LeadingAge Minnesota

PHI Releases a New Report on the Direct Care Workforce in the U.S.

On September 15, 2022 by Anna Mowry

A new report providing insights and data on the nation's direct care workforce was recently released.

The report, Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts, is released annually by PHI, which researches, supports, and promotes the nation's direct care workforce. The report includes workforce projections and demographic overviews of home care workers, residential care aides, and nursing assistants in nursing homes.

Preventing Ingestion-Related Adverse Events

On September 15, 2022 by Julie Apold

LeadingAge Minnesota has recently updated a Property/Grounds Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Tool as a guide to conduct regular safety checks to ensure that your property and grounds are maintained in a safe and sanitary manner.

Join us for LeadingAge Minnesota’s October District Meetings

On September 8, 2022 by Luke Jenkins

Join us next month for our October District Meetings, where you can connect with your peers to share experiences, strengthen relationships, and find solutions. As a member of LeadingAge Minnesota, you belong to a community of dedicated providers who together are tackling the challenges and shaping the delivery of senior care in Minnesota.

Closing Soon! Early Registration for 2022 Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum

On August 18, 2022 by Sharon Hollister

Don't miss this year's 2022 Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum on Sept. 20-23 at Madden's on Gull Lake in Brainerd. Early bird registration ends tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 19. After tomorrow, registration fees will increase.

MDH Invites LTC Providers to Learn from Closed Correction Orders at Collaborative Safety Reviews

On August 11, 2022 by Julie Apold

Over the next few weeks, the Minnesota Department of Health's (MDH) Collaborative Safety steering team members will begin inviting providers with closed Tuberculous and Individual Abuse Prevention Plan correction orders to collaborate, review and map these issues with the goal of learning and improving these systems.

New Survey Data: Top Cited Deficiencies from Nursing Home Recertification Surveys

On August 4, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

The information available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality, Certification and Oversight Reports (QCOR) database shows that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has completed 127 nursing facility recertification surveys during the federal fiscal year-to-date. There is some lag time in survey data entry, so the actual current total of surveys conducted is somewhat higher. Here's a sampling of the data:

HHS Announces Proposed Rule to Strengthen Nondiscrimination in Health Care

On July 28, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

On July 25, the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights (OCR), issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise regulations relating to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics), in covered health programs or activities.

Moratorium Exceptions Process Application Now Posted

On July 28, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently posted the application materials for another round of the nursing facility moratorium exceptions process on its website. Care centers interested in applying for approval to fund a construction project must complete all required application materials and return them to MDH by Dec. 22.

Civil Monetary Penalty Funds Available to Nursing Homes for Air Filters and Visitation Aids

On July 14, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

In February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued expanded guidance for the COVID-19 In-Person Visitation Aid Grants available to nursing homes.

COVID-19 Reporting Changes in Effect

On July 14, 2022 by Kari Everson

COVID-19 long-term care case reporting changes took effect July 13. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires nursing homes to report facility resident and staff COVID-19 case numbers to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control’s (CDC) National Health Safety Network (NHSN) weekly.

2023 Celebration, Stars Among Us Award Nominations Open

On July 7, 2022 by Barbara Landeen

The most amazing people work in our field, and we invite your help to recognize them. LeadingAge Minnesota's Stars Among Us Awards nominations are open for 2023 through Sept. 12.

Effective July 1, certain products containing THC are now legal in Minnesota.

On July 7, 2022 by Erin Huppert

One of the final bills to clear the Legislature in May contained a little-debated provision with potentially significant implications. Beginning on Friday, July 1, Minnesotans aged 21 and older can purchase liquids and consumable goods containing small amounts of cannabidiols (CBD) and/or THC. THC is the ingredient in cannabis that produces a “high.”

New Workforce Data Portal Open for Quarter 1 and 2 Entries

On July 7, 2022 by Anna Mowry

LeadingAge Minnesota’s exciting new resource, The Workforce Data Portal, is open to collect quarter two data. The Workforce Data Portal will be open through July for users to enter their quarter one and quarter two workforce data.

Election Season Question: Can Political Candidates Access Older Adults in Aging Services Communities?

On July 7, 2022 by Erin Huppert

It's not just the weather heating up: election season is upon us, and candidates seeking elected office in November are hitting the pavement to meet potential constituents. Under Minnesota law, political candidates should be granted access to multi-unit dwellings used as residences, including nursing homes, assisted living buildings, and independent living. Candidates are also permitted to leave materials behind, though nursing homes may require that materials are left at a central location.

Seniors Need Leadership from Lawmakers; Ask Them to Finish Their Work

On June 30, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran

By now, you know that the Minnesota State Legislature adjourned at the end of last month without spending any of the state's $9 billion budget surplus. Even though negotiations have crumbled, we cannot stop our advocacy!

Open for 2023 Celebration - Stars Among Us Award Nominations

On June 16, 2022 by Barbara Landeen

LeadingAge Minnesota’s Stars Among Us Awards nominations are open for 2023 through Sept. 12.

These awards honor the best of the best caregivers, leaders, rising stars, volunteers, and residents in our field and are celebrated yearly at the February Institute & Expo.

CMS Relaxes Frequency of Inspection for Vaccination Requirement Compliance

On June 16, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

This week, CMS announced that survey oversight of the staff vaccination mandate for Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers will continue to be performed during initial and recertification surveys but will now only be performed in response to complaints alleging non-compliance with this requirement, not all complaint surveys. This news comes after CMS determined that 95% of nearly 12,000 providers and suppliers surveyed by states have been in substantial compliance with this requirement.

Nursing Education Programs in Minnesota Have Openings for the Fall Semester

On June 16, 2022 by Anna Mowry

Minnesota State’s HealthForce Center of Excellence has created a new Nursing Program Openings webpage to show which colleges and universities around Minnesota have available seats in their nursing programs for the Fall 2022 semester.

DHS Continues to Work on Delayed Care Center Rate Notices for Rural Providers

On June 16, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

This week, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) updated us on the status of care center rate notices for the year that began on Jan. 1. While metro-area care center rate notices went out a little over a month ago, most rural care center notices have not gone out. Many of them are still not close to being finalized.

New Coupon! Promote Your Open Positions with AgingServicesJobs.org at a Reduced Rate

On June 9, 2022 by Anna Mowry

Have you posted your open positions on the AgingServicesJobs.org platform? LeadingAge MN’s job board, AgingServicesJobs.org, is the premier resource for long-term care employers to post their critical to fill positions and get connected with qualified applicants.