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Care Centers Asked to Make Annual Case Mix Election
On May 26, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Care centers are asked to make an annual Case Mix Election to determine the rate for Medical Assistance and private pay residents who stay 14 days or less. Providers choose either to do a Minimum Data Set (MDS) for all such residents and bill based on that case mix or decide not to do MDS and bill at the default (DDF case mix) rate.
PIPP Boot Camp Recording Available
On May 12, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has posted materials related to applying for the Performance Incentive Payment Projects (PIPP) program on the nursing facility provider portal (see the links posted about halfway down the main page). Proposals are due by July 1, with rate increases starting on Jan. 1, 2022.
Summer 2021: DHS to Require Submission of COVID Relief Spending Schedule for Care Centers
On May 12, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
After previously delaying the requirement for care centers to submit COVID-19 Relief spending information while awaiting federal guidance, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that the special COVID Supplemental Schedule for the cost report year ended Sept. 30, 2020 must be submitted this summer.
Layaway and Planned Closure Options for Addressing Low Occupancy in Care Centers
On April 28, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The LeadingAge Minnesota and our partner in the Long-Term Care Imperative recently completed analysis of care center occupancy in 2020, which showed a historic drop due to the pandemic. While providers wait to see what happens with occupancy going forward, they do have a couple of options to address that issue.
Unemployment Insurance Relief Credited to Providers
On April 28, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is notifying providers that they have applied federal relief to 2020 unemployment insurance charges. Many not-for-profits are “reimbursing” providers under that program, meaning that they do not pay the regular unemployment insurance tax but must cover actual unemployment insurance costs. During the pandemic, those costs spiked due to employees who did not want to take the risk of working during the pandemic.
PIPP Program Applications Open
On April 21, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has posted materials related to applying for the Performance Incentive Payment Projects (PIPP) program on the nursing facility provider portal (see the links posted about halfway down the main page). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DHS has adjusted the timeline for PIPP this year. PIPP proposals are due to DHS by July 1, and DHS indicates that it will still work to complete the contracting process and start rate increases by Jan.1, 2022.
CMS Releases Proposed Rule that Updates SNF Rates
On April 14, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Late last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an annual Proposed Rule that updates the SNF PPS rates effective October 1, 2021. CMS will follow up with a final rule on the October 1 rates around August 1.
Now Available - Moratorium Exceptions Process Application Materials
On January 27, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently released the application materials for an unexpected round of the nursing facility moratorium exceptions process, which are available on the MDH web site. Care centers interested in applying will need to complete all of the required application materials and return them to MDH by June 25. Following a presentation to a review committee later this year, MDH will have a list of approved projects by Sept. 3, 2021.
Contact Information Needed for DHS Labor Market Survey
On January 20, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Under a new requirement that the Legislature created in Minnesota Statutes Section 256B.4912, subdivision 1a, home and community based services providers, including all Elderly Waiver and Disability Waiver providers, to participate in a labor market survey that will be conducted later this year.
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Details Released
On January 13, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
A key part of the December 2020 COVID-19 relief bill is a renewal of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including availability of second draw loans for some organizations that got a PPP loan earlier this year. In January 2021, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Treasury issued rulemaking to implement the second draw loan program. Organizations that received a PPP loan earlier this year are eligible to receive a second forgivable loan of up to $2 million if they meet eligibility criteria. The loan application portal is expected to open this week. As with the first round, eligible organizations can apply through most local or national banks.
New Nursing Pool Caps Updated
On January 6, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Each year, the state calculates the average wages of RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and TMAs in care centers using the data provided from the annual cost reports, and then computes the statutory limits on the amount that Supplemental Nursing Services Agencies (SNSAs) can charge per hour for each type of staff. The new caps are effective Jan. 1, 2021.
PRF Phase Three Payments Going out to Providers
On December 16, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) started distributing payments to providers who applied for phase three of the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) general distribution. Nationally, they are distributing $24.5 billion to more than 70,000 health care providers. The basis for the payments is half of the reported lost revenue and increased expenses from the first half of this year. Combined with previous PRF payments this is designed to cover the majority of the lost revenue and higher expenses experienced by health care providers through June.
DHS Issues Memo on Temporary Absence Waiver for Housing Support (GRH) Recipients
On December 9, 2020 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Housing Support team has published a memo regarding the end of the temporary absence waiver that has been in place under the authority of the Governor's Emergency Executive Order 20-12, under which the DHS Commissioner waived certain absence day requirements for Housing Support recipients. The absence waiver allowed for absences longer than 18 days per absence and/or beyond 60 days total in this calendar year. The absence waiver is for people who are temporarily absent due to offsite quarantine, isolation, or hospitalization. The absence waiver is ending on Dec. 30, 2020. There is no authority to extend beyond this date.
Fewer Minnesota Providers Qualified for October Infection Control Incentives
On December 9, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) started distributing the second round of infection control incentive payments to care centers who earned them for the month of October. They also released the details about which providers received payments and how much the payments were.
Billing Guidance for Care Center Staff Testing
On December 2, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
Due to the overlapping mandates for testing of staff and residents during outbreaks and of staff based on the positivity rate in the county, the Long-term Care Imperative has been working with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) on clarifying how staff testing should be billed when both requirements apply.
CMS Posts Final Rule on Updated SNF Medicare Rates
On August 5, 2020 by Jeff Bostic
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final version of the annual Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Payment Rule that updates rates for the second year of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) which starts on Oct. 1. The Oct. 1 rates include an inflation update of 2.2% based on a formula in existing law.
Focus on Value and Outcomes as Payment Models Evolve
On January 21, 2020 by Jodi Boyne
Post-acute care providers must demonstrate their value and outcomes in more care setting as payment models evolve in the coming years, according to a new report by Avalere Health.
COMING SOON - PDPM Training Series: Countdown to October Implementation
On March 19, 2019 by Jeff Bostic
Patient Driven Payment Model, or PDPM, is the biggest change to care center reimbursement since RUGs, and it goes into effect in just six months – Oct. 1. Get your organization ready for the conversion through a series of training opportunities from LeadingAge Minnesota:
Long-Term Services and Supports Costly Now, More So in Future
On February 13, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Two studies, one issued by the Commonwealth Fund and one by the congressional Joint Economic Committee, show the difficulty long-term services and supports costs pose for older people and their families now and how these costs likely will increase for the future as informal, unpaid family caregiving becomes less available.
New Opportunities in New Bundled Payment for Care Improvement
On October 23, 2018 by Jodi Boyne
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that close to 1,300 entities have signed up to participate in the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement Advanced (BPCI Advanced) Model on a voluntary basis. A new blog post from Health Dimensions Group (HDG) provides basic facts, a fresh perspective on what this means and what providers should do next.