News

It’s happening in less than 60 days. The new Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) goes into effect on Oct. 1. Are you prepared for this major change in how you document and are reimbursed for care?  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has issued Information Bulletin 19-03 informing the public about the home care and assisted living protections strengthened by the Minnesota Legislature as part of the Elder Care and Vulnernable Adult Protection Act of 2019. 

Recognition is the greatest motivator! We are launching a Recognition Challenge as part of our Safe Care for Seniors program. Between now and Sept. 15, we challenge you to nominate individuals and/or staff teams in your setting for a Make Zero Harm Possible award. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) earlier this week released the final Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Payment Rule, which is the last step before implementation of the new Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) that will take effect on Oct. 1. In addition to transitioning to the new case mix system, the Oct. 1 rates also include an inflation update of 2.4%. The rule makes few changes from the proposed rule that come out earlier this year, but it does finalize a definition of group therapy that allows up to six clients to be part of a treatment group as well as updating some requirements around ICD-10 coding that is a major driver of rates under PDPM.  

Nominations are now open for two elected Director-at-Large positions on the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee is also accepting nominations for Lifetime Honorary Memberships. 

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule on arbitration agreements that nursing facilities must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

The Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) has developed a Rules Development Team, which held its first meeting last week, to facilitate rulemaking for the licensure of Assisted Living Directors. 

Several elements of the new Elder Care and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act of 2019 take effect on Aug. 1, including retaliation protections, new fines, a maltreatment compensation fund, revisions to the Home Care Bill of Rights and the new Health Services Executive license. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has not released guidance on many of these provisions at this time.  

Nominations are now open for two elected Director-at-Large positions on the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee is also accepting nominations for Lifetime Honorary Memberships. 

As we reported last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a proposed rule that would lighten some regulatory burdens for nursing facilities and delay implementation of certain Phase 3 requirements. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a proposed rule that would lighten some regulatory burdens for nursing facilities and delay implementation of certain Phase 3 requirements. 

Nearly 450 LeadingAge Minnesota member sites have taken the Safe Care for Seniors Pledge and committed to the 5-Step Action Plan! Don’t be left behind. Register today for the Aug. 5 Safe Care for Seniors Workshop and take your first step on a safety and quality journey that will benefit all who live and work in your setting. 

Senator and presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) last week announced A Plan for Seniors, a comprehensive plan that tackles Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, enhances health care and retirement security, reduces prescription drug prices, supports a world-class long-term care workforce, and combats senior fraud and abuse.  

Nominations are now open for two elected Director-at-Large positions on the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors. The terms begin on Jan. 1, 2020 and run for three years with eligibility for re-election to a second, three-year term.  

Did you take the Safe Care for Seniors pledge and find yourself asking “now what?” Get that answer and more at our final in-person Safe Care for Seniors workshop on Monday, Aug. 5 in Saint Paul. Register Today!   

The deadline for the annual salary survey, which is a joint project of LeadingAge Minnesota, Care Providers of Minnesota, and the Healthcare Human Resources Association of Minnesota, has been extended until the end of July for those members who have not returned it yet. 

Despite a continued trend of improved financial performance in care centers that started in 2016, new data from the Nursing Facility Financial Indicators survey makes clear that providers continue to face significant financial challenges.   

Stay Interviews are a great way to connect with staff. These structured conversations can help leaders touch base with new staff to ensure the onboarding process is a positive experience and also be used with long-standing staff to find out what your organization does well. What keeps loyal staff coming back each day?  

LeadingAge national has launched new tools to enhance and expand our aging advocate network.   

Over the past eight months, a diverse group of stakeholders from across the state have created a pathway of drug diversion prevention safety interventions based on learnings from drug diversion cases reported to the State and review of current research and practices. The result of this collaborative process will be unveiled at our Drug Diversion Prevention Seminar on Aug. 13 in Saint Paul.