LeadingAge Minnesota

Now Open! 2024 Rate Year QIIP Selection Process for Care Centers

On August 11, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

The annual selection process for the Quality Improvement Incentive Payment (QIIP) program is now open. In the QIPP program, care centers participating in Medicaid are eligible for a rate increase of up to $3.50 per resident day based on their performance improvement on a single quality measure.

CMS Releases Final SNF PPS Rule; Includes Cuts Related to Impact of PDPM

On August 4, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Late last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the annual final rule that updates the Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates for care centers.

DHS Posts Rate Notices for more than 100 Care Centers

On July 28, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Late last week, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) posted rate notices for the 2022 rate year for more than 100 care centers. These rate notices are based on cost reports without audit adjustments, so providers should be planning for additional adjustments to Medicaid payments after the completion of their 2020 cost report audit.

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.

DHS Conducting Survey on Waiver Reimagine

On July 14, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) released a survey to get input on their Waiver Reimagine effort. Waiver Reimagine is designed to combine the current four disability waivers into two. Under Waiver Reimagine, the current waivers, based on the type of disability, would be replaced with waivers based on the type of service received (living independently vs. residential).

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.

Care Centers: Submit Comments to CMS by June 10 to Impact SNF PPS Proposed Rule

On June 9, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

Comments on the proposed Fiscal Year 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rule are due to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by the end of the day Friday, June 10.

Advocate for Congressional COVID-19 Funding for LTC

On June 2, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran

Although the House and Senate are in recess this week, there's no shortage of work left to be done before Congress adjourns ahead of the midterm elections. What began as the Build Back Better plan is now being reshaped into a much narrower, inflation-fighting measure that would amount to a fraction of the spending in the original bill.

2022 PIPP Proposals Due July 1

On June 2, 2022 by Julie Apold

This year substantial changes have been made to the Performance-Based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) to refocus the program from processes to outcomes and allow providers more flexibility.

Attention Care Centers: Submit Comments to CMS by June 10 to Impact SNF PPS Proposed Rule

On June 2, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

Comments on the proposed the Fiscal Year 2023 Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rule are due to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 10.

Don’t Miss Billing Basics for Care Centers July 13-14

On May 26, 2022 by Heidi Simpson

Billing Basics for Care Centers is a two-part virtual conference that helps business office staff learn the fundamentals and skills to accurately bill for services and capture appropriate reimbursement. Register your team for this in-depth training designed to help improve your organization's financial bottom line.

New! Billing Basics for Care Centers is July 13-14

On May 19, 2022 by Heidi Simpson

LeadingAge Minnesota's long-standing Billing University for Care Centers is redesigned and updated for 2022. Now in two distinct parts, this event focuses first on the basics of billing for individuals new to the role on July 13 and 14. Then the training continues in November with an advanced level series, Billing Trends, Strategies, and Updates for Care Centers, Nov. 9-10. To make the program more accessible to members, it will be held virtually as webinars.

Nursing Homes Action Alert: Write to CMS to Oppose Proposed Payment Cuts

On May 19, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

We encourage care centers to participate in a letter-writing campaign targeted at payment cuts proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity to Challenge Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Payments

On May 5, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently closed Phase Four of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments to health care providers. Now providers are dealing with both reporting requirements and the last opportunity to review what they have received and request reconsideration of the amount or not being paid.

11% of Nursing Homes; 20% of Assisted Living Face Closure According to New Long-Term Care Imperative Survey

On May 5, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Aging services providers across the state face dire financial conditions that jeopardize access to care for Minnesota's seniors, according to a recent survey conducted by the Long-Term Care Imperative.

CMS Releases Proposed SNF PPS Rule that Calls for Rate Cuts

On April 14, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its annual proposed rule for updating the Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). In addition to the rate update, the proposed rule covers numerous topics impacting SNFs, including proposed staffing standards and updates to quality reporting and value-based purchasing (VBP).

National Academies Release Recommendations for Improving Nursing Home Quality

On April 7, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on April 6 released a highly-anticipated and comprehensive study of the challenges facing nursing homes in the United States.

Free Webinar on Provider Relief Fund Audit Issues

On March 3, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Next Wednesday, March 9, at 11 a.m, CliftonLarsonAllen is offering a free webinar on Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting. The webinar will address the complexity associated with compliance audits of the use of PRF funds and general reporting issues, including allowable uses of the Nursing Home Infection Control Payments.

DHS Issuing Temporary 2022 Care Center Rates and Providing Additional Emergency Aid Opportunity

On January 13, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

Critical Steps Support SNF Operations; Advocacy for Assisted Living Continues

Earlier this week, Gov. Tim Walz announced two new steps his administration will take to offer financial assistance for care centers as the battle against COVID-19 continues.

Second Provider Relief Fund Reporting Period Opens Jan. 6, 2021

On January 6, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently opened the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting portal for providers to begin entering data to submit their second period PRF reports. Second period reports cover PRF payments from July 1 – Dec. 31, 2020, including Phase 2 and Phase 3 general distributions and nursing home infection control distributions and incentive payments. The deadline to submit the second period report is March 31, 2022.