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Elderly Waiver Rates Increasing on Jan. 1
On December 9, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Thanks to actions taken by the legislature earlier this year and the availability of federal funds targeted to home and community-based services, Elderly Waiver (EW) rates will be increasing this year for the first time in several years. The Long-Term Care Imperative has been advocating for a reform plan for many years that would tie those rates to the actual cost of providing care, which is especially important now as providers face workforce shortages and increasing costs to attract and retain caregivers.
Nursing Home Rate Notices to be Delayed, Complicating Notice to Private Pay Residents
On December 2, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) recently informed LeadingAge Minnesota that rate notices for care centers for the 2022 calendar year will be posted much later than the statutorily required date of Nov. 15. Rates will not be available until some time in 2022.
Payment Committee Hosting Special Meeting on Care Center Rates
On September 30, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The LeadingAge Minnesota Payment Committee is holding a special meeting next Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. to discuss the status of care center Medicaid rates for 2022 in light of recent information from DHS on their plans to implement cost offsets due to federal aid received by providers.
New SNF Medicare Rates Take Effect on Oct. 1
On August 18, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Based on the annual SNF Payment Rule released earlier this summer, new skilled nursing facility (SNF) Medicare rates for the third year of the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) take effect on Oct. 1. The Oct. 1 rates include an inflation update of 1.2% based on a formula in existing law. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has suspended the Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program for the upcoming rate year.
Elderly Waiver Rate Caps Increase Jan. 1
On November 19, 2019 by Jeff Bostic
The customized living and overall case mix caps in the Elderly Waiver (EW) program increase effective Jan.1 because they are tied to the increase in nursing home rates. The customized living caps increase by 6.14%, which is the full amount of the 2019 nursing home increase. The overall caps are going up by only 5.39% due to some increases that did occur for home delivered meals and PCA services.
Now Posted: Care Center Rate Notices
On November 28, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The fourth set of annual rates to be calculated using the new Value-Based Reimbursement (VBR) system will take effect on Jan. 1, 2019. The rates are now posted to the DHS Nursing Facility Provider Portal.
Elderly Waiver Rates for Jan. 1 Released
On November 14, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) yesterday published new rates for services under the Elderly Waiver (EW) program and other waiver programs that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2019. The new rates reflect the impact of the EW rate reform that the Long-Term Care Imperative was able to pass in 2017.
New Medicare Rates for SNFs, Value-Based Purchasing Adjustments Now In Effect
On October 2, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
As we reported in August, new Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) PPS rates took effect for the year that began on Monday, Oct. 1. In addition to the updated base rates, Oct. 1 is also the first year of implementation of Value-Based Purchasing.
DHS Offering Webinar with Preliminary Results of Adult Day Study
On August 7, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is working on a couple of studies funded by legislation passed in 2017 that authorized the beginning of a process for updating Elderly Waiver rates. One of those studies has a focus on Adult Day Services, including how it is licensed and paid for in other states.
Care Centers Will See Funding Increase and New Case-Mix System
On August 1, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
Care centers are set to receive an increase in funding as a result of the final payment and policy rule released today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The rule also contains a new case-mix model, the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), that will determine reimbursement levels based on condition and care needs rather than the amount of care provided.
LeadingAge Strikes Back on MedPAC Call to Lower SNF Pay Rates
On June 19, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
LeadingAge distributed a critical response to a recent recommendation by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to lower pay rates for skilled nursing facilities.
Rate Increases for Home Delivered Meals, EW/AC and CDCS Budget Cap Effective July 1
On June 5, 2018 by Bobbie Guidry
The 2017 Minnesota Legislature authorized a 2.61 percent rate increase for home delivered meals for the Alternative Care (AC), Elderly Waiver (EW), and Essential Community Supports (ECS) programs for services delivered on or after July 1, 2018.
CMS Proposes New SNF Payment System
On May 2, 2018 by Jeff Bostic
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week issued a Proposed Rule that provides information about the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) payment rates for the year that starts on Oct. 1, 2018 as well as proposing an entirely new case mix payment system to take effect on Oct. 1, 2019. CMS will follow up with a final rule on the Oct. 1 rates around Aug. 1.