News

The customized living and overall case mix caps in the Elderly Waiver (EW) program increase effective January 1 because they are tied to the increase in care center rates. The customized living caps increase by 3.64%, which is the amount of the 2020 care center increase, and the overall EW caps are going up by 3.60% due to some minor rate changes in a couple of EW services. Members should be aware that, particularly for any clients who are near one or both of those caps, the higher cap will allow the case manager to authorize additional services that they have not been able to authorize previously.

The Minnesota Secretary of State released a notice of vacancies for various state boards, councils and committees that are accepting applications. LeadingAge Minnesota members are encouraged to apply for and serve in these important public service roles. Vacancies include:

The Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) is hosting a series of events during National Apprenticeship Week. Attend their virtual event “Introduction to Apprenticeship for National Apprenticeship Week” on Friday, November 13 at 10:00 AM to learn about registered apprenticeship as a workforce development model. The event will offer an overview of registered apprenticeship and the benefits of growing and sustaining an innovative workforce through employment-based training. Click here to register for the event using the event password: kaPpjyMH983

For two more years, Minnesota will continue to have the distinction of having the only divided Legislature in America, with the Republicans holding on to control of the Minnesota Senate by a one-vote margin and the House DFL retaining control of the House, albeit with a smaller majority than last year. 

Beginning in early 2021, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is gathering data about direct care workers in Home and Community Based Services organizations. Organizations are asked to identify a contact person to complete this survey and can submit their contact information here.

On October 25^th, staff of the Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) submitted the draft Licensed Assisted Living Director rules to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). The rules will be posted for a 30-day public comment period to begin December 1, 2020 (LeadingAge Minnesota will provide a link as soon as it is available). A Statement of Need and Reasonableness (SONAR) has also been prepared and can be viewed on the BELTSS website along with the updated rule draft.

Last week, MDH shared a discussion document with LeadingAge MN staff outlining key questions regarding the application of physical plant and design requirements under the assisted living licensure law to existing settings and those settings under development. At the time 144G passed the Legislature, there was a common understanding among stakeholders that existing providers would be grandfathered under current building codes and new physical plant requirements would not apply. We further understood that these “legacy providers” would include those settings currently under development, so long as they had applied for building permits on or before July 31, 2021.

MDH has released Proposed Rules for Assisted Living Licensure. It is important to note that these rules are not yet final, and changes may be made through the rulemaking process.

For the past 15 years, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has hosted a live Veterans Day event, typically held at the Veterans Memorial Community Center in Inver Grove Heights.

The final meeting of the Assisted Living Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2020, 2:30-4:30 p.m. via Webex.

Yesterday, the MN Department of Health announced that the Medical Cannabis Review Panel will meet on Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Thursday, Oct. 22, to discuss petitions for three new potential qualifying medical conditions for participation in Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program.

As part of the DHS Waiver Reimagine proposal, beginning on January 1, 2021, new clients on disability waivers will not be able to access Adult Day Services until age 55. 

DHS has contracted with a research team at Purdue University to conduct an evaluation of the value-based reimbursement (VBR) payment system as well as the quality measurement efforts of the department.

The Minnesota Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) issued a formal notice this week, stating that they are nearing the hearing process for the creation of rules

The Minnesota Board of Executives for Long Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) has begun the hearing process for amendments to rules governing licensure of Health Services Executives (HSE),

Governor Tim Walz announced today that he will convene a special session of the Legislature on Monday, Oct. 12, as he plans to extend the peacetime emergency for another 30 days. This will be the fifth special session of 2020.

The Minnesota State Fire Marshal has posted an advisory to its webpage advising nursing facilities to complete a fire alarm and signaling code inspection checklist as soon as possible. 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is improving the disability waiver system through a project called Waiver Reimagine.

Recently, DHS announced that due to the ongoing public health emergency the annual in-person care center resident Quality of Life survey that was due to be conducted

Last week MDH announced that Minnesota has asked CMS to calculate the PDPM classifications on the OBRA assessments that are not used for Medicare payment.