News

2019 legislation authorized the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop a pilot project to reduce overall energy consumption in care centers and provide rate adjustments for providers implementing Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) projects. PACE projects are clean energy projects paid off through a financing mechanism that uses a special assessment. The commissioner will select projects from qualifying proposals via a competitive application process. The application and associated materials are at the top of the DHS Nursing Facility Provider Portal. Proposals are due June 1.

The Minnesota Department of Health has scheduled two calls regarding assisted living licensure for providers on April 8 and April 29 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Rural Health and Primary Care has confirmed that the Licensed Assisted Living Director (LALD) training program is eligible for funding through the Home and Community Based Scholarship Grant Program. Apply today!

The application deadline has been extended to April 6 at 11:59 p.m. Find the HCBS Scholarship Program details, application, and forms on the MDH website. Grants will run for 24 months, starting on July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2023.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently provided helpful responses to several questions posed by a group of stakeholders regarding assisted living licensure.

MDH convened a group of stakeholders, including LeadingAge Minnesota and many of our legal business partner members, to address legal questions related to licensure of assisted living settings. MDH recently provided answers in writing to many of the questions posed by the group. The responses from MDH offer helpful information to providers in preparing for their applications for licensure:

The Minnesota Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee last week approved a bill that proposes a long-term solution to challenges with the fingerprinting and background study process in Minnesota. Senate File 1257, authored by Sen. Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake), tackles the issue  of fingerprinting capacity by authorizing the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to contract with up to three fingerprinting providers, rather than a single vendor.

The Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, is soliciting grant proposals from providers of adult day care, home care, and housing with services to provide educational scholarships for their employees. MDH staff who oversee the scholarship program will be offering a webinar on March 17 at 2 p.m. to provide guidance on the application process and program management.

MDH has convened a group of stakeholders to discuss processes and concerns that may arise related to a need for a resident to relocate due to the upcoming assisted living licensure implementation. The Department anticipates that, in some situations, a current provider may decide to discontinue services rather than pursue licensure, and that some providers may close.

Governor Walz reported on Tuesday that Minnesota has nearly vaccinated 70% of its seniors, weeks ahead of the original deadline of April. In light of this progress, Walz announced that Minnesota will soon transition to Phase Two of vaccine distribution that prioritizes those that are chronically-ill and that qualify as essential workers. Here is what you need to know about what’s happening at the Capitol:

The Minnesota Department of Health will host two webinars on assisted living licensure in upcoming days.

First, on March 4 from 10-11:30 a.m., MDH will host a presentation regarding assisted living licensure in relation to customized living providers. Presentation materials will after the call at Assisted Living Fact Sheets.

Join us on March 17 at 2 p.m. for an open discussion on the application process for licensing as an Assisted Living Director (LALD). To accommodate a Minnesota Department of Health webinar on assisted living licensure on March 18 from 10 - 11:30 a.m., we moved the LALD Coaching Room from its original date and time.

The Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, is soliciting grant proposals from providers of adult day care, home care, and housing with services to provide educational scholarships for their employees. You can find the HCBS Scholarship Program details, application, and forms on the MDH website.

The Minnesota Department of Health Case Mix Review team released information on updated documentation requirements when isolation is coded on the MDS under O0100M. This updated information will be effective for all MDS’ with an assessment reference date (ARD) on or after Friday, March 5. In order to correctly code O0100M, Isolation on the MDS, case mix review auditors will check for required documentation in the resident’s medical record. This required documentation includes:

On Feb. 18, DHS sent a communication to all enrolled customized living providers about new assisted living facility licensure requirements and how they affect providers’ ability to provide customized living services. The communication was sent to each provider’s MN-ITS.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services, through the Nursing Facility Rates and Policy (NFRP) Division and the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative, is seeking proposals from qualified Minnesota Medicaid-Certified Nursing Facilities that are interested in implementing a Dementia Live Training Program.

The Minnesota Department of Health will host a presentation regarding assisted living licensure and customized living (waiver services) on Thursday, March 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

In a message sent to current licensees last week, the Board of Executives for Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) communicated several important messages to currently licensed Nursing Home Administrators.

Assistant Majority Leader Karin Housley (R – St. Mary’s Point), Chair of the Minnesota Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Policy Committee, and Sen. Kent Eken (DFL – Twin Valley), the committee’s ranking minority member, will join LeadingAge Minnesota members for a bipartisan discussion about long-term care issues at this year’s LeadingAge Minnesota Week at the Capitol.

Last week, the Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) updated the projected time frame for licensed assisted living director (LALD) applications to be available. We now anticipate that the applications will be available in April for those eligible as legacy directors.

With Governor Walz announcing a loosening of social and business restrictions, the legislature is giving greater attention to the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. This week, lawmakers will be focusing on how the vaccine is affecting virus infection rates as well as its disbursement to vulnerable population groups, especially seniors. Here is what you need to know about what’s happening at the Capitol:

The Minnesota Department of Health is offering a webinar on Thursday Feb. 18, 2021, from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Information will be provided regarding changes to the laws that affect home care, assisted living and housing with services providers in relation to assisted living licensure.