News

Resilience Tips: Give to Get Resilience

On June 16, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

Do you know some of the quickest ways to get resilience have to do with giving a tiny bit yourself? Research shows that gratitude and acts of kindness not only impact others positively, but they give you a boost of goodness, sometimes for months. Goodness here means energy, reduced stress, improved overall well-being, including physical and mental health!

Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Guidance Released

On June 16, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

Late Friday, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) put out long-awaited guidance with specific timelines for reporting on the use of PRF dollars received by providers. The guidance addresses both how long providers have to use funds and when the use of the funds must be reported. The first reporting period opens on July 1 and must be completed by Sept. 30 and covers funds received before June 30, 2020. Those funds must be used by June 30 of this year, but funds received later have future deadlines for use.

Bipartisan Agreement Reached to Phase Out Eviction Moratorium

On June 16, 2021 by Kari Thurlow

Minnesota legislators announced on Monday an agreement to end Gov. Tim Walz's eviction moratorium over the next three-and-a-half months. The eviction moratorium has been in place since March 2020, when the governor used executive powers to ban evictions except in extreme circumstances. The agreement still needs to be approved by legislators, but the vote could occur later this week. The bipartisan deal creates a phased eviction moratorium off-ramp, with some protections lasting into June 2022. Governor Walz has said he will rescind the moratorium once a legislative solution is passed.

Learning Opportunity on Use of Monoclonal Antibody Therapies for COVID-19

On June 9, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

LeadingAge, AHCA, and AMDA are jointly collaborating with the federal COVID response team to hold a live event, “Update on the Use of Monoclonal Antibody (mAB) Therapies for COVID-19: A Review of New Treatments and At-Risk Populations.” The event is set for June 15 at 2 p.m. CDT.

Steps to Allow Singing and Wind Instrument Musicians in Long-term Care

On June 9, 2021 by Kari Everson

According to recent guidance, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) allows music activities and performance in long-term care settings and recommends several steps to ensure the safety of residents, staff and performers.

CMS Enforcement of Vaccination Reporting Begins June 14

On June 9, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Beginning Monday, June 14, CMS will issue citations and mandatory fines to nursing homes that have not submitted the required vaccination-related data to CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network.

Last Two Sessions for COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador Training

On June 2, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

Monday, June 7 and Thursday, June 10 are the final sessions scheduled for our COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador training. The training is free. If you’re interested in signing up, please email Jenna Kellerman to register by June 4.

Resilience Tip: Embracing Burnout and Bouncing Back

On June 2, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

We've talked about resilience as "bouncing back" from hardship for many months now. But what does it mean to try bouncing back when actual burnout has set in? How about keeping up with leadership and management roles when you feel less able to keep organized and optimistic as we try to move forward?

Vaccination Rates Remaining Short of Goal for Long-Term Care Staff

On June 2, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

LeadingAge Minnesota has pulled together recent data on vaccination rates, both for long-term care staff in Minnesota and the general population in Minnesota. While progress is continuing in the general population, the pace of improvement in long-term care has slowed recently.

EEOC Updates Guidance Regarding Vaccines

On June 2, 2021 by Kari Thurlow

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 guidance regarding employers and COVID-19 vaccines. The expanded guidance provides new information about how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) apply when an employer offers incentives for employees to confirm vaccination when an employee gets a vaccine in the community or from the employer or its agent. The critical updates to the guidance are as follows:

Join the ECHO Collaborative

On May 26, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran

The Upper Midwest Nursing Home COVID-19 ECHO Collaborative invites you to join the ECHO community.

Drop into one of our Minnesota Training Center weekly 60-minute real-time interactive sessions. Prior participation is not required. Sessions are open to participants from both skilled nursing and assisted living.

Vaccination Rates Moving Closer to Goal for Long-Term Care Staff

On May 26, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

LeadingAge Minnesota has pulled together recent data on vaccination rates, both for long-term care staff in Minnesota as well as the general population in Minnesota.

Lifting of Restrictions at Adult Day Centers

On May 26, 2021 by Roni Falck

Effective May 28, 2021, DHS is lifting all COVID-19 restrictions issued by DHS for operating adult day centers. 

FAQ: Can I Correct NHSN Data Once It Is Submitted?

On May 19, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

With CMS announcing that it will make public vaccination rate data submitted by nursing homes to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network, it reminds us of the need for providers to ensure accurate data reporting.

Resilience Tip: One Thing at a Time

On May 19, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

By now, you’ve probably been bombarded with one stress after another. And then you hear one way to handle it after another. Resilience isn’t about doing anything perfectly or all at once.

Last Chance for Free COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador Training

On May 19, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

LeadingAge Minnesota will offer the final sessions of our COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador training on Monday, June 7 and Thursday, June 10. The training is free. If you're interested in signing up, please email Jenna Kellerman to register by June 2.

Governor’s Order Rescinds Flexibility for Out-of-State Healthcare Professionals

On May 19, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Governor Tim Walz has acted to roll back temporary workforce flexibility relating to out-of-state licensed healthcare professionals.

In April 2020, Gov. Walz issued Executive Order 20-46, which authorized out-of-state healthcare professionals who hold an active license in good standing issued by another state to provide healthcare service in Minnesota during the COVID-19 peacetime emergency. This policy applied to individuals who would otherwise be required to obtain a license to practice here from the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice or the Minnesota Board of Nursing, including LPNs, RNs, and APRNs.

HUD Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership Webinars

On May 12, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry

Last week’s HUD and HHS announced a joint effort to increase vaccine access at HUD-assisted communities. Yesterday, the Department announced it is hosting COVID-19 webinars focusing on housing and health partnerships, the COVID-19 vaccine, and community health workers.

Resilience Tip: Bouncing Back to Purpose

On May 12, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

You've been trudging along throughout the pandemic. Months of serving others and trying to preserve yourself can leave you feeling little purpose outside of keeping on going. Even though we can generally find our professional and personal roles rewarding, at this time, we might question how helpful we are or how much we can enjoy from day to day. 

MDH Reports Vaccination Rates Continue to Rise in LTC Settings

On May 12, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 60% in all reporting care centers and 53% in all reporting assisted living settings. MDH and providers continue to work toward a goal of 70% staff vaccination rates. MDH is now limiting reporting for providers who are meeting the goal rates for residents and staff, and as of the most recent report, 31% of providers are meeting the goal.