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Cover
Update on Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) termination
By Patti Cullen, CAE
We think it is still valuable for people to file appeals, even though coverage was discontinued on Monday. We have heard of examples of patients whose coverage was discontinued but then reinstated. Also read more...
Reminder of MDH nursing facility conference call
By Doug Beardsley
Nursing facility providers should verify that they are registered for the free MDH provider conference call scheduled for Tuesday, January 17, 2012, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The agenda and materials are read more...
CEO blog: 2012 continues the reform journey
By Patti Cullen, CAE
As the new year begins, I thought it would be helpful to provide an update on the various initiatives that are underway as well as an opinion on their impact. I apologize for the lengthy list — it doesn’t even read more...
No January region meetings
By Jason Espersen
There will be no region meetings during January this year. Instead, you can look forward to a free webinar on February 29 as we “Leap into Action.” This free webinar will help prepare you for our read more...
Legislative/On the Hill
Senator Klobuchar at member facility
By Toby Pearson
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar believes America needs to do more to protect its senior and disabled citizens from abuse and neglect by their guardians. She held a roundtable meeting on the issue Friday at read more...
Special election results from Tuesday, January 10, 2012
By Heidi Holste
There was a special election held on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, to fill two open legislative seats in Minneapolis. Susan Allen was elected state representative for district 61B; Kari Dziedzic won the senate read more...
Timelines
By Heidi Holste
As we approach the beginning of the 2012 legislative session, which begins at noon on January 24, 2012, we will be publishing a number of articles on the Long-Term Care Imperative legislative read more...
State News
RFP for nursing facility performance-based incentive payments due on February 15, 2012
By Todd Bergstrom
Proposals for the sixth annual round of nursing facility performance-based incentive payments are due to DHS on February 15, 2012. You can find the request for proposals, application form, instructions read more...
Minnesota Adult Workforce Development Competitive Grant Pilot Program announced
By Heidi Holste
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has announced the availability of $2,598,250 for adult workforce development activities. The money is intended to fund read more...
DHS distributes documents on 2012 expansion of managed care for people with disabilities
By Phil Manz
DHS has released three succinct documents to help stakeholders understand the expansion of managed care for people with disabilities which commenced on January 1 and will be fully read more...
Partners Panel focuses on Medicaid reform waiver request and public reporting of data
By Patti Cullen, CAE
The DHS Partners Panel has been an excellent venue for receiving information about many of the initiatives underway within the Continuing Care Division. Here are a few highlights of interest to read more...
National News
Demand letter process for Medicare payments changing
By Patti Cullen, CAE
Beginning January 3, 2012, when the RA finds an improper payment, the RA will submit the claim to the MAC, and the MAC will then issue a demand letter and recover overpayments read more...
VA moving to changes in civilian nursing facility contracts
By Patti Cullen, CAE
After over five years of advocacy by AHCA, we’ve been told that the proposed rule to implement “agreements” between the VA and non-VA nursing facilities will be released for public comment by April read more...
Status report on CMS fraud prevention demonstrations
By Patti Cullen, CAE
CMS received many comments/suggestions on the Prepayment Review and Prior Authorization of Power Mobility Devices demonstrations and the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review demonstration read more...
Medicare Part A prompt payment interest rate for January 2012
By Patti Cullen, CAE
The Treasury Department has notified the Medicare fiscal intermediary that the new prompt payment interest rate is 2.000 percent effective January 1, 2012. The new rate is in effect for scheduled read more...
AHCA/NCAL News
Care Providers of Minnesota well represented on national committees
By Patti Cullen, CAE
AHCA has released the rosters of AHCA 2012–2013 committee members, and Minnesota will be well represented this year in the national discussion. Thank you to the following Association members read more...
Housing, Home and Community-Based Services
Remember: no Part D co-pays for HCBS waiver recipients effective 1/1/12
By Patti Cullen, CAE
The Senior LinkAge Line has heard from staff with plans and providers that were not aware of the $0 co-pay beginning 1/1/12 for HCBS waiver consumers. Senior LinkAge Line staff will work with consumers read more...
DHS webinar on how to use customized living tool for waiver clients
By Phil Manz
DHS will be offering a two-hour webinar on January 24 from 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. about how to access, navigate and use the (24 hour) customized living rate setting tool. These tools will read more...
Revision of home care rules and statutes — what’s next?
By Doug Beardsley
MDH notified Care Providers of Minnesota it has made numerous changes to last year’s proposed home care regulations language and has now forwarded new language to the revisor’s office for read more...
DHS releases 2010 disability waiver participant experience survey
By Phil Manz
DHS issued a 38-page report on the results of a participant experience survey for the waiver programs including the brain injury, community alternative care, developmental disability, and read more...
Billing and Payment
Temporary CMS workaround for ARD reason code 31742 for SNF claims
By Doug Beardsley
CMS has developed a workaround for skilled nursing facility claims incorrectly returned to the provider for assessment reference date reason code 31742 that allows these claims to process read more...
