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On June 6, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-23-17-Hospitals reinforcing hospital requirements for their role in a cooperative discharge plan for post-acute care settings.

Minnesota now recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday. Employers should review collective bargaining agreements and policies to ensure compliance with the new law.

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 provided and capture appropriate reimbursement. Register your team now for this in-depth training designed to help improve your organization’s financial bottom line.

Significant changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) patient assessment tool released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be effective Oct. 1. Now is the time for skilled nursing facilities to understand the changes to prepare their staff and settings ahead of the deadline.

Technology solutions can help healthcare providers and support staff provide better care and maintain efficient operations. Join us on July 13 for Workforce Technology Solutions: Combatting the Workforce Crisis While Improving Care, where you will learn from experienced operators about best practices for implementing new technology, workflows, and systems.

Eric Meittunen has joined the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs as Deputy Commissioner - Veterans Healthcare. Eric will lead the Healthcare Division with responsibility for our five current and three new Veterans Homes, Adult Day Center, and Veteran Suicide Prevention initiative.

American Baptist Homes of the Midwest (ABHM), an Eden Prairie, Minnesota, based not-for-profit provider of senior living and health care, is pleased to announce the appointment of Annette Greely as the new President and Chief Executive Officer.

As Mental Health Awareness Month ends, don’t forget the mental health resources and tools you and your teams can revisit throughout the year.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recently clarified with LeadingAge Minnesota when families and visitors can share a meal with a resident in the dining room or attend activities. According to MDH, organizations should continue infection prevention and control practices and complete a facility risk assessment to determine visitor attendance in congregate dining settings and activities.

LeadingAge Minnesota has added a COVID-19 facility assessment policy template to the resource library as a companion document to the facility assessment workbook provided last week.

Beginning June 5, onsite surveys and investigations will include an electronic provider feedback form to help provide information for the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) continuous improvement.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will discontinue the nursing home staff vaccination mandate in early August.

LeadingAge Minnesota has a selection of on-demand webinars approved for clock hours. Eight new webinars from the 2023 Institute have been added on various topics. Get the training you need without having to leave your setting.

The Minnesota Legislature adjourned on May 22. Join us on June 26 for our webinar, Impact on Seniors: Analysis of 2023 Legislative Session Outcomes. We will identify changes to state law that will impact the seniors you serve and explore the implications for your organization’s operations and the larger aging services sector.

Significant changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) patient assessment tool released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be effective Oct. 1. Now is the time for skilled nursing facilities to understand the changes to prepare their staff and settings ahead of the deadline.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is the second in a series of articles from contributor Dr. Alyson VanAhn, Associated Clinic of Psychology, featuring tools to improve staff mental health.

In an overview article, I introduced three major factors that can improve staff retention when attended to deliberately by you and the leaders in your buildings—staff feeling valued, supported, and effective.  This article focuses on feeling supported.

This last week of Mental Health Awareness Week revisit the Self-Care activities related to social connections and chasing happiness. Stop saying, “I will be happy when…” and start saying, “I am happy now because….”

As of Monday at midnight, the Minnesota Legislature has adjourned the 2023 legislative session. After months of tireless advocacy by seniors, their families, and their caregivers, we are proud to report that we have left the session with historic investments in aging services that will help ensure access to care for Minnesota seniors and support caregivers with the wages they deserve.

LeadingAge Minnesota has a selection of on-demand webinars approved for clock hours. Eight new webinars from the 2023 Institute have been added on various topics. Get the training you need without having to leave your setting.

Significant changes to the Minimum Data Set (MDS) patient assessment tool released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will be effective Oct. 1. Now is the time for skilled nursing facilities to understand the changes to prepare their staff and settings ahead of the deadline.

After the Minnesota Legislature adjourns on May 22, join us in May and June to identify changes to state law that will impact the seniors you serve. During June’s session, we will dive deeper to explore the implications for your organization’s operations and the larger aging services sector.

Have you ever noticed how it warmed your heart when someone appreciates you?  Research shows that expressing gratitude to someone who has done something to enrich your life (no matter how big or small) significantly impacts both the giver and the receiver.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is the second in a series of articles from contributor Dr. Alyson VanAhn, Associated Clinic of Psychology, featuring tools to improve staff mental health.

In an overview article, I introduced three major factors that can improve staff retention when attended to deliberately by you and the leaders in your buildings—staff feeling valued, supported, and effective. This article focuses on feeling effective.

Last week, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the final rule to establish its new approach to defining and assessing housing quality, the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). The final rule describes the development of NSPIRE and the next steps from HUD before NSPIRE is implemented on Oct. 1 for multifamily and voucher programs and July 1 for public housing.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has revised guidance for employers regarding the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. It reminds employers that they cannot automatically terminate reasonable accommodations provided due to pandemic-related circumstances.

The Higher Education Omnibus bill (HF 2073) has now passed both the House and Senate and is awaiting a signature from the Governor. The measure will include a one-time investment of $3 Million for the Next Generation Nursing Assistant (NextGen) training program over the 2024-2025 biennium.

New information released over the last week directs each nursing home and assisted living in conducting a COVID-19 facility assessment to determine whether a broader source control practice is needed. LeadingAge Minnesota has created a sample COVID-19 facility assessment to aid in implementing the new practices.

The Human Services Conference Committee closed the conference report on Wednesday with far-reaching implications for senior care. The report, which will proceed to each legislative chamber for final passage, includes mixed outcomes for aging services providers.

LeadingAge Minnesota is looking for a talented, strategic, customer-focused individual to join our team as Director of Membership. Interested candidates can learn more and apply here.

The SBAR technique provides a framework for communication between members of the healthcare team about a patient’s condition. Gather your nurses, particularly staff nurses and direct care nurses, to watch SBAR Documentation and our previous Nurse Lunch and Learn recordings and work through the exercises together.