brainerd, MN, for the Annual Meeting.
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 as a guide to conduct regular safety checks to ensure that your property and grounds are maintained in a safe and sanitary manner.
Governor Walz Announces $2.5 Million Investment to Extend the NextGen Free Nursing Assistant Training Program
On September 8, 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 8, 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 8, 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.
MDH Requests a Statewide Waiver to Extend the Temporary Nurse Aide Program
On September 1, 2022 by Anna Mowry
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has requested a statewide waiver to extend the temporary nurse aide training program that is currently set to expire on Oct. 6.
Assisted Living Director License Renewal Begins Sept. 1
On August 25, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
Licensed Assisted Living Directors (LALD) are due for their first license renewal in September. The Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports (BELTSS), licensing board for LALDs, will issue a notice by the end of this week. It will include directions for licensees on how to renew their licenses.
LTC Imperative Nursing Facility Financial Survey Finds Facilities Facing Risk of Closure
On August 18, 2022 by Jeff Bostic
A recent survey of nursing homes conducted by the Long-Term Care Imperative found that several settings throughout the state are closing beds, considering a sale, or considering closing their doors. Due to lost capacity in the system overall, Minnesota seniors are losings access to care in the communities they call home.
New Season, Same Guidance: Refresher on Visitation, Activities, and Group Gatherings Guidance
On August 18, 2022 by Kari Everson
Guidance for activities, visitation, and large group gatherings has not changed significantly. However, as the summer is winding down, long-term care settings that host gatherings are seeking a guidance refresher for these events.
MDH Invites LTC Providers to Learn from Closed Correction Orders at Collaborative Safety Reviews
On August 11, 2022 by Julie Apold
Over the next few weeks, the Minnesota Department of Health's (MDH) Collaborative Safety steering team members will begin inviting providers with closed Tuberculous and Individual Abuse Prevention Plan correction orders to collaborate, review and map these issues with the goal of learning and improving these systems.
Assisted Living Bill of Rights Required Notices
On August 11, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
Assisted living providers must issue a new version of the Assisted Living Bill of Rights (144G.91) to all residents and obtain a written acknowledgment of its receipt. The update is necessary because the Minnesota Legislature adopted several changes to the Assisted Living Bill of Rights earlier this year.
Assisted Living Contract and AL Bill of Rights Changes Effective this Week
On August 4, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
As reported in last week’s Advantage, the Assisted Living Facility HFID must be on new assisted living contracts entered into on or after Aug. 1, 2022. Also, effective for contracts entered into on or after Aug. 1, 2022, the following changes were made to the required assisted living contract content in item (5) in 144G.50, subdivision 2, the (struck-out language deleted, new language in bold):
CMS Releases Final SNF PPS Rule; Includes Cuts Related to Impact of PDPM
On August 4, 2022 by Jeff Bostic
Late last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the annual final rule that updates the Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates for care centers.
Update on Changes to Assisted Living Contracts
On July 28, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry
LeadingAge Minnesota has received new and welcome guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) concerning changes to assisted living contracts.
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