News

Long term care providers in Minnesota have a lot on their plates. As much as you may want to build your workforce pipeline by starting a Nursing Assistant Training Program, it may feel like more work than you can handle. 

With less than 2 weeks to go in the legislative session, much work remains to be done. LeadingAge MN and its members are in the trenches advocating for our priorities and leaving no stone unturned as we push to the finish line. Here is a quick update on where things stand: 

Safe Care for Seniors is a movement that we will bolster through the support of all who live and work in in our communities, and those who help guide our work. One key group to engage is your Board of Directors. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has posted to its website Information Bulletin 19-02: Update: MDH Nursing Home Facility Reporting Related to Federal Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation, or Mistreatment; and Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act.  

The Legislature returned from its spring recess and picked up the pace on passing its major finance bills, including the Health and Human Services budget. 

The final Safe Care for Seniors workshop has been scheduled. It will take place Monday, May 13 at LeadingAge Minnesota in Saint Paul. See the Workshop Conference Brochure and Register Today!   

As we reported previously in Advantage, the Nursing Home Compare Five Star Rating system has implemented some significant updates effective today (April 24) that could reduce scores for many providers. We have prepared an Issue Paper to help members understand how these scoring changes work as well as provide suggested talking points for use with external stakeholders.  

Our recent Housing with Services (HWS) legislative survey shows mixed results on the key workforce indicators we track annually. While employee vacancy rates declined for all HWS staff, employee turnover rose dramatically for home care aides. 

The House is scheduled to vote on the Health and Human Services Finance Bill (HF 2414) on Wednesday, April 24. This bill would have a serious and potentially devastating impact on senior care. It’s time to have one more conversation with your lawmaker – and the best time to do that is at the State Capitol on the day of the vote. 

When lawmakers return to the State Capitol next week, they will be taking an important vote on issues that matter most to you, your staff and the people you serve. At a time when the State has a $1 billion surplus, our aging population is growing, and we face severe workforce shortages, the House Health and Human Services (HHS) Finance Bill cuts care center funding and fails to invest in housing and supportive services for seniors. We need your help in sharing the devasting impact this bill would have on the people you serve and the dedicated staff who provide them with care and support.  

The Legislature is on its annual spring break this week, so we thought this would be a good time to update you with where things stand. There are several key issues at stake, with differing approaches taken in the House and the Senate. Now is a critical time for all lawmakers to hear from providers, caregivers, trustees and seniors about the concerns we may have with various proosals. Here is a summary of the key issues:  

House File 2414, the House’s Omnibus Health and Human Services Bill, contains several sections that would have a serious and potentially devastating impact on senior care. The bill cuts nursing home funding, over-regulates assisted living, expands swing beds and fails to invest in Elderly Waiver.  

The two Minnesota Senate Committees that have oversight over the Health and Human Services (HHS) budgets unveiled their omnibus budget bills this week. We were very pleased that the Senate bills do not include the Governor's proposals to cut nursing home funding or create a new, but seriously flawed, property rate system for nursing homes.  

As noted in an earlier Advantage story, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced key changes to the Five-Star quality rating system and Nursing Home Compare effective April 24. The changes include:  

Registration is now open for the fourth Safe Care for Seniors regional workshop that will take place in Owatonna on May 9. You may also register for the workshops in Duluth on May 1 and Redwood Falls on May 7. The Detroit Lakes workshop on May 2 is full. 

The Minnesota House Health and Human Services (HHS) Finance Division yesterday unveiled its nearly 1,000-page budget bill, and it doesn’t contain a lot of good news for senior care providers. LeadingAge Minnesota and the Long-Term Care Imperative oppose this bill and are asking members to join us in turning up the volume on the devastating impact it could have on the growing number of seniors you serve and those who provide them with care. 

President Trump last week issued a memorandum extending Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) protections for Liberians living in the United States through March 30, 2020. It was set to expire on March 31. 

It has been another busy week at the State Capitol as the House and Senate push to meet its second policy deadline on Friday. Committees are working day and night to squeeze bills into hearing agendas to keep certain pieces of legislation alive. Governor Walz released his supplemental budget recommendations and is prepping for his first State of the State address on April 3. And we are deep in the trenches advocating and testifying – in favor and in opposition – on bills that have a direct impact on our field and the people we serve. 

Three new regional workshops have been scheduled to help you take the next step in your Safe Care for Seniors action plan. The workshops will take place May 1 in Duluth, May 2 in Detroit Lakes and May 7 in Redwood Falls. And get ready District F: we are working on a fourth workshop that will take place in Owatonna in early May. See the Workshop Conference Brochure and Register Today!  

Recent national media attention on care center closures in rural areas of the U.S. hit close to home, as six care centers have closed in Minnesota since 2017. The Governor’s proposed cuts to Value-Based Reimbursement could further contribute to this unfortunate trend. Gayle Kvenvold, President & CEO, LeadingAge Minnesota was recently interviewed by Minnesota Public Radio on care center closures and the impact it has on residents, families and the community at large.