Members continue to express amazement and frustration with the passage and implementation of mandatory transitional consultation for prospective residents of housing with services establishments (see legislative language here). Because this section was passed in the final agreement bill, without discussion or input, we will continue to give you updates on information as we receive it. So far, we have authored two stories in last week’s Action (they are the first two stories here), explaining how the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) was introducing their plans for implementing the legislation.

In response to the DHS plans, Care Providers of Minnesota will continue to work with DHS to give feedback and guidance on the October 1st implementation. Here is a list of our planned activities, and one that we have already done:

1) Secured DHS agreement that providers would not need to complete a monthly expense cost calculator. For now, DHS agrees that the information compiled in the Uniform Consumer Information Guide meets the needs for helpful conversations about cost comparisons between providers.

2) Sending a letter to elected and administrative officials outlining, in detail, our practical and philosophical concerns with the legislation and its implementation.

3) CPM staff will attend the DHS meetings that are meant to explain how the legislation will be implemented. Member participation in these meetings is also encouraged. A complete list of dates, sites and times are listed at the end of this article. These meetings have been very helpful in explaining the business side of housing with services to the Department folks charged with implementing the language. For example, DHS learned that housing with services establishments do accept admissions from hospitals at different and odd times, including Fridays after 5:00 p.m., and implementation of this law will impact that process.

4) CPM has added a presentation on the law and its implementation to our Assisted Living & Senior Housing Summit. On Thursday morning, August 25, Jean Wood, the director of Aging and Adult Services Division with DHS, will discuss the assumptions used in developing this new initiative, the business process to implement the legislation and what DHS anticipates will be accomplished by the legislation.

5) Reviewing with legal counsel the way providers should communicate with prospective residents.

In conclusion, over the next six weeks, we expect ongoing refinement in administrative processes as stakeholders comprehend and seek to implement this legislation.

The DHS meetings on the implementation of the legislation will be held at the following dates and times:

Thursday, August 18, 2011
Marshall
8:30–10:30 a.m.
Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center
300 S. Bruce Street
3rd Floor Education Room
Marshall, MN 56258
507-537-9131

Thursday, August 18, 2011
2:30–4:30 p.m.
Old Main Village Retirement Community
301 South 5th Street
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-4200

Thursday, August 25, 2011
2:30–4:30 p.m.
St Benedicts Center
Woodlawn Hall
1810 Minnesota Blvd SE
St Cloud, MN 56304
320-203-2708

Friday, August 26, 2011
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Good Samaritan Chapel-Bethany Campus
804 Wright St.
Brainerd, MN 56401
218-825-0913

Monday, August 29, 2011
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Ramada Hotel and Conference Center
1517 SW 16th Street
Rochester, MN 55902
507 529 7331

Tuesday, August 30, 2011
1:30–3:30 p.m.
Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center
2501 Rice Lake Road
Duluth, MN 55811
218-625-6400

Thursday, September 1, 2011
2:30–4:30 p.m.
Broen Memorial Home
Light and Life Auditorium
824 S. Sheridan
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
218-998-7300

Friday, September 2, 2011
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Mount Saint Benedict Monastery
620 Summit Avenue
Crookston, MN 56716
218-281-3441

Thursday, September 8, 2011
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Augustana Health Care Center- Mpls
1007 E. 14th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-333-1551

Thursday, September 8, 2011
2:00–4:00 p.m.
Shirley Chapman Sholom Home East
740 Kay Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-328-2000

If members are unable to attend one of the sessions above, a videoconference will be held through the Aging and Adult Services Division of DHS on September 22, 2011 from 9:30 a.m.–noon and repeated from 1:30–4:00 p.m. We will notify you when registration for this videoconference becomes available.

Phil Manz
952.851.2484
pmanz@careproviders.org

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