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.
HCBS Scholarship for 2019 Now Open
On September 4, 2018 by Jenna Kellerman
The Minnesota Department of Health is soliciting grant proposals from providers of adult day care, home care, and housing with services to provide educational scholarships for their employees. Applications are due by Friday, Oct. 19.
Care Center Employee Retention Unchanged in 2017
On September 4, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
Attracting and retaining employees has been a significant challenge in recent years, and retention rates are a key indicator of the ability of care centers to meet staffing needs in a competitive labor market and to provide the continuity of care that is necessary for good client outcomes. In 2017, retention was relatively good news in that the gains that occurred in 2016 were maintained in the most recent year.
Retain Your Staff with the Onboarding Toolkit
On September 4, 2018 by Jenna Kellerman
Looking for tools to turn your standard new employee orientation into an engaging onboarding experience? Watch this 7-minute video to learn about an exciting new resource that is free to LeadingAge Minnesota members – our Onboarding Toolkit.
Increased Staffing Ratios and Higher Use of Temporary Staff in Care Centers
On August 28, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
Staffing shortages continue to be a primary challenge for care centers, which are experiencing increased staffing ratios and higher use of temporary poll staff based on an analysis of data LeadingAge Minnesota completed on the 2017 costs reports filed with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
Back to School for Recruiting Students
On August 28, 2018 by Terri Foley
Working with local high schools can provide some relief in filling positions and open shifts—and it can create a potential future pipeline for staff. Tips for successful outreach to schools are outlined in Solving the Workforce Puzzle: Lesson Learned from 42 Workforce Solutions Grants: Year One.
AgingServicesJobs.org Receives Upgrades
On August 22, 2018 by Jenna Kellerman
The new AgingServicesJobs.Org platform continues to receive upgrades as the vendor, WorkFountain, follows a continuous improvement process.
Not Yet Compliant with HCBS Standards? Use New Assurance Templates
On August 22, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
If you are a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) provider not yet compliant with the HCBS Settings Rule, two new assurance templates from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will help you meet attestation requirements and get in compliance with the new standards.
New Reports Explore Global Expansion of Foreign-Born Aging Services Workforce
On August 22, 2018 by Jodi Boyne
Three new reports explore the characteristics and migration routes of foreign-born workers and the benefits and challenges associated with an expanding foreign-born workforce in the field of aging services.
New Medicare Rates for SNFs and Value-Based Purchasing Adjustments Effective Oct. 1
On August 15, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a final rule with the new Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) PPS rates effective for the year starting Oct. 1. We have calculated the base SNF rates for all regions of Minnesota.
The Results Are In: It’s Walz vs. Johnson in Governor’s Race
On August 15, 2018 by Jodi Boyne
High voter turnout on primary night led to a few surprises and many potential “firsts” in Minnesota election history.
Care Centers: Get Ready for the New Payment Model - PDPM Webinar is Aug. 22
On August 14, 2018 by Heidi Simpson
LeadingAge Minnesota members can now register for a free webinar for that will help care centers get ready for the new payment model that will replace RUGs. Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) for SNFs is Set to Go: Now What? takes place Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
OHFC Clears Backlog of Elder and Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment Complaints
On August 14, 2018 by Jodi Boyne
The Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) has cleared the backlog of maltreatment cases for elders, vulnerable adults and their families from 2017 and continues to successfully complete initial reviews for all reports within two days.
Now Available: 2018 Salary and Benefits Report for Nursing Homes
On August 14, 2018 by Jodi Boyne
Registered Nurse hourly rates increased by 3.1 percent while Licensed Practical Nurse rates increased by 2.43 percent, according to the 2018-2019 Nursing Home Salary and Benefits Report published by Hospital & Healthcare Compensation in cooperation with LeadingAge.
New Guidance: Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act
On August 14, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
LeadingAge has provided new guidance that summarizes the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The guidance should help members answer the following questions:
FAQ: Who Needs “Mandatory Consultation” through the Senior Linkage Line and Why?
On August 14, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
We have received several questions this week about the Mandatory Consultation process that is required to be conducted prior to executing a lease in a Housing with Services Registered Setting. The questions primarily focus on who is required to go through Mandatory Consultation and a better understanding of why this is required.
Timely and Accurate PBJ Data is More Important Than Ever
On August 7, 2018 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reminds all nursing facilities that the deadline for submission of Payroll Based Journal (PBJ) data for the period April 1 –June 30, 2018, is Aug. 14. Timely and accurate submission of data is especially important, because CMS now uses PBJ data to calculate staffing measures in Nursing Home Compare and the Five-Star Quality Rating System.
DHS Offering Webinar with Preliminary Results of Adult Day Study
On August 7, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is working on a couple of studies funded by legislation passed in 2017 that authorized the beginning of a process for updating Elderly Waiver rates. One of those studies has a focus on Adult Day Services, including how it is licensed and paid for in other states.
Last Call: Nominations for Board of Directors, Honorary Lifetime Memberships Due Friday
On August 7, 2018 by Nancy Garrett
Don’t wait! Nominations for the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors and Honorary Lifetime Memberships are due by Friday, Aug. 10.
Care Centers Will See Funding Increase and New Case-Mix System
On August 1, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
Care centers are set to receive an increase in funding as a result of the final payment and policy rule released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The rule also contains a new case-mix model, the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), that will determine reimbursement levels based on condition and care needs rather than the amount of care provided.
SNFs Notified of QRP Noncompliance Program Can Request Reconsideration by Aug. 7
On July 31, 2018 by Julie Apold
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) identified as not meeting the 80 percent reporting threshold under the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) recently received a letter from National Government Services, the Medicare contract agency for Minnesota, informing them that they will be subject to a 2 percent reduction on their Medicare fee-for-service rates beginning Oct. 1, 2018. SNFs who received these letters can request reconsideration by Aug. 7.