News

The information available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality, Certification and Oversight Reports (QCOR) database shows that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has completed 127 nursing facility recertification surveys during the federal fiscal year-to-date. There is some lag time in survey data entry, so the actual current total of surveys conducted is somewhat higher. Here's a sampling of the data:

The Health Regulation Division (HRD) at the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently released two brief videos to help assisted living providers understand regulatory expectations and prepare for their next survey.

DHS recently released the application form for the Elderly Waiver Customized Living (EWCL) Disproportionate Share Program for 2023. 2022 is the second year of the program, which provides a floor rate of $119 per resident day for their EWCL clients in 2023. The Legislature made some changes to the program that start this year, including:

Though the Minnesota Legislature adjourned this year with unfinished business, including a failure to provide funding for wage increases for aging services caregivers, a small number of bills were signed into law.

Current assisted living licenses expire on July 31. Beginning Monday, Aug. 1, assisted living facilities operating without a license will be fined $250 per day.

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) released a survey to get input on their Waiver Reimagine effort. Waiver Reimagine is designed to combine the current four disability waivers into two. Under Waiver Reimagine, the current waivers, based on the type of disability, would be replaced with waivers based on the type of service received (living independently vs. residential).

One of the final bills to clear the Legislature in May contained a little-debated provision with potentially significant implications. Beginning on Friday, July 1, Minnesotans aged 21 and older can purchase liquids and consumable goods containing small amounts of cannabidiols (CBD) and/or THC. THC is the ingredient in cannabis that produces a “high.”

Testing residents and staff for COVID-19 became a standard throughout the pandemic, and guidance frequently changed, which gives way to uncertainty on current guidance and recommendations for testing requirements, test interpretation, and test procurement.

As we have shared earlier, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website now confirms the extension of the July 2 deadline by which employees with emergency background studies must clear fingerprint-based studies until the end of the year. Individuals who received emergency studies must have a fully compliant study by Dec. 31 to continue working after that date. Information about emergency studies and ongoing updates about the transition from emergency studies to full compliance.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced the grant recipients of the Internationally Trained Professionals Competitive Grant Program, a program to help internationally trained healthcare workers earn healthcare licensures in Minnesota.

The requirements for assisted living directors of settings licensed as assisted living with dementia care (ALDC) have raised several questions for those seeking to keep their credentials up to date.

One of the provisions of the Health and Human Services policy bill that passed on the last night of the session made revenue-neutral revisions to the Elderly Waiver Customized Living (EWCL) disproportionate share program for the 2023 calendar year and beyond.

On Sunday evening, the Minnesota Legislature passed a provision as part of its Health and Human Services Policy bill to allow remote adult day as a service.

The 2022 legislative session in Minnesota has come to a close. Although our advocacy for funding to support assisted living providers continues, the Minnesota Legislature passed several policy changes affecting assisted living providers.

Emergency preparedness plans continue to be an area of concern for providers and are a frequently cited item in assisted living surveys. To assist in developing thorough plans and content for Emergency Preparation by assisted living facilities and as a helpful self-audit tool, the MDH has updated its Emergency Preparedness survey tool and posted it to their Assisted Living webpage this week.

The Minnesota Department of Health has new tools to assist providers in completing the license renewal process, which is underway this month. As you prepare for your assisted living license renewal, the Assisted Living License Renewal page has videos, checklists and other resources for providers preparing their license renewal application.

In Minnesota, landlords cannot prohibit a tenant from having a legal firearm. This is, at times, a safety concern within assisted living and housing communities. Several tools have recently been developed that may be helpful in related discussions with residents or potential residents.

License renewals for assisted living are now open. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) received 115 applications during this first week. If you have not received your renewal information, contact MDH at health.assistedliving@state.mn.us.

The Long-Term Care Imperative recently completed an analysis of care center occupancy for the first quarter of this year. Compared to last year, it shows some improvement but nothing close to a return to pre-pandemic occupancy levels.

With the 1135 waiver ending on June 6, members will have until Oct. 6 to place Nursing Assistants on the state registry. Minnesota State and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) communicate weekly updates to LeadingAge Minnesota regarding nursing assistant test sites as they open and increase their capacity.