News

Identifiers Indicating Vaccination Status

On May 12, 2021 by Kari Everson

The change in guidance allowing for increased flexibility with PPE, visitation, and testing based upon vaccination status prompted questions regarding how to quickly identify the vaccination status of residents, staff, and visitors. Many long-term care organizations discussed using bracelets, different name tags, stickers or other means of readily identifying an individual’s vaccination status.

Executive Order Removes Conflict with CDC and CMS Guidance for Long-Term Care Settings

On May 12, 2021 by Kari Everson

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published updated infection prevention and control recommendations in response to COVID-19 vaccinations, QSO 20-38, and QSO 20-39 at the end of April. Immediately after these guidance documents were posted, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) directed nursing homes to pause before following the staff PPE and dining and activities portions of the recommendations due to potential conflicts with Gov. Walz's executive order.

Summer 2021: DHS to Require Submission of COVID Relief Spending Schedule for Care Centers

On May 12, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

After previously delaying the requirement for care centers to submit COVID-19 Relief spending information while awaiting federal guidance, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has announced that the special COVID Supplemental Schedule for the cost report year ended Sept. 30, 2020 must be submitted this summer.

New CMS Rule Sets COVID Vaccine Requirements for Nursing Facilities

On May 12, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

On May 11, CMS announced an interim final rule establishing new requirements for nursing facilities. The rule requires care centers 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 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

Legal Issues Related to Employee Vaccination, May 12 Webinar

On May 5, 2021 by Heidi Simpson

Can you mandate staff get the COVID-19 vaccine? Can you ask staff if they have been or will get vaccinated? What about offering incentives? Know your risk before you act.

Vaccination Rates Continue to Lag Goal for Long-Term Care Staff

On May 5, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

LeadingAge Minnesota has pulled together recent data on vaccination rates for long-term care staff in Minnesota and the general population in Minnesota and nationwide.

Resilience Tip: Loss, Revisited

On April 28, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

Just when things are looking hopeful on the COVID front, we may find ourselves less than elated. We may have encouragement from lower COVID case counts, hospitalizations and death rates. This is progress. But, sometimes progress and hope improve our outlook and at the same time we are left perhaps more discouraged when losses continue or resurface.

Unemployment Insurance Relief Credited to Providers

On April 28, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is notifying providers that they have applied federal relief to 2020 unemployment insurance charges. Many not-for-profits are “reimbursing” providers under that program, meaning that they do not pay the regular unemployment insurance tax but must cover actual unemployment insurance costs. During the pandemic, those costs spiked due to employees who did not want to take the risk of working during the pandemic.

Providers and MDH Continue Working Toward Vaccination Goal

On April 28, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 58% in all reporting care centers and 49% in all reporting assisted living settings. These numbers both increased 1% from the previous week. To reach the MDH goal of 70% staff vaccination rates, providers will need to continue encouraging vaccinations among staff. MDH is now limiting reporting for providers who are meeting the goal rates for residents and staff, and as of the most recent report, 26% of providers are meeting the goal.

CDC, CMS Publish Updated Guidance for Healthcare IP&C in Response to COVID Vaccinations

On April 28, 2021 by Kari Everson

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated infection prevention and control recommendations in response to COVID-19 vaccinations yesterday. Following closely behind the CDC, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published two revised memos yesterday as well: QSO 20-38 and QSO 20-39. The QSO memos are revised with the recent CDC guidance updates.

Providers and MDH Continue Working Toward Vaccination Goal

On April 21, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 57% in all reporting care centers and 48% in all reporting assisted living settings. These numbers are essentially unchanged from the previous week. To reach the MDH goal of 70% staff vaccination rates, providers will need to continue encouraging vaccinations among staff. MDH is now limiting reporting for providers who are meeting the goal rates for residents and staff, and as of the most recent report, 25% of providers were meeting the goal.

COVID-19 Guidance & Resource Round-Up

On April 21, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) posted an update on April 20 to its Long-term Care Visitation Guidance Flowchart for Outbreak Status tool. MDH first released this resource a few weeks ago as a companion to its updated guidance on indoor visitation. The April update provides additional information to explain how outbreak testing and visitation intersect.

Rising Positivity Rates Means More Testing for Care Centers

On April 21, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

After rising to very high levels in late 2020, positivity rates of COVID-19 tests in Minnesota dropped dramatically in early 2021. In addition to providing a welcome drop in cases in long-term care settings, it also meant a reduced testing burden in care centers where a federal mandate ties surveillance testing frequency to the county positivity rate.

Provider Community & MDH Continue Working Toward Vaccination Goal

On April 14, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 56% in all reporting care centers and 48% in all reporting assisted living settings. These numbers both went up by one percentage point in the last week, which is encouraging. To reach the MDH goal of 70% staff vaccination rates, providers will need to continue encouraging staff vaccinations. MDH is now limiting reporting for providers who are meeting the goal rates for residents and staff, and as of the most recent report, 23% of providers were meeting the goal.

Vaccine Ambassador Training Available

On April 14, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

According to the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, the most effective way to address vaccine hesitancy is through conversations with trusted peers. LeadingAge Minnesota has piloted COVID-19 Vaccine Ambassador training, a new Safe Care for Staff initiative. We have scheduled additional training opportunities on April 30, May 3, and May 6. The training is free and open to all staff.

Reducing Staff Vaccine Hesitancy through Individual Conversations

On April 7, 2021 by Terri Foley

The most effective way to address vaccine hesitancy is through conversations with trusted peers, according to the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. With these findings, LeadingAge Minnesota has developed a set of resources to help leaders improve staff vaccination acceptance through a new Safe Care for Staff initiative.

Resilience Tip: Yourself as Medicine

On April 7, 2021 by LeadingAge

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

In senior care communities, there are a lot of medications passed in the hopes of improving or maintaining the health of residents. What’s often overlooked is all the care that you provide—for residents, colleagues and your own families—is essential medicine, too.

Drive for 75: River Pointe of Moorhead Reaches 75% Staff Vaccination Rate Goal

On April 7, 2021 by Julie Apold

As we work toward the LeadingAge goal of 75% of staff receiving their COVID-19 vaccination by July 1, we will be tracking our progress across the LeadingAge Minnesota membership and will be highlighting organizations that have reached or exceeded the Drive for 75 vaccination goal. 

Provider Community and MDH Continue Working Toward Vaccination Goal

On April 7, 2021 by Jeff Bostic

In the most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update, staff rates for full vaccination were 55% in all reporting care centers and 47% in all reporting assisted living settings. These numbers increased slightly in the last week, which is good to see. To reach the MDH goal of 70% staff vaccination rates, providers will need to continue encouraging vaccinations among staff.

Draft Bill Circulated on Housing COVID-19 Relief

On March 31, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry

Third Round of Applications for HUD COVID Supplemental Payments Expected

The House Committee on Financial Services is circulating a discussion draft of the Supporting Seniors and Tenants in Subsidized Housing Act. The draft bill is a version of 2020’s Emergency Housing Assistance for Older Adults Act introduced in the House (as HR 6873) and Senate (as S 4177). The draft bill is sponsored by Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), the chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance.