News

Retention Grants Open for Certain HCBS Employees

On May 18, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

The Minnesota Legislature has created a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workforce development grant program to attract and retain direct care workers who provide HCBS services for people with disabilities and/or older adults.  Workers include those employed in assisted living, adult day services, home care, and other HCBS settings.

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.

MDH, DHS Postpone Nursing Home Provider Webinar

On April 13, 2023 by Mark Schulz

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) have postponed the webinar scheduled for 1 p.m. on April 17 to provide information on nursing home topics including:

• Receivership
• Closure and emergency relocation procedures
• The role of governing board

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.

Reminder from DHS: CADI and BI Age Limit for New Customized Living Settings

On April 13, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

In a recent bulletin, the Department of Human Services (DHS) reminded providers that effective Jan. 11, 2021, an age limitation was applied to new customized living (CL) services settings for Brain Injury (BI) and Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waiver programs. Customized living services settings operational on or after Jan. 11, 2021, are limited to serving people on the BI and CADI waivers who are age 55 and older. This change was announced in the Implementation of the HCBS rule tiered standards, effective Jan. 11, 2021.

Disability Waiver Rate Webinars Available From DHS

On March 16, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

The Department of Human Services (DHS) will hold quarterly webinars for anyone interested in the Disability Waiver Rate System (DWRS). This webinar series will replace and expand the work formerly done by the DWRS Advisory Committee. The webinars will be held on the State TrainLink platform. Instructions to register for the webinars are on the DHS website.

DHS Begins Posting Preliminary Quality of Life Survey Results for Care Centers

On March 16, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is starting to share the preliminary resident quality of life results from the current round of surveys.  Care centers can visit the DHS Provider Portal, click the Resident Quality of Life Ratings tab, and finally, the 2022 Observed Quality of Life Scores link.

HCBS Settings Rule Implementation Deadline Is Here

On March 9, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings Rule became effective on March 17, 2014, with transition activities underway since that time. Due to covid delays, the date for full compliance is March 17.

Senate Human Services Holds Hearing on LTC Imperative Priorities

On March 2, 2023 by Erin Huppert

After a blizzard-induced postponement, the Senate Human Services Committee took up three long-term care bills championed by LeadingAge Minnesota and its Long-Term Care Imperative partner on Monday afternoon.  The three bills represent the breadth of aging services and the need to ensure they are available for seniors in all the places they call home. All three bills were laid over for inclusion in the committee’s omnibus bill, which will be assembled and passed later this session.

2023 DHS PIPP Proposal Resources Available

On February 16, 2023 by Julie Apold

The 2023 Minnesota Department of Human Services Nursing Facility Performance-Based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) Request for Proposals (RFP) information is now available.

Providers Should Weigh Pros and Cons of Federal Employee Retention Credit 

On February 2, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

As more providers continue to look at applying for an Employee Retention Credit (ERC), LeadingAge, our national partner, has developed a Frequently Asked Questions document that covers issues around eligibility and applying for those funds. 

New Supplemental Nursing Services Agency Caps in Effect

On February 2, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

Each year, the state calculates the average salary of RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and TMAs in care centers using the data from the annual cost reports. Then the state computes the statutory caps on the amount Supplemental Nursing Services Agencies (SNSAs) can charge per hour for each type of staff. The new caps, effective Jan. 1, show significant increases due to staffing cost increases during the pandemic. 

Required Training for Provider Enrollment and Revalidation

On January 26, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

Providers enrolled or seeking enrollment with the State Department of Human Services (DHS) as home and community-based service providers, including waiver-paid customized living or adult day services, must include evidence of two specific trainings.

Revalidation underway for HCBS Providers (organizations beginning with S & T) – Training Available

On January 12, 2023 by Bobbie Guidry

Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) sent revalidation notices at the end of December to Home and Community-Based Services (provider type 18 organizations starting with letters S and T).

Six Care Centers Apply for Moratorium Exceptions Process Funding

On January 5, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

The current round of applications for nursing facility moratorium exceptions has closed. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently informed LeadingAge Minnesota that six care centers submitted proposals for this round. A review committee will hear the proposals in February, and the MDH commissioner will announce the approved projects by April 6.

DHS to Offset Employee Retention Credits from Care Center Rates

On January 5, 2023 by Jeff Bostic

The Department of Human Services (DHS) recently informed us that they intend to offset the revenue from the federal Employee Retention Credit (ERC) from care center costs based on the wages and taxes used in the ERC application. That means that some care centers will see reductions in their rate for the rate year that started this Jan. 1. DHS auditors have begun requesting detailed information from care centers that have applied for the ERC to determine these offsets.

DHS Offers Provider Capacity Grants for Rural & Underserved Communities

On December 15, 2022 by Mark Schulz

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is conducting a second round of grant funding for HCBS providers supporting rural and underserved communities.

Minnesota Ahead of Most States in Effort to Comply with HCBS Settings Rule

On December 1, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry

The federal government is giving states and providers an ultimatum to make progress on meeting the requirements of the home- and community-based services settings final rule that goes into effect in the spring. Minnesota is only one of 18 States that has already received final approval of the statewide transition plan. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved the Minnesota State Transition plan on Feb. 12, 2019.

Care Center Rate Notices Likely to Arrive after Jan. 1

On December 1, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

As Jan. 1 approaches, it appears likely that rate notices will not arrive for most care centers by the start of the new rate year. We expect that the rate increase for most care centers will be significant this year because the cost report being used (year-end Sept. 30, 2021) reflects a drop in occupancy and the considerable increase in costs that happened during the pandemic. Therefore, it is time for providers to consider giving notice to private pay residents about increases on Jan. 1.

Elderly Waiver Rate Caps Increasing January 1

On November 17, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

The customized living, 24-hour customized living, and overall case mix caps in the Elderly Waiver (EW) program increase effective Jan. 1, 2023, because they are tied to the rise in care center rates. The 24-hour customized living caps will increase by 9.69%, which is the amount of the 2022 care center increase, and the overall EW caps are going up by 9.63% due to minor rate changes in a couple of EW services.