News

We hear it from lawmakers all the time: what matters most to them as they weigh issues and make decisions at the State Capitol is their constituents. That’s why your voice matters! It’s time to be heard. Join us at our Day at the Capitol on March 19 to show lawmakers that we are committed partners in our shared goal to assure access to safe, quality care for older Minnesotans in the communities they call home.  

Save the Date: The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will host a statewide Nursing Home Regulatory call on March 9 from 11 a.m. to Noon. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Infection Control Assessment and Response Program (ICAR) issued a notice on Jan. 31 to alert care centers that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released interim guidance on the implementation of Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) in July 2019. 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has published a new report related to the development of the Minnesota assisted living report card. Once complete, the report card will measure and report on the quality of assisted living settings across Minnesota.  

A new brochure from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) will help consumers better understand Elderly Waiver (EW) services in assisted living, including eligibility and the application process. 

Sometimes data just isn’t enough. Storytelling is the most powerful tool to affect change. We need your help to bring the issues we advocate for on behalf of the people you serve to life. Help us tell the story:  

All rental property owners, managers or operators must provide a Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) to each person who rented from them during the previous year by Friday, Jan. 31 unless the property is tax-exempt or if the resident's entire care is paid under certain goverment assistance programs. 

The Minnesota Department of Health has released an Informational Bulletin and Consent forms for the Electronic Monitoring law that went into effect on Jan. 1.  

Governor Tim Walz last week committed to making Minnesota an Age-Friendly State during the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging Summit and indicated support for increased, stable funding for programs and services that help Minnesotans age in place. 

The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) has announced an open appointment to its Board of Directors. As BENHA’s role is expanding to include the licensure of assisted living directors, we encourage members from assisted living and licensed nursing home administrators to apply.  

To help keep adult day services providers informed and in compliance with license expectations, please review the following Q&A regarding Individual Abuse Prevention Plans and monthly progress notes and participation reports.  

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking public comments through Jan. 2, 2020 on evidentiary packages related to the heightened scrutiny process under the Home and Community-Based Settings rule. Adult day, customized living, foster care, and prevocational/structured day services are included in this set of evidentiary packages, including several LeadingAge Minnesota members. 

The banding process for disability waiver rates, which ties the rates paid to many providers to their historical rate rather than paying the full Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS) rate, is ending in 2020.  The end of banding will mean rate changes for adult day and other providers serving disability waiver clients.  

The Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging (MAAA) is advising Medicare Beneficiaries who have used the Medicare Plan Finder to call health plans and confirm costs. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has provided clarifying guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on food safety requirements regarding refrigeration temperatures. When checking refrigeration temperatures, CMS said that the actual temperature of the food should be checked and that surveyors should not cite based just on the refrigerator thermometer readings. 

It’s now officially influenza season! The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has posted Interim Guidance for Influenza Outbreak Management in Long-Term Care Facilities to help nursing homes prepare for the flu season and identify, report and manage respiratory outbreaks.  

The customized living and overall case mix caps in the Elderly Waiver (EW) program increase effective Jan.1 because they are tied to the increase in nursing home rates. The customized living caps increase by 6.14%, which is the full amount of the 2019 nursing home increase. The overall caps are going up by only 5.39% due to some increases that did occur for home delivered meals and PCA services.  

The fifth set of annual rates calculated using the new Value Based Reimbursement (VBR) system will take effect on Jan.1, 2020 and they are due to be released to providers by Nov. 15. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has indicated that as of now they expect that rate notices for most care centers will be posted on the provider portal by that deadline.  

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has announced the newest grant recipients for the Live Well at Home Program. In total, 45 organizations received funding to help older adults maintain their health, independence and community involvement. Among them are five LeadingAge Minnesota members:  

Minnesotans enrolled in Minnesota SeniorCare Plus (MSC+) and Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) will have the same health plan choices in 2020 as they did in 2019, except in Morrison County, Todd County and Wadena County.