Feb. 15, 2024
Featured News
Minnesota Lawmakers Gavel-in the 2024 Legislative Session
On February 15, 2024 by Erin Huppert
The Minnesota Legislature convened this week on Monday, Feb. 12. Legislators are expected to be focused on policy proposals and capital investment – also known as the bonding bill.
Appetite for investments depends on the February Forecast
Interest in and size of a supplemental budget bill will be on hold until the February Forecast is released later this month. As shared previously, the last economic forecast for the state had signaled a $1.2 billion surplus for the remainder of this biennium but a significant structural deficit in the next biennium. If that deficit prediction holds, lawmakers will be very reluctant to spend down this year’s surplus.
Quick start for unfinished 2023 business
Two bills are off to a quick start and are intended to fix legislation passed last year. One is a tax bill to correct errors made in the 2023 Omnibus Tax Bill; the other addresses the controversy over changes to school resource officer policies made last session. These “fix it” bills are consistent with legislators’ pre-session desire to run a limited agenda during a short session.
Our priorities in 2024
The LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors has approved a policy agenda for 2024 aimed at:
- Expanding and accelerating workforce pipelines to aging services careers
- Addressing financial payment problems like the 21-month delay for care centers and wage data benchmarks for Elderly Waiver rates and supporting the successful implementation of the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Seeking legislative funding for increasing nursing home workers’ wages
- Securing regulatory simplification and administrative relief for 144G providers
- Improving quality, safety, and training of supplemental nurse agencies and temporary staff
LeadingAge MN and its Long-Term Care Imperative partner have been working with lawmakers to introduce legislation, build champions for support, and get scheduled for hearings.
Your advocacy drives action
Make sure your elected officials hear your voice by contacting them today. Ask them to prioritize seniors and caregivers during the 2024 session!
Additionally, registration is open for LeadingAge Minnesota’s annual Day at the Capitol! Join us on Wednesday, March 20, for advocacy training and legislative visits. Register by March 8 to secure your spot. Get more details in this Advantage story about Day at the Capitol.
Exploring Global Workforce Solutions in Nairobi, Kenya
On February 15, 2024 by Anna Mowry
In January, LeadingAge Minnesota members traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, to explore international recruitment partnerships with a delegation of other Minnesota providers led by Rep. Mohamud Noor of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
New solutions for Kenya nurses to work abroad
Many Kenyan nurses want to work in other nations, but to do so, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become registered nurses. In Africa, there was only one NCLEX center in Johannesburg, South Africa, causing significant access issues. Africa is nearly four times the size of the US, and the next closest testing centers are in England and India—limiting many African nurses from the opportunity to test and work abroad.
Rep. Noor collaborated with the State Department of Diaspora Affairs and the NCLEX-RN testing vendor, Pearson Vue, to establish a new center in Nairobi. The Ministry of Health in Kenya reports, “This fully-equipped center, a game-changer for Kenyan nurses, is set to significantly reduce costs by 50%. The establishment of the NCLEX Centre in Nairobi eliminates the need for nurses to travel abroad, bringing transformative benefits to our healthcare sector.”
The significance of the center opening drew the attention of the Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, who gave his remarks celebrating the launch and the new opportunities for Kenyan nurses to work abroad. Click here to watch the test center opening and remarks.
LeadingAge Minnesota members joined the delegation
The Minnesota delegation traveled to Nairobi to affirm the need for the new NCLEX center and represent Minnesota as a state to welcome diasporan nurses warmly and represent aging services providers. The delegation met with recruitment agencies and toured Kenya Medical Training College, the Nairobi Hospital and College of Health Sciences, Ready Care Staffing, and a new NCLEX prep and training center. Watch this video to see a glimpse of our tours.
The delegation gathered data and viewpoints from Kenyan officials, nurses, recruitment agencies, and the greater East African community throughout the trip. Thank you to the LeadingAge Minnesota members who joined and collaborated on this experience.
Key takeaways
- Kenya wants to be a global partner in addressing healthcare shortages and raising global health standards. The economy does not produce enough jobs annually, creating a misalignment between skills and available jobs, making it difficult to find employment.
- Kenyan nurses want to work abroad, and the U.S. is a desired country. Diaspora nurses from Kenya working abroad boost the economy and often return as entrepreneurs who lead new companies and enhance processes. Currently, 3% of their GDP comes from remittance dollars, with strategic plans to increase this.
- Kenyan nurses are qualified healthcare professionals. All education is in English at primary, secondary, and college levels, with quality training and technology. Kenyan institutions have an educational focus on improving digital literacy and integrating new technologies, and geriatric nursing is becoming an up-and-coming specialty.
Nairobi by the numbers
- 1,500 (and growing!) nurse candidates are waiting to take the NCLEX at the new Nairobi center.
- 22,695 healthcare professionals graduated from Kenya Medical Training College programs last year, and there are currently 64,000 students and 74 locations.
- 3 million Kenyan nationals live abroad, about 8% of the total population.
- $4 billion of remittance funds go back to Kenya annually, approximately 3% of the GDP.
