News

MDH Offers One-Time PPE Request Opportunity

On November 30, 2023 by Kari Everson

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is currently offering a one-time disbursement of personal protective equipment (PPE) to improve infection prevention capacity in assisted living organizations and nursing homes.

MDH Resources for Respiratory Season in Long-Term Care

On November 9, 2023 by Kari Everson

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released two resources on respiratory illness for long-term care organizations: Resources for Long-term Care Facilities Preparing for 2023-2024 Respiratory Season and Preparing for Respiratory Season in Minnesota Long-term Care (LTC) Facilities.

NHSN Quality Alert Errors

On September 28, 2023 by Kari Everson

The National Health and Safety Network (NHSN) appears to be generating inaccurate quality alerts for the Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Module for long-term care facility residents.

CDC and MDH Show Uptick in COVID-19 Cases

On August 31, 2023 by Kari Everson

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting an increase in COVID-19 cases as of last week. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) COVID-19 status update shows Minnesota’s cases are increasing, especially in people 85 and older.

It’s Time to Transition Your Temporary Nurse Aides

On July 27, 2023 by Anna Mowry

Temporary nurse aides hired or who worked under the 1135 waiver have until Sept. 11 to be added to the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry. LeadingAge Minnesota is here to help providers with this transition process.

Aerosol Generating Procedures Post-PHE

On June 15, 2023 by Kari Everson

Healthcare organizations used N95 or higher-level respirators for all aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) as a transmission mitigation strategy throughout the public health emergency (PHE).

COVID-19 Facility Risk Assessment Updated

On June 8, 2023 by Kari Everson

LeadingAge Minnesota updated the COVID-19 Facility Risk Assessment and Workbook to reflect a change in the metrics published by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

Dining and Activity Visitor Attendance

On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently clarified with LeadingAge Minnesota when families and visitors can share a meal with a resident in the dining room or attend activities. According to MDH, organizations should continue infection prevention and control practices and complete a facility risk assessment to determine visitor attendance in congregate dining settings and activities.

New Resource Available! COVID-19 Facility Assessment Policy Template

On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson

LeadingAge Minnesota has added a COVID-19 facility assessment policy template to the resource library as a companion document to the facility assessment workbook provided last week.

Post-Survey Feedback Opportunity

On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson

Beginning June 5, onsite surveys and investigations will include an electronic provider feedback form to help provide information for the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) continuous improvement.

CMS To Discontinue Vaccine Mandate

On June 1, 2023 by Kari Everson

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will discontinue the nursing home staff vaccination mandate in early August.

Facility Assessment and Broader Use of Source Control Post Public Health Emergency

On May 18, 2023 by Kari Everson

New information released over the last week directs each nursing home and assisted living in conducting a COVID-19 facility assessment to determine whether a broader source control practice is needed. LeadingAge Minnesota has created a sample COVID-19 facility assessment to aid in implementing the new practices.

Permanent Remote Adult Day Services Option Available July 1

On May 11, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

Remote adult day services will be a permanent option for licensed adult day services providers beginning July 1.

CDC Published Updated COVID-19 Guidance

On May 8, 2023 by Kari Everson

Updated from original content posted on Monday, May 8

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. The CDC updated sections on recommendations for universal source control and admission testing and added an appendix section to help organizations determine when to implement broader use of source control. In response to the CDC guidance release, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an update to QSO 20-39-NH REVISED, essentially adopting the CDC guidance.

CDC Updates mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines

On April 27, 2023 by Kari Everson

On April 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance for mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Going forward, bivalent vaccines will be administered for all immunization doses, and the monovalent (original) vaccine is no longer available. This updated guidance does not include Novovax or Johnson and Johnson Janssen. These continue to be monovalent vaccines, and the schedule remains the same.

CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Changes

On April 20, 2023 by Kari Everson

On April 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released simplified vaccine recommendations. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met yesterday to discuss updated COVID-19 vaccine changes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended emergency use authorizations (EUA) for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech products earlier this week.

Waiver and Medical Assistance Financial Eligibility Renewals at the End of PHE Continuous Coverage Period

On April 13, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

On April 7, the Minnesota Department of Human Services released Bulletin #23-21-08: DHS Announces Key MHCP Eligibility Policies during the Unwinding Period (PDF), which announces timelines for restarting Medical Assistance renewals after Public Health Emergency continuous coverage requirements end. These timelines also apply to reassessments for waiver and AC programs, including financial eligibility redeterminations for the AC program.

QSO Updates Enforcement for Infection Control Citations

On April 6, 2023 by Kari Everson

On March 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-23-10-NH, which rescinds QSO-20-31-NH and provides updated guidance on enforcement for infection control non-compliance. As a result, enforcement actions are more severe than before when cited under F880 and/or F887.

Mask Use in Long-Term Care Settings

On April 6, 2023 by Kari Everson

Many hospitals decided to discontinue mask use creating confusion regarding the use of masks in nursing homes and assisted living organizations. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) clarified mask use during the Long-term Care COVID-19 Call yesterday.

Employee Retention Credit Will Not Impact Care Center Rates

On March 16, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

Earlier this week, Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office informed LeadingAge that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will tell states with cost-based care center payment systems like Minnesota’s to treat Employee Retention Credit (ERC) funds like other federal CARES Act relief funds.