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Cover
Asking for a Little RESPECT, Members Got a Lot of Attention at Capitol Rally
By Lisa Foss Olson
Over 600 members and other supporters of long-term care—decked out in blaze orange t-shirts and buttons to show their solidarity and support—were part of an outdoor rally at the Capitol on May 3rd. The rally brought read more...
Proposed SNF Medicare Rule Released: One Option Devastating for SNFs
By Patti Cullen, CAE
In one option, CMS attempts to adjust for the unanticipated impact of RUGS-IV in a way that goes far beyond the actual impact, to an 11.3% reduction. The other option would result in a gain of 1.5% in Medicare read more...
If You Think You May Close Beds, You Should Apply Now
By Todd Bergstrom
Because the Governor and both houses of the legislature have proposed to eliminate one or both of the incentives, providers considering closing beds and/or creating single bed rooms should consider sending an read more...
Registration Now Open for July 19 Foundation Golf Tournament
By Cyndi Spencer
The 2011 Golf Tournament will be held July 19 at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville. Participants will tee-off at 11:00 a.m. We’re counting on your support to help us reach our $15,000 fundraising goal, so register now read more...
Is Your Nursing Facility Collecting Census Data for the Transition to the MN RUG-IV on January 1, 2012?
By Todd Bergstrom
To calculate revenue-neutral conversion rates, providers must collect and submit census data by payor source for the 6-month time period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2011, under both RUG-III and read more...
Legislative/On the Hill
Care Center of the Future/Nursing Home Bed Moratorium Exception for Hardship Areas Bill Moves out of Conference Committee
By Heidi Holste
Late Wednesday evening, May 4, the conference committee on Senate File 626/House File 937 finalized work on the care center of the future bill. The conference committee report will now move to a floor vote read more...
Happenings at the State Capitol for the Week of May 1, 2011
By Heidi Holste
This Friday, May 6 is the final policy deadline at the Minnesota Legislature. So ALL bills have to be heard in both the House and the Senate prior to Friday of this week. Conference committees are also meeting read more...
Planning Ahead Just as Critical as Resolving Current Budget Debacle
By Patti Cullen, CAE
Though our discussions with policymakers now focus on the immediate implications of the current budget-cutting proposals, it is equally important that we also take a more comprehensive look at the future read more...
2011 Bill Introductions
By Heidi Holste
Each week during the 2011 legislative session, we post a list of Bill Introductions in the Advocacy Section of the Association's website. Please contact Toby Pearson or Heidi Holste any time if you have read more...
State News
DHS Clarifies Dental Services for Medicaid and Spend-Down Adjustments
By Todd Bergstrom
Due to reductions by the 2009 legislature, certain dental services for Medicaid recipients—such as denture repairs, deep cleanings, and house call fees—are no longer covered. These expenses, when read more...
DHS Posts Lists of Questions with Official Responses and Data Requests on PACE Website
By Phil Manz
The list of questions (regarding the PACE RFP published on March 21) has been updated and now includes official responses to most questions and data requests received through April 25, 2011 read more...
National News
Proposed Wage Index Changes for Medicare Hospices to Increase Payments by 2.3%
By Patti Cullen, CAE
The estimated hospice payments are the net result of an estimated 2.8 percent increase in the “hospital market basket,” offset by an estimated 0.5 percent decrease in payments to hospices due to read more...
CMS Proposes Rules to Guide States on Assuring Access While Achieving Savings
By Patti Cullen, CAE
The regulation proposes that states conduct periodic reviews of data for all covered services using a three-part framework recommended by MACPAC: enrollee needs; the availability of care and providers; read more...
Coumadin (warfarin sodium) Crystalline 5 mg Tablets: Recall
By Doug Beardsley
Bristol-Myers Squibb has initiated a voluntary recall of one lot of 1,000-count bottles of Coumadin (warfarin sodium) Crystalline 5 mg tablets. Company testing of tablets from a returned bottle found read more...
Health Care Reform
Notice of Availability of Grant RFP for Community Care Team Pilot Project
By Patti Cullen, CAE
MDH requests proposals from qualified respondents to develop a community care team pilot project. A community care team is a multidisciplinary team that partners with primary care offices read more...
DHS Managed Care Website Established
By Patti Cullen, CAE
All public information about managed care plans that contract with the state to provide health care for enrollees in public programs is now available on the managed care page of the DHS website read more...
AHCA/NCAL News
AHCA/NCAL Wins International Communication Award
By Lisa Foss Olson
AHCA/NCAL's nationwide campaign tour called Driving for Quality Care has resulted in AHCA/NCAL winning a 2011 Gold Quill Award for excellence in communications from the read more...
Housing, Home and Community-Based Services
Home Care Regulatory Workgroup Update
By Doug Beardsley
The Minnesota Department of Health states that it will not be able to bring the home care regulatory proposal to the legislature this session. The department plans to use the time before next session read more...
NCAL Encourages Participation in Two Survey Efforts with Deadlines of May 27
By Phil Manz
Members are making great progress in completing two surveys sponsored by NCAL. As of this writing, 67 members have completed the 2011 NCAL Tier I Performance Measure Survey, and 37 members read more...
Education
Registration Open for Clinical Best Practices Seminar with Dr. Chuck Gokoo
By Cheryl Smith
On Thursday, June 9, Dr. Gokoo will present a full day of clinical information on two topics: Pain—The Fifth Vital Sign and A Clinical Guide to Pressure Ulcer Assessment. Registration is now read more...
New Products, Including Admission Packets and Infection Control Strategies, Added to Library
By Cyndi Spencer
Check out the new products in Care Providers of Minnesota’s Archived Online Education Library. What Is in Your Admission Packet and Successful Infection Control Strategies for Care Centers are read more...
Associate Member News
Paula Padilla Joins Health Dimensions
By Doug Beardsley
Paula Padilla will provide support to HDG’s senior housing consulting projects with operational needs including executive leadership and operational management, staff management and motivation read more...
Member Resources
Residents' Rights Booklet
By Todd Bergstrom
This 10-page booklet is perfect to use as part of your admissions packet for the new resident. The booklet includes all the information from the Resident Bill of Rights. You may order them online or read more...
Survey Compliance
CMS Midwest Consortium Meets to Discuss Life Safety Code Issues
By Doug Beardsley
Discussions and presentations provided some insight on “hot topics” in the Life Safety Code compliance world, including: replace corroded or painted sprinkler heads, verify that your kitchen hood read more...
Are You Prepared for Changes to F-309 and F-155?
By Doug Beardsley
CMS has stated that some of the nursing facility survey guidance changes they will make in 2011 will surround the topics of end-of-life care (F-309) and advance directives (F-155) read more...
FYI Corner
John Hancock Announces Results of 2011 National Long-Term Care (LTC) Cost Study
By Patti Cullen, CAE
John Hancock Financial announced the results of its 2011 cost of care study, which found that long-term care costs have continued to increase, but not as much as other goods and services read more...
Education & Events Calendar
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Current Events | |
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May 8-14 |
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May 9 |
Service Corporation Board of Directors Meeting |
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May 13 |
Foundation Board Meeting |
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May 24-25 |
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Mark Your Calendars | |
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June 7 |
Region 2 (Northeast) Meeting |
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June 8 |
Region 1 (Northwest) Meeting |
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June 9 |
Assessment of Wounds and Pain Management: |
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June 9 |
Region 3 (West-Central) Meeting |
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June 10 |
Region 4 (East-Central) Meeting |
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June 21 |
Region 6 (Metro) Meeting |
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June 22 |
Region 8 (South-Central) Meeting |
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June 23 |
Region 5 (South-West) Meeting |
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June 24 |
Region 7 (South-East) Meeting |
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Jun 28-29 |
Housing Managers' Educational Series, Part II |
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July 19 |
Foundation Golf Tournament |
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Aug. 24-25 |
Assisted Living & Senior Housing Summit |
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Sep. 11-17 |
National Assisted Living Week |
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Sep. 19-21 |
AHCA/NCAL 62nd Annual Convention |
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Nov. 14-16 |
Care Providers of Minnesota Convention & Expo |
For a full list of scheduled events and committee meetings, visit our online calendar.
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