Next steps
LeadingAge Minnesota is eager to deepen these new partnerships, give senior care providers opportunities to connect with qualified healthcare professionals abroad and support the Kenyan diaspora already in our workforce. To connect with future opportunities related to this work, please reach out to Anna Mowry.
State News
Effective July 1, New Housing Support Rate
On February 15, 2024 by Bobbie Guidry
On July 1, 2024, the Housing Support maximum monthly room and board rate will increase to $1,170.
The annual recalculation of the Housing Support, formerly Group Residential Housing (GRH), which covers rent and raw food for eligible participants, will increase by $35 per month. The new rate of $1170 will be effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Housing Support is a state-funded program that provides an income supplement to approximately 20,000 monthly recipients to pay for rent and food. The amount of a Housing Support payment is based on a federal and state standard of what an individual would need, at a minimum, to live in the community. All of those supported by the program are at risk of institutional placement or homelessness.
|
Room and Board Rate |
7/1/2024 |
|
|
Group |
|
Federal Benefit Rate |
943 |
|
MSA general income disregard |
-20 |
|
MSA general income supplement |
81 |
|
Food Support (SNAP) equivalent |
291 |
|
Personal Needs Allowance |
-125 |
|
Room and Board Rate |
1170 |
Federal News
News from LeadingAge: MA Plans Can’t Terminate Skilled Care Because Beneficiaries Don’t Improve
On February 15, 2024 by LeadingAge
LeadingAge, along with its coalition partners on Medicare Advantage (MA), asked CMS to clarify that MA plans must follow Medicare regulations related to the Jimmo Settlement Agreement (2013) when making coverage determinations.
In a Feb. 13 CMS memo, MA plans were reminded to “refresh and/or train staff and contracted providers” on this policy, “which clarified that the Medicare program covers skilled nursing care and skilled therapy services under Medicare’s skilled nursing facility, home health, and outpatient therapy benefits when a beneficiary needs skilled care in order to maintain function or to prevent or slow decline or deterioration …”
CMS noted that there may be a misconception that the Medicare program only covers nursing and therapy services under Medicare when a beneficiary is expected to improve. This is another win for LeadingAge on its MA advocacy efforts.
LeadingAge members have reported that MA plans frequently terminate skilled services due to “failure to progress” or because an individual “shows no improvement.” This memo makes clear that plans cannot terminate care for this reason because Medicare regulations support an individual’s need for skilled care to maintain their function and/or slow their decline.
Further, CMS’ instructions to the plans to retrain their staff and contractors on this requirement is important, and should indicate that they will be watching for compliance going forward. CMS also updated its Medicare webpage to remind all providers that under the Jimmo Settlement, CMS was required to update its Medicare manual to “restate a ‘maintenance coverage standard’ for both skilled nursing and therapy services,” and as such, skilled nursing services are covered when “necessary to maintain the patient’s current condition or prevent or slow further deterioration so long as the beneficiary required skilled care for the services to be safely and effectively provided.” CMS includes a number of resources related to the Jimmo Settlement here for further information.
Notable News
Certify Your Team in Mental Health First Aid
On February 15, 2024 by Anna Mowry
No-cost sessions of Mental Health First Aid are being offered to LeadingAge Minnesota members this spring.
Like CPR training, the eight-hour virtual Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course prepares people to be the first line of support in a crisis—to identify, understand, and guide others to mental health resources. Over the past two years, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation has sponsored over 250 aging services professionals to attend MHFA trainings.
Don’t wait—space and sessions are limited, so register now. Participants should only register for one session. By registering, you are agreeing to virtually attend and fully participate on the selected session date.
What do you gain from Mental Health First Aid?
- A 5-step action plan to respond to a mental health crisis.
- Increased confidence and likelihood of helping an individual in distress.
- Knowledge of signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental illnesses and addictions.
- A nationally recognized certification supported by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Upcoming session dates – register now:
- Mon. Mar. 4, 10 a.m. – 4:30 pm
- Thurs. Mar.7, 10 a.m. – 4:30 pm
- Thurs. April 11, 10 a.m. – 4:30 pm
- Sat. April 27, 9 a.m. – 3:30 pm
For more information, please contact Julie Kiehne, Winona State University Business Outreach Coordinator. This project is sponsored by the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation, with funding from the Minnesota Department of Health.
Member News
Bethesda Announces New Vice President of Development and Marketing
On February 15, 2024 by Libbie Chapuran
Kristin Rucks is the new Vice President of Development and Marketing at Bethesda, a long-time member of LeadingAge Minnesota, serving seniors in and around Willmar, MN.
With over a decade of experience in development and marketing, Kristin brings knowledge and proven skills to Bethesda’s leadership team. She is poised to be pivotal in guiding the organization into its next growth phase.
Before joining Bethesda, Kristin held leadership positions at Heritage of Foley in Foley, MN, and Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. Her extensive background reflects a strategic vision and a commitment to excellence that aligns with Bethesda’s mission and values.
We invite you to join us in extending a warm welcome to Kristin.