News

This week the Board of Executives for Long-term Services and Supports (BELTSS) issued a notice to licensees that license renewal begins Sept. 1 and will conclude Oct. 31, 2024. To renew, the licensee must have earned 30 Continuing Education Credits between Sept.1, 2022 and Aug. 31, 2024, if originally licensed on or before Oct. 2022.

As Minnesota grapples with serious weather events throughout the state, LeadingAge Minnesota wanted to refresh a list of resources and steps we are taking to support members who may be impacted.

LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to present the 2024 Minnesota Session Legislative Report. This comprehensive document outlines the key laws affecting aging services and the seniors in your care, detailing their impact, effective dates, and recommended actions for your organization.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released QSO-24-13-NH providing guidance for nursing homes regarding the long-term care facility assessment requirements. LeadingAge Minnesota adapted the facility assessment from Quality Improvement Organizations to include the new requirements in a template for members. Access the Facility Assessment Tool here.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has made public its anonymous survey process feedback results to date. After its initial launch in summer 2023, an unexpected software issue impacted the collection process resulting in a short delay of collection efforts. After its relaunch in October, the results of the anonymous feedback tool are now available.

On May 30, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Medline announced a recall of two adult portable bed assist bar models.

Yesterday, LeadingAge Minnesota, in partnership with Ebenezer Ridges Campus, hosted a special event to welcome Honorable Principal Secretary of Kenya Diaspora Affairs, Ms. Roseline K. Njogu, and representatives from the Kenya State Department for Diaspora Affairs.

Advancing the aggressive, multi-faceted strategy announced May 22, president and CEO Katie Smith Sloan on May 24 told members that LeadingAge intends to join the American Health Care Association lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Long-term care providers can get matched to job seekers on CaringCareersStartHere.com – a resource dedicated to helping Minnesotans make a meaningful move into careers in aging services.

As you know, here in Washington D.C., and in collaboration with our state partners nationwide, we have for months urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to get long-term care workforce issues right.

The end of the 2024 legislative session came to a chaotic close as both chambers devolved into disorder shortly before midnight on Sunday evening.

Last night, the members of the Minnesota legislature adopted the Human Services Finance Omnibus Conference Committee Report, Senate File 5335. While the final report includes support for a handful of Nursing Homes in Minnesota, it takes major steps backwards in our shared goal of improving access to care for seniors in Minnesota and paying our caregivers a livable wage.

This year’s legislative session is quickly coming to an end, with a constitutional deadline on Monday, May 20th.

Representatives Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) and Greg Pence (R-IN) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to overturn the final minimum staffing rule. The resolution was introduced May 10, the same day the final rule was published in the Federal Register.

Legislative Action

On Monday evening, the House debated the Human Services Finance Omnibus Bill, HF5280.  The House position includes Long-Term Care Imperative priorities to allow LPNs in assisted living settings to work to the top of their scope and codifies implementation steps for Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

The Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board today adopted two proposed rules. One requires that starting in calendar year 2025 nursing homes to have 11 holidays where time and a half is paid. Seven of those must be official state holidays, and the other four can be other days if agreed to by a majority of employees.

Has your organization added your employer profile to CaringCareersStartHere.com, the newest resource to recruit Minnesota job seekers into senior care?

A new resource is available to LeadingAge Minnesota members that allows nursing home providers to calculate the financial impact of the staffing mandate from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

LeadingAge Minnesota and our Imperative partner will soon launch a new resource aimed at promoting careers in aging services to job seekers in Minnesota. Organizations are invited to register and update their profile on this new site.

Sam Orbovich, an attorney with Fredrickson & Byron, and a long-time Business Partner of LeadingAge Minnesota, survived a traumatic accident thanks to the acts of several heroic individuals.