News

Vaccination Rates Moving Slowly Toward Goal for LTC Staff

On July 28, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

The most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update on long-term care vaccination shows slow progress toward the goal rates continuing for staff, while resident rates remain outstanding.

Tracking the Status of Key COVID Waivers

On July 28, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

With Minnesota's COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency ending July 1, a question on members' minds is what waivers are still in place and for how long.

CDC Highlights On-Going COVID Risks and Prevention Strategies

On July 28, 2021 by Kari Everson

We have experienced a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases in the spring and early summer compared to the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, during the middle of July, COVID-19 case numbers have spiked, with an approximately 300% increase in cases nationally.

Resilience Tips: From Full Mind to Mindful

On July 21, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

As a senior care employee at any level, we have busy lives and many pressures from different directions that we absorb every day. In leadership, there are pressures to complete your administrative tasks and also support your staff to be compassionate and productive. The number of things on your mind can seem to soar to new levels with each email or conversation.

New CDC Guidance for Adult Day Services

On July 21, 2021 by Roni Falck

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated guidance for Adult Day Services providers focused on masking and vaccination status.

COVID-19 Relief Funds: What Are You Required to Report to DHS?

On July 21, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

The Department of Human Services (DHS) will require care centers to report the use of COVID-19 relief funds by Aug. 2. To help you comply with these new requirements, we are offering a Payment Coaching Room for care centers members.

Effective Date for OSHA COVID-19 Standard Is Drawing Near

On July 21, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry published a notice on July 19 (Page 31) that it has adopted the federal OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19. With this publication, the ETS is now effective in Minnesota and will remain in effect for up to six months. During that period, MN-OSHA invites comments about the standard, and LeadingAge Minnesota will submit a memo to the agency in the weeks ahead.

You’re Invited: ECHO Sessions Revisit COVID-19 Clinical Content

On July 14, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran

The Upper Midwest Nursing Home COVID-19 ECHO Collaborative continues to host ECHO sessions, revisiting clinical topics related to COVID-19 with updated information about virus variants and newer treatment options. Additionally, these sessions address topics on leadership and ways to support residents, staff and families. Participants from skilled facilities and assisted living facilities are invited to join.

LeadingAge National Advocates for Members on CMS Vaccination Rule

On July 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

On behalf of members across the country, the LeadingAge national team has submitted comments to CMS on the recently-issued rule requiring nursing homes to offer COVID-19 vaccine to residents and staff, to educate residents and staff regarding the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine, and to report COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics treatment information to NSHN.

Vaccination Rates for LTC Staff Moving Slowly Toward Goal

On July 14, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

The most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update on long-term care vaccination shows slow progress toward the goal rates continuing for staff, while resident rates remain outstanding.

MDH Confirms Continuation of Nursing Assistant Training and Competency Waiver

On July 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

With the end of Minnesota’s Peacetime Emergency, our team has been closely tracking how the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will manage the transition from various COVID-19 related waivers. Last Friday, we received the welcome news that a Minnesota statute addressing nursing assistant training and competency will continue to be waived, so long as CMS continues to waive the related federal requirement.

Effective Date for OSHA COVID-19 Standard Is Drawing Near for Minnesota Providers

On July 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

As members are aware, federal OSHA issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on June 21 to protect health care and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19.

State Initiates Demobilization of Emergency Support Services

On July 7, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

This week, the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) initiated a plan to demobilize COVID-19 emergency services for long-term care providers over the next several months. Noting significant progress in the fight against the virus, the SEOC has set a timeline for winding down services relating to crisis staffing support, personal protective equipment (PPE), testing/swabbing services, and vaccination administration support. 

Private Room Waiver Ending

On July 7, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

With the conclusion of the state peacetime emergency agreed to by lawmakers last week, one of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) policies that ends with it is a waiver of specific requirements around single rooms. Because of the frequency of quarantining of residents during the pandemic, DHS released a memo in November of 2020 that waived two policies around single rooms for quarantine situations:

Resilience Tips: Post-Traumatic Growth

On July 7, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

Undoubtedly, everyone has been impacted by COVID-19. For those of us in senior care facilities, the likelihood that we've experienced trauma is high—the pandemic provided "collective" traumatic experiences.

What Waivers Are Still in Place Now that the Peacetime Emergency is Over?

On July 7, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

With Minnesota's COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency ending July 1, a question on members' minds is what waivers are still in place and for how long. We do not have a lot of detail yet, but here is a summary of what we currently know.

Vaccination Rates Moving Slowly Toward Goal for Long-Term Care Staff

On June 30, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

The most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update on long-term care vaccination shows slow progress toward the goal rates continuing for staff, while resident rates remain outstanding.

Peacetime Emergency to End July 1

On June 30, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

After nearly 16 months, the State’s Peacetime Emergency will end on July 1. A deal was struck between legislative leaders to end emergency powers in exchange for several stipulations related to food benefits, state COVID-19 staffing, and vaccination efforts. Just last week, Gov. Walz announced at a press conference that he intended to end the emergency peacetime declaration on Aug. 1, but this end-of-session bargaining moved up the timeline.

CMS Extends Flexibility on Emergency Preparedness Exercises

On June 23, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

CMS has extended a regulatory flexibility relating to emergency preparedness exercises.

Under CMS regulations, nursing facilities are required to conduct two emergency preparedness testing exercises annually – with exercises alternating between full-scale functional exercises and exercises of choice (mock drill, table-top exercise, workshop).

OSHA Issues Temporary Emergency Standard for Healthcare Settings

On June 16, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on June 10 issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare workers from contracting coronavirus.