News

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.

In the past several months we have received a number of questions from individuals new to their positions or to an assisted living setting. One of the frequent questions is what applies now, and what

The Home Care and Assisted Living Program Advisory Council will hold its quarterly meeting via conference call on Monday, September 14, from 3:00-4:30 PM.

Maintaining an accurate OSHA log of recordable work-related injuries and illnesses is an important skill that benefits

On July 14, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance in a letter [PDF] announcing an extension to the implementation of the HCBS regulation timelines.

DHS recently amended licensing modifications for ADS providers, effective August 12, 2020.  Except for the changes described below, all previously approved licensing modifications for adult day centers remain in effect.

With Minnesota facing a projected $4.7 billion budget shortfall, Gov. Tim Walz tapped a familiar face and state budget expert, Jim Schowalter, to return as commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget.

In a special session last week, the Senate and House passed (and the Governor later signed) Senate File 1, which appropriates more than $20M in state CARES Act relief funds to provide retention grants to adult day services providers to address the impact of business interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Department of Health waived the 8-hour training requirement for Paid Feeding Assistants, in accordance with a waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

The Metropolitan Council has issued Metro Mobility COVID-19 safety measures. The safety measures cover topics including service, fare payment, riders, drivers, bus cleaning, and more.

As part of the DHS Waiver Reimagine project, DHS has requested public comments on Summer 2020 federal waiver plan amendments before they are submitted to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval. These amendments apply to the following waivers:

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division of DHS is partnering with State Services for the Blind's Aging Eyes Initiative. Through this partnership older adults with both hearing and vision loss can access specific vision loss-related and assistive listening devices.
 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is still accepting applications from Medicaid-certified nursing facilities to receive up to $3,000 in Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds to purchase communication technology.  

LeadingAge Minnesota and its partner in the Long-Term Care Imperative submitted comments on behalf of older adult service providers on the draft final report of the Blue Ribbon Commission of Health and Human Services. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently provided an update on the status of Assisted Living Licensure in Minnesota that reviewed licensure and the transition process to the new regulatory structure. It also included an overview of licensure, fees and the ability for excluded settings to continue to provide customized living services pending federal waiver approval.  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has modified certain requirements for home care licensing, survey and enforcement activities. The modifications are allowed based on Emergency Executive Order 20-32  issued on April 8. 

While the national prohibition on nonpayment evictions will lift July 25, there are still have ongoing restrictions in Minnesota. Governor Walz last week issued Executive Orders 20-79, which rescinded Executive Orders 20-14 and 20-73 and issued new guidance on eviction suspensions during the duration of the peacetime emergency. Both the rescission and the new order are effective Aug. 4.