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Earlier this week, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) hire a consultant who will review the RUGS-IV case mix system used in the state's Value-Based Reimbursement (VBR) care center payment system under Medicaid.

On Oct. 26, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO 23-02-ALL, replacing QSO 22-07-ALL and QSO 22-11-ALL. The new version revises guidance for staff vaccination requirements and includes multiple attachments for each provider type. Nursing homes should continue to refer to Attachment A.

Most care centers will receive an official rate notice for 2023 in January, according to a Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) announcement.

On Friday, Oct. 21, CMS announced new actions "to significantly strengthen accountability for nursing homes in the Special Focus Facilities (SFF) Program." According to the White House press release, the "SFF Program already provides more frequent inspections of these nursing homes, but more action is needed to ensure these nursing homes improve."

New, research-informed communication strategies and recruitment tools are available for LeadingAge members to support their workforce efforts.

September was National Workforce Development Month. To celebrate LeadingAge Minnesota and our national partners at LeadingAge released several resources for members to support and grow their workforce.

Minnesota Critical Infrastructure Providers, including those in health care and some long-term care, will be asked to complete new cybersecurity requirements, according to a state executive order.

According to a new report by Clifton Larson Allen (CLA), the total cost per patient day from 2019 to 2021 has increased by 28% or $73 per day. For comparison, the per-patient costs increased by just 3% between 2018 and 2019. Rising prices are significantly impacting margins, regardless of the operator's market.

As the new year approaches, we invite you to participate in LeadingAge Minnesota committees in 2023. We are tackling your challenges on numerous fronts, and we need you to help shape the critical work ahead.

Researchers from Brown University School of Public Health found a positive correlation between states with supportive third-party service regulations and the likelihood of assisted living residents dying in place.

On Sept. 6, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking. The rule will change the standard for when two employers who do business together are considered joint employers and are, thus, liable for one another's unfair labor practices under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

Today, the Department of Labor (DOL) will issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to help employers and workers determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The department believes the new rule will preserve essential worker rights and provide consistency for regulated entities.

Starting on Oct. 6, the definition of electronic health information (EHI) in the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) expanded to include electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) that a patient has the right to access under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Healthcare providers must provide patients, residents, and clients easy access to a wider swath of EHI under the Cures Act or face potential penalties.

Minnesota's nurse aides hired or who worked during the 1135 waiver now have until April 5, 2023, or the end of the public health emergency (PHE), whichever is sooner, to be placed on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry.

The policy enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic waiving the requirement for a 3-day prior hospitalization for coverage of a SNF stay remains in effect.

This week, LeadingAge Minnesota releases its 2022 Election Guide in advance of the 2022 General Election on Nov. 8. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released several changes to COVID-19 guidance over the past two weeks. Members have several questions about the nursing home vaccine mandate, source control and eye protection use, antigen testing of asymptomatic individuals, and resident screening.

The nation's highest court has declined to weigh in on a case involving nursing homes and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) arbitration rule that nursing home industry groups argue places "burdensome" requirements on facilities. In other words, the Eighth US Circuit Court of Appeals' October 2021 decision will remain intact.

As of Oct. 3, nurse aide candidates have a maximum of two hours to complete the knowledge test and have up to four chances to pass the knowledge test. We have answers to several frequently asked questions about the nurse aide test.

A section on Assisted Living Contracts was recently added to the FAQ section of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Assisted Living webpage. Included are responses to questions on liability waivers, renter's insurance, and arbitration provisions posed by providers.

The assisted living statutes (144G.52) define an emergency relocation and state that an assisted living facility "may remove a resident from the facility in an emergency if necessary due to a resident's urgent medical needs or an imminent risk the resident poses to the health or safety of another facility resident or facility staff member."

Pandemic frontline workers will begin to see $487.45 in one-time bonuses from the State of Minnesota this week. Applicants who chose direct deposit of their payment should see it in their accounts in seven to ten days. People who choose to be mailed a prepaid debit card should receive them in three to four weeks.

On Sept. 23, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updates to multiple COVID-19 infection prevention and control practices. One of the areas that required further clarification was screening practices for residents, staff, and visitors. On yesterday's call, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) clarified these practices for providers.

September is National Workforce Development Month and to celebrate a new member resource,  A Guide to Effective Individual Development Plans, is now available.

Federal requirements to be a qualified long-term care facility director of food and nutrition services are changing Saturday (Oct. 1) to ease training and staffing obstacles while keeping standards high, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

An announcement from MDH of a new assisted living license requirement has caused some confusion among providers who have just completed their first AL license renewal. The new provision applies to AL licenses renewed beginning August 1, 2022 and requires evidence showing that at least one resident was served during the previous licensing period to the renewal process.

DHS announced in August that they had opened the selection process for all care centers in the Medical Assistance program to select a new goal to work on for another round of the Quality Improvement Incentive Payment Program (QIIP). Each year, based on their progress toward the goal they select, care centers receive a rate increase of $0 to $3.50 per resident day for QIIP. 

The revalidation process has begun for providers enrolled with DHS as a Home and Community Based Service (HCBS) provider which includes waiver services for Adult Day Services, Assisted Living (Customized Living), as well as Home Health Agencies.

Late on Sept. 23, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated COVID-19 guidance for nursing homes and assisted living. The updated guidance reflects the increased prevalence of vaccine-acquired and disease-acquired immunity. The updated information includes:

Ecumen, a LeadingAge Minnesota member organization and one of the country’s leading nonprofit providers of housing and services for older adults, announced that Scott Bjerketvedt has been promoted to senior vice president, chief financial officer.