Foundation
Care Providers of Minnesota Foundation is leading the way in scholarships: Meet Cindy Story
By Cheryl Smith
The Care Providers of Minnesota Foundation awarded 28 scholarships in 2011, and Cindy Story from The Colony at Eden Prairie is just one of the talented, committed caregivers awarded a 2011 read more...
Education
Elder Justice Act webinar slated for January 24
By Cheryl Smith
The Elder Justice Act establishes reporting requirements regarding suspected crimes against residents in nursing homes. The specific reporting requirements of the Act do not apply to home care or read more...
Consider archived online education to help meet your learning needs
By Cyndi Spencer
The Archived Online Education Library contains webinars Care Providers of Minnesota has offered in the past. Most webinars are $59 for members; a number of them are free. They are available read more...
Free webinar covering the ADA in health care settings
By Doug Beardsley
Over the years, health care settings have been the source of significant Americans with Disabilities Act litigation, and this has raised some unique issues. Join this free webinar to learn more about read more...
Association News
It’s not too late!
By Nancy McCoy
Are you considering signing up for a Care Providers of Minnesota committee, but not really sure what is involved in committee participation and whether this is something that fits with your future read more...
Member Resources
Once they used smoke signals
By Lisa Foss Olson
With technology allowing for alternative ways to communicate, we want to make sure you are getting the news and information you need. We can only make changes based on feedback, so when the read more...
2011 Legislative Update Book available for purchase
By Todd Bergstrom
The 2011 Legislative Update Book contains written summaries of the many issues discussed and passed into law. General topic areas include session overview, nursing homes, level of care, read more...
Associate Member News
Reserve your booth space early for 2012 convention
By Cyndi Spencer
Early reservation of your 2012 Convention booth ensures that you’ll have optimal space for this year’s show. Our 2012 convention & exposition is scheduled for November 7– 9 read more...
Strengthen your online member directory presence with free logo placement
By Cyndi Spencer
To strengthen the visual marketing presence of your company with Care Providers of Minnesota members, our newly-updated online member directory includes a logo option feature read more...
Members continue to find dollar savings in group purchasing benefits
By Doug Beardsley
Isn’t it time you did some price comparisons? There is no cost to join, no purchasing volume to commit to, and you retain the right to choose what vendors to use for each of your purchases read more...
Rewards and Recognition
A leader like Tina
By Lisa Foss Olson
Tina Hedalen, RN, Golden LivingCenter – Lake Ridge, was the recipient of the 2011 Leadership Award, which recognizes the achievements of an employee in an administrative, supervisory read more...
Regulatory Resources
Life Safety Code — Hints for survey compliance (#3)
By Doug Beardsley
Failure to comply with the proper testing of the fire alarm system is the third most common Life Safety Code deficiency issued in Minnesota. Remember that there are separate testing requirements for read more...
Nursing facility staff posting reminder
By Doug Beardsley
Care Providers of Minnesota has recently heard of nursing facilities increasingly being cited for non-compliance by MDH with the federal regulation relating to the posting of nursing staff assigned read more...
Clinical Matters
Endo Pharmaceuticals opiate products by Novartis Consumer Health: Public health advisory — potential safety risk
By Doug Beardsley
Due to problems that occurred when these products were packaged and labeled at the site, tablets from one product type may have carried over into packaging of another product. The safety advisory read more...
Insulin pens must never be used for more than one person
By Doug Beardsley
Anyone using insulin pens should review the following recommendations to ensure that they are not placing persons in their care at risk for infection. Insulin pens containing multiple doses are read more...
Legal Trends
Beware the bogus email
By Toby Pearson
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning the business community to beware of an ongoing malicious email that pretends to be from the BBB about a complaint filed against the company read more...
FYI Corner
Do you have time to Twitter?
By Lisa Foss Olson
According to Technolog, there are 175 million registered Twitter users, with 119 million following one or more accounts. So how about you? Do you tweet? Do you follow anyone’s tweets? read more...
Education & Events Calendar
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Current Events | |
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Jan. 17 |
Leading4Life Meeting |
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Jan. 18 |
CARE-PAC Board of Trustees Meeting |
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Jan. 20 |
Quality Council Meeting |
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Jan. 24 |
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Jan. 25–26 |
Board of Directors Retreat |
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Jan. 26 |
Board of Directors Meeting |
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Mark Your Calendars | |
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Feb. 23 |
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Feb. 29 |
Leap into Action webinar |
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Apr. 18 |
Quality Symposium |
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May 13–19 |
National Nursing Home Week |
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July 24 |
Care Providers of Minnesota Foundation |
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Aug. 22–23 |
Assisted Living & Senior Housing Summit |
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Nov. 7–9 |
Care Providers of Minnesota Convention & Exposition |
For a full list of scheduled events and committee meetings, visit our online calendar.
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Care Providers of Minnesota 7851 Metro Parkway • Suite 200 • Bloomington, MN 55425 Phone: 952.854.2844 • Fax: 952.854.6214 • MN Toll-Free: 800.462.0024 • www.careproviders.org |