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A set of rules took effect this week that are designed to support secure patient access to electronic medical records, as well as smooth electronic exchange of patient information. The so-called “Information Blocking” rule was developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

DHS Disability Services Division (DSD) now hosts monthly office hours for providers serving individuals eligible for disability waivers.

In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature authorized DHS to streamline services and simplify the service menu for people who access services through Minnesota’s disability waiver programs:

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has selected IDEMIA Identity & Security USA LLC (IDEMIA) as the new vendor to provide statewide fingerprint and photo services for background studies submitted to DHS. IDEMIA was selected through a competitive bid process with cost, quality and reliability of service locations considered in proposal evaluations.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has selected Martha Burton Santibáñez to be the Director of the Health Regulation Division (HRD). The HRD includes various programs affecting aging services providers, including Case Mix Review, Engineering Services, the Office of Health Facility Complaints, Health Occupations, Home Care & Assisted Living, and Licensing & Certification. Prior to assuming the Director position, Ms. Burton Santibáñez served four years as an Assistant Division Director.

In a letter to Customized Living providers dated April 1, DHS updated their previous guidance from February 2021. Providers need to consider and act on the following instructions that apply to their setting. Of particular concern is the intention of DHS to suspend payment for Customized Living services to a provider who has not provided evidence of either their AL License or their exemption. LeadingAge Minnesota is working to resolve issues that could arise if applications have been submitted but licenses are not yet available by Aug. 1.

The most effective way to address vaccine hesitancy is through conversations with trusted peers, according to the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. With these findings, LeadingAge Minnesota has developed a set of resources to help leaders improve staff vaccination acceptance through a new Safe Care for Staff initiative.

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

In senior care communities, there are a lot of medications passed in the hopes of improving or maintaining the health of residents. What’s often overlooked is all the care that you provide—for residents, colleagues and your own families—is essential medicine, too.

As we work toward the LeadingAge goal of 75% of staff receiving their COVID-19 vaccination by July 1, we will be tracking our progress across the LeadingAge Minnesota membership and will be highlighting organizations that have reached or exceeded the Drive for 75 vaccination goal. 

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 55% in all reporting care centers and 47% in all reporting assisted living settings. These numbers increased slightly in the last week, which is good to see. To reach the MDH goal of 70% staff vaccination rates, providers will need to continue encouraging vaccinations among staff.

As part of the Minnesota Legislature's budget process, the House of Representatives has included in its Health and Human Services (HHS) omnibus budget bills critical changes to the assisted living licensure law that could significantly disrupt implementation.

Due to a cancellation of a previously approved moratorium exception project, there is now $821,088 in state funding available in the current moratorium exceptions rounds, up from the $702,144 announced in January. The Long-Term Care Imperative is pushing for additional funding in the current legislature to conduct another round later this year and is glad to see the Senate supporting additional funding, which is much needed to upgrade physical plants to make infection control efforts more effective.

Lawmakers resumed legislative activity this week following a one-week break to observe the Easter and Passover holidays. It is a pivotal week as lawmakers unveil budget bills and will need to pass bills out to their respective committees by Friday. Next week, we expect lawmakers will begin to pass these budget bills off the House and Senate floors, which will set up three-way budget negotiations between the House, Senate and Governor as they attempt to complete their work to pass a balanced budget by May 17.

Applications for LeadingAge Minnesota's Leadership Academy are due on Monday, April 26. This esteemed program helps develop and grow leaders in our field by exploring leadership theory, applied learning and coaching by seasoned mentors.

Friday, April 2 is the last day to register for the 3-part virtual workshop, A Practical Guide to Providing Safe Care for Seniors, on April 6, 13 and 20. This series is for organizations wanting to learn about this initiative and staff in participating organizations who have not yet completed training.

The Assisted Living Licensure application form is not yet final, but you can start preparing for the formal application due on June 1.

Attorneys from Lathrop GPM LLP, Minneapolis, a LeadingAge Minnesota business partner, will lead a webinar on April 7, First Step Toward AL Licensure: Preparing to Complete Your Application Form, to help providers start the application process.

Click here to register.

A significant step in preparing for the implementation of Assisted Living (AL) Licensure is reading and understanding the Minnesota statutes, laws and rules that govern it. AL directors will be required to attest to completing this requirement on both the AL licensure application and their application to become a licensed assisted living director. 

Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging has changed its name to Trellis. The change signals an expanded mission for the organization, beyond the original mission as the area agency on aging for the metro area.

Trellis will continue to be a regional leader in aging but will also provide services, information and innovations that connect and improve the lives of people across Minnesota and in ten other states.

Debra Saliba, MD, MPH, Director, The Anna & Harry Borun Center for Gerontological Research, UCLA Division of Geriatrics, will be the keynote speaker at a May 6t Robert L Kane Memorial Lecture. The focus of the lecture will be on the topic of “mainstreaming long-term care.”

As this year’s Institute draws near, we are finalizing the list of organizations that will be recognized for their work in Safe Care for Seniors at the “Action” and “Excellence” levels. Monday, April 5 is the last day to update your organization’s data to be recognized at the May event. If you are participating in Safe Care for Seniors and have actions in place for each of the 5 action steps, you can access the data portal on the Safe Care for Seniors site to update your progress.

In preparation for assisted living licensure, LeadingAge Minnesota has developed a checklist to comply with new posting and disclosures required as a condition of licensure. You can use the checklist to ensure you have all necessary disclosures, postings and information that must be provided, offered and made available upon request.

Third Round of Applications for HUD COVID Supplemental Payments Expected

The House Committee on Financial Services is circulating a discussion draft of the Supporting Seniors and Tenants in Subsidized Housing Act. The draft bill is a version of 2020’s Emergency Housing Assistance for Older Adults Act introduced in the House (as HR 6873) and Senate (as S 4177). The draft bill is sponsored by Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), the chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance.

Last Thursday, the US Senate voted to extend the suspension of the 2% sequestration cut for all Medicare services through the end of 2021. Congress initiated sequestration in 2011 to limit Medicare costs by reducing all payments by 2%. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sequestration was suspended for a year by Congress last April 1. The coming expiration of that suspension led to the Congressional activity to extend it further.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Office of Rural Health and Primary Care has confirmed that the Licensed Assisted Living Director (LALD) training program is eligible for funding through the Home and Community Based Scholarship Grant Program. Apply today!

2019 legislation authorized the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to develop a pilot project to reduce overall energy consumption in care centers and provide rate adjustments for providers implementing Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) projects. PACE projects are clean energy projects paid off through a financing mechanism that uses a special assessment. The commissioner will select projects from qualifying proposals via a competitive application process. The application and associated materials are at the top of the DHS Nursing Facility Provider Portal. Proposals are due June 1.

CMS has approved modifications to alternative adult day services effective immediately.  The modifications will:

• Increase the maximum daily service duration for alternative adult day services (delivered remotely and/or in person) to one person at a time from 4 hours per day to 6 hours per day
•  Increase the maximum number of people attending online events.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has implemented changes to the vaccination reporting for long-term care providers. As mass clinics wrap up, MDH is implementing what they call “maintenance mode” for providers who have achieved a 70% vaccination rate for both staff and residents. At this point, 15% of providers meet that standard; therefore, they will be asked only to report monthly to show that they are maintaining high vaccination rates.

Minnesota’s 2021 legislative session is at the midpoint, as lawmakers are on break this week in observance of the Easter and Passover holidays. When lawmakers resume legislative activity on April 5, it will be full steam ahead as lawmakers will push to pass budget and policy bills before the legislative session adjourns on May 17.

Yesterday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) published updated guidance which allows for more flexibility for dining and guidance in assisted living settings.

Activities and meals are a significant factor in combating social isolation and bringing a sense of normalcy and stability to our resident’s lives.

LeadingAge Minnesota’s acclaimed Leadership Academy is entering its twelfth year this June, and we are accepting applications through April 26. This 8-month program develops leadership capacity and core competencies of aging services professionals by tapping their natural talents and authentic leadership style. It blends leadership theory, applied learning, and personalized coaching to mentor current and emerging leaders in our field.

More than 30 organizations have already registered for the two-part virtual Governance Workshop, Next Gen Governance for a Next Gen World, on April 7 and 14. In the wake of the pandemic, it is important to shift focus from response to strategic recovery and resilience. The workshop is designed for executives and board members to identify risk areas and opportunities for strong operations in the short and long term. Participation includes a set of diagnostic assessments that will be used to create a roadmap for navigating disruption, change, strategy, opportunity and risk.