News

MDH Discusses Revised CDC Guidance: Return to Work, Expanded Staffing Strategies

On December 30, 2021 by Kari Everson

On the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) long-term care call this week, the Department discussed the updated CDC guidance released on Dec. 23. It appears the CDC guidance will be adopted for our settings. MDH reported it is the intention of CMS to revise the current memos to be in alignment with this guidance. The publication timeline for updated CMS memo(s) is unknown.

CMS Announces Plans to Enforce Staff Vaccination Mandate in Minnesota and Other States

On December 30, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

CMS announced on Dec. 28 that it will begin enforcing its Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination mandate for facilities located in all states where the rule is not currently blocked by a legal injunction, including Minnesota.

Update on Status and Implementation of CMS and OSHA Vaccine Mandates

On December 23, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Our team is keeping a close watch for news about the CMS staff vaccination mandate and the OSHA vaccine-or-test emergency temporary standard. Here is the latest information about the status and enforcement of these two requirements.

Court Green Lights CMS Vaccination Mandate in 26 States, Next Steps Unclear

On December 16, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Following an order yesterday by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the CMS staff vaccination mandate is no longer subject to an injunction in Minnesota and 25 other states. CMS has not yet issued a statement in response to this development.

Litigation Update: Status of Lawsuits Challenging Federal Vaccination Mandates

On December 9, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Aging services providers across the country are closely following the status of the federal staff vaccination mandates as legal challenges work their way through the courts. 

ICYMI: Nationwide Injunction on CMS Mandate

On December 2, 2021 by Kari Thurlow

On Tuesday of this week, a federal judge in Louisiana has granted a nationwide preliminary injunction against the COVID-19 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate following a lawsuit filed by Montana and 13 other states.

CMS Issues Blanket Waiver for Nursing Home Food and Nutrition Services Director

On December 2, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

CMS has updated its COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers list to address requirements for a nursing home's Director of Food and Nutrition Services.

CMS Announces 2022 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles

On November 18, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have released the 2022 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs.

Updates on CMS and OSHA Vaccine Mandates

On November 18, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

As providers continue preparing to implement staff vaccination mandates, here are the latest available situational updates:

CMS Omnibus COVID–19 Health Care Staff Vaccination Rule

CMS has clarified that the Phase 1 implementation deadline is Dec. 6, not Dec. 5.

Vaccine FAQs Revisited: Which Vaccine Rules Applies to Your Setting?

On November 11, 2021 by Kari Everson

Alongside our members, LeadingAge Minnesota is working to answer questions regarding both the OSHA and CMS Vaccine and Testing Emergency Temporary Standards. We have shared answers each day as quickly as possible, but we would like to summarize some of the frequently asked questions we are getting from members across the state.

CMS Vaccination Rule Challenged by 10-State Coalition

On November 11, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The Associated Press has reported that a coalition of 10 states sued the federal government on Nov. 10 to block the CMS COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care workers. The CMS rule remains in full effect, and the filing of this suit has no impact unless and until the court issues a ruling. We will follow this breaking story closely, but long-term care providers should continue working to implement the CMS vaccine rules.

MDH, DHS, CMS Clarify, Add Detail to Vaccination Rules

On November 11, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

State and federal regulators have added clarifying information to the conversation about how vaccine rules will be implemented and enforced in long-term care settings.

CMS Issues Omnibus COVID-19 Vaccination Rule

On November 4, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released the long-awaited rule requiring COVID-19 vaccination of staff working in a wide-range of Medicare and Medicaid-certified provider types.

Understanding the CMS 5-Star Report; Nov.18 Webinar Free to Members

On November 4, 2021 by Heidi Simpson

LeadingAge Minnesota nursing home members interested in utilizing the CMS Five Star Report to improve the quality of their services and their ratings will want to attend a free webinar on Thursday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. – noon.

Free Nov. 18 Webinar Helps Providers Utilize the CMS 5-Star Report

On October 28, 2021 by Heidi Simpson

Are you using the CMS 5-Star Report to your best advantage? Receiving a better-than-average 5-star rating has never been more important to nursing homes. These ratings are increasingly used by consumers, regulators, insurers, and other payers and provider networks to select which facilities they will consider having relationships with.

Understand the CMS 5-Star Report – Free Webinar on Nov. 18

On October 21, 2021 by Heidi Simpson

Receiving a better-than-average 5-star rating has never been more important to nursing homes. Consumers, regulators, insurers, and other payers and provider networks increasingly use these ratings to determine which providers they will have relationships with.

CMS Extends Waiver Window for Facilities Using Fire Safety Evaluation System

On October 21, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

CMS has opened a pressure-relief valve for nursing facilities that rely upon the Fire Safety Evaluation System (FSES) as an alternative means to demonstrate compliance with fire safety requirements of NFPA 101®: Life Safety Code® (LSC).  This issue affects only a small number of nursing facilities in Minnesota, but we want to make sure those who may be impacted have the latest information.

Top Cited Deficiencies from Nursing Home Recertification Surveys

On October 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The information available from the CMS Quality, Certification and Oversight Reports (QCOR) database shows that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) completed 100 nursing facility recertification surveys during the federal fiscal year ending Sept. 30. There is some lag time in survey data entry, so the year-end total is likely slightly higher. Here's a sampling of the data:

CMS Updates Nursing Home Testing Guidance

On September 15, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

On Sept. 10, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated QSO-20-38-NH concerning nursing home testing to align with recently updated recommendations from the CDC.

Many Questions Remain about CMS and OSHA Vaccine Mandates

On September 15, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

As part of a broad COVID-19 Action Plan released late last week, President Biden announced new vaccine mandates for workers across the country. The plan addresses several topics relevant to aging services, including preparation for the delivery of booster shots if approved and recommended by the FDA and CDC, and efforts to build the supply of rapid COVID tests, but the most prominent aspects of the White House plan relate to mandates.