News

State and Federal Agency Updates

On January 30, 2025 by Sharon Hollister

Don’t miss state and agency updates at the 2025 Institute & Expo. We have 29 education sessions and Solutions Stage presentations over the in-person and virtual Institute components to help keep you in compliance with current rules and regulations.

Discharges and Terminations Workshop – Feb. 11

On January 30, 2025 by Sharon Hollister

On Tuesday, February 11 from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., aging services professionals will gather for Saying Goodbye Is So Hard: Navigating SNF and AL Discharges and Terminations, a pre-conference intensive workshop dedicated to a challenging aspect of long-term care—managing discharges, terminations, and transfers.

Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness Workshop – Feb. 11

On January 23, 2025 by Sharon Hollister

Assisted Living Housing Directors, Regional Directors, Maintenance Directors, and team members in  Quality and Operations are invited to join us Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. for our Pre-Conference Intensive session QAPI Approach to Life Safety and Emergency Preparedness in Assisted Living.

Be Prepared: Free In-Person Health Care Continuity of Operations Plan Technical Assistance

On January 23, 2025 by Mark Schulz

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has contracted with All Clear Emergency Management to offer free in-person technical assistance for implementing continuity of operations planning.

FREE In-Person Health Care Continuity of Operations Plan Technical Assistance

On January 16, 2025 by Mark Schulz

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has contracted with All Clear Emergency Management to offer free in-person technical assistance for implementing continuity of operations planning.

Assisted Living Survey Readiness: Check Your Postings

On March 14, 2024 by Bobbie Guidry

The assisted living statute (144G) mandates several postings. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has provided a tool on its website, used by surveyors to assess compliance with these posting requirements.

MDH Releases Revised LTC Emergency Preparedness Toolkit

On March 2, 2023 by Mark Schulz

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released a revised long-term care (LTC) emergency preparedness toolkit on Monday.  At the height of the pandemic, this toolkit was used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as an example highlighting the collaborative work between providers, regulators, emergency preparedness experts, etc. to better prepare all long-term care settings for potential emergencies.

New Survey Data: Top Cited Deficiencies from Nursing Home Recertification Surveys

On August 4, 2022 by Jonathan Lips

The information available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Quality, Certification and Oversight Reports (QCOR) database shows that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has completed 127 nursing facility recertification surveys during the federal fiscal year-to-date. There is some lag time in survey data entry, so the actual current total of surveys conducted is somewhat higher. Here's a sampling of the data:

MDH Reviews Emergency Preparedness Expectations for Assisted Living Facilities: Appendix Z

On April 7, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry

In a series of weekly webinars over the past several weeks, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) provided detailed information about emergency preparedness expectations for assisted living settings and what to anticipate when surveyed. You can review the five emergency preparedness presentations on the MDH website.

Hazard Vulnerability Assessment required for Assisted Living Emergency Preparedness Planning

On October 7, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry

Assisted living facilities should base their emergency plan on documented facility-based and community-based risk assessments using an all-hazards approach, including addressing a scenario involving missing residents.

Now Available - Emergency Preparedness in Assisted Living Recorded Webinar

On August 11, 2021 by Heidi Simpson

A recording of the July 22 webinar, Emergency Preparedness in Assisted Living, is available for purchase to help your assisted living organization comply with new, extensive requirements for disaster planning and emergency preparedness, which incorporate federal preparedness standards. This is an area of scrutiny in assisted living surveys, and recent mock surveys identified substantial gaps in providers' readiness.

Order your copy here.

Emergency Preparedness in Assisted Living (July 22 Webinar)

On July 14, 2021 by Heidi Simpson

Get a detailed overview of the new requirements for disaster planning and emergency preparedness as part of Minnesota's Assisted Living Licensure, which takes effect on Aug.

Emergency Preparedness for Assisted Living Webinar is July 22

On June 30, 2021 by Heidi Simpson

The new assisted living licensure rules include extensive requirements for disaster planning and emergency preparedness. The Minnesota Department of Health rule incorporates federal preparedness standards that take effect on Aug. 1.

Emergency Preparedness Standards for Assisted Living

On June 30, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Our team has created a new resource to support assisted living facilities with understanding and implementing the emergency preparedness requirements contained in the so-called "Appendix Z."

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).

Expanded Emergency Preparedness Guidelines for Long-Term Care Facilities

On April 28, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

As we reported earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued memorandum QSO-21-15-ALL providing updated guidance (Appendix Z) for all providers covered by the federal Emergency Preparedness requirements.

CMS Expands Emergency Preparedness Interpretive Guidelines

On April 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued memorandum QSO-21-15-ALL providing updated guidance (Appendix Z) for all providers covered by the federal Emergency Preparedness requirements. CMS is currently working on updates to the Emergency Preparedness Basic Surveyor Training Course to reflect the new changes.

LeadingAge Obtains CMS Clarification on Emergency Preparedness Exercises

On February 24, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Under CMS emergency preparedness 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). 

CMS Memo Addresses Emergency Preparedness Exercises

On October 7, 2020 by Jonathan Lips

Under CMS emergency preparedness regulations, nursing facilities are required to conduct two emergency preparedness testing exercises annually.

Alzheimer’s Association Offers Project ECHO Series on Emergency Preparedness

On May 12, 2020 by Lori Meyer

In response to COVID-19, the Alzheimer’s Association has developed a special topic Project ECHO series based on their guidance Emergency Preparedness: Caring for persons living with dementia in a long-term or community-based care setting.