News
Category: State News
Welcome to the State News category. The following news items will keep you informed about state legislation, state-level advocacy and other information about aging services in Minnesota.
Annual Legislative Roundtable in St. Cloud Draws Large Group of Providers
On October 2, 2018 by Kari Thurlow
Guardian Pharmacy hosted its 7th Annual Legislative Roundtable Discussion in St. Cloud yesterday. The event drew eight area lawmakers and more than 50 providers of aging services from care centers, housing with services and adult foster care from central Minnesota.
Register Now for Care Center Regulatory Training
On October 2, 2018 by Jonathan Lips
Registration is now open for a full-day of regulatory education designed for care centers, Minnesota Department of Health surveyors, and Ombudsman staff to attend jointly.
Now Available: DHS Adult Day Services Study Webinar
On September 25, 2018 by Roni Falck
A recent webinar from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) highlighting the preliminary findings of the Adult Day Services Study is now available to download.
MDH Appoints Interim Health Regulation Director, Posts OHFC Position
On September 18, 2018 by Jonathan Lips
The Minnesota Department of Health has announced that Michelle Larson will serve as the interim Director for the Health Regulation Division through December 2018.
Register Today! HCBS Scholarship Application Webinar
On September 18, 2018 by Jenna Kellerman
The Minnesota Department of Health is providing a free webinar to LeadingAge Minnesota members on the Home and Community-Based Services Scholarship program grant application process. Register today!
Diabetes Self-Management Workshops for Your Community
On September 18, 2018 by Guest Contributor
Stratis Health, as part of Lake Superior Quality Innovation Network, is partnering with the Minnesota Area Agencies on Aging and Juniper to offer Diabetes Self-Management workshops. These workshops are a great way to help your clients, residents, and community manage their diabetes.
New Home Care Survey Forms Being Piloted
On September 12, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) surveyors will be piloting new survey forms over the next six weeks.
Register Today! HCBS Scholarship Application Webinar
On September 11, 2018 by Jenna Kellerman
The Minnesota Department of Health is providing a free webinar on the Home and Community-Based Services Scholarship grant application process to LeadingAge Minnesota members. The webinar takes place Sept. 26 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Register today!
DHS Seeks Public Comments on Revised HCBS Transition Plan
On September 11, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) plans to submit a revised State Transition Plan for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings rule to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) after a 30-day public comment period. The comment period is now open and comments are due by 4 p.m. on Oct. 10.
DHS Conducting Transportation Access as Part of HCBS Transportation Study
On September 4, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is conducting a survey on access to transportation services for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver recipients. The survey is part of a larger study of transportation services for HCBS waiver recipients that will inform a report to the 2019 Legislature.
DHS Awards Grants to Support People with Alzheimer’s and Their Caregivers
On September 4, 2018 by Jodi Boyne
Elder Circle in Grand Rapids and Volunteers of America recently received grants from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to support people with Alzheimer’s and those who care for them.
MDH Convenes Stakeholders to Discuss Next Steps in Addressing Elder Abuse
On August 29, 2018 by Kari Thurlow
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) last week convened approximately 40 stakeholders including providers, consumers, regulators, payors and other interested persons to discuss how to move forward in reaching consensus with respect to policy reforms to address abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults.
Update: MDH Sending Survey Results Via Email to State Licensed Only Home Care Providers
On August 14, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
Effective July 1, 2018, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Home Care and Assisted Living Program discontinued mailing paper copies of survey results to state licensed only home care providers and began emailing the results to the agent on record. This change does not apply to Medicare certified home health agencies.
Minnesota Seeks Final Approval of Statewide Transition Plan for HCBS Settings Rule
On August 14, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Department of Human Services will be updating its Statewide Transition Plan for the Home and Community-Based Settings (HCBS) Rule and putting it out for public comment on Sept. 10.
Cultural Consultants Help Providers Reach Out to Diverse Communities
On August 7, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
Cultural Consultants is a service supported by the Minnesota Board on Aging that provides cultural expertise and professional services to providers across Minnesota. The consultants have been specially trained in recognizing and understanding signs of memory loss as well as offering resources to support family, friends and neighbors who are caregiving.
DHS Conducting Two Provider Surveys as Part of HCBS Transportation Study
On August 7, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is contracting with Navigant Consulting for a review of the rates and availability of transportation services for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver clients. That study has two works groups advising DHS and Navigant, one looking at rates and one looking at access.
Care Center Regulatory Updates Available from MDH and CMS
On August 7, 2018 by Jonathan Lips
The Minnesota Department of Health has posted the recording and transcript of its July 16 statewide regulatory conference call for care centers.
Check Your Email: MDH Now Sending Home Care Survey Results by Email
On July 31, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
Effective July 1, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Home Care and Assisted Living Program discontinued mailing paper copies of license survey results to providers and began emailing the results to the agent on record with MDH.
Registration Is Open for Health Care Engineers Conference
On July 25, 2018 by Jonathan Lips
Registration is now open for the 43rd Annual Minnesota Health Care Engineers Association (MHCEA) Fall Education Seminar and Vendor Show.
HCBS: Changes in Evaluation of Services for Annual Assessments Effective Aug. 1
On July 24, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
In keeping with the Minnesota State Transition Plan to comply with the Home and Community-Based Services Settings (HCBS) Rule, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has added a person’s evaluation of services and compliance with HCBS Standards to the MN Choices Tool. The questions are to be completed at the next reassessment visit on or after Aug. 1, 2018.