Tracking the Status of Key COVID Waivers

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

With Minnesota's COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency ending July 1, a question on members' minds is what waivers are still in place and for how long.

Several Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) waivers affecting aging services providers are set to expire Aug. 30 – or sooner if the Department specifically identifies an earlier expiration date or shorter grace period – and we have developed a tracking tool to assist members. 

MDH strongly encourages providers affected by one of these waivers or modifications to begin any necessary planning for this transition as soon as possible. 

The CMS blanket waivers of federal regulatory requirements for nursing facilities and other federally-certified providers remain in effect, except for those CMS has specifically terminated.

Please note that on July 8, MDH clarified that Minnesota’s state-level requirements for nursing assistant training and certification (Minn. Statute, section 144A.61, subdivision 6a) will continue to be waived for as long as the CMS Section 1135 blanket waiver remains in effect. CMS has not announced a timeline for the termination of that waiver.

Contact Jonathan Lips with questions.