Thu 1/2/2014 9:26 AM

Level of care changes are delayed until Jan.1,2015

ByTobyPearson

Cover

OnTuesday,Dec. 31,2013,GovernorMarkDaytonputoutastatementdelayingtheimplementationofthechangestoLevelofCareandtheEssentialCommunitySupports program until Jan. 1, 2015.

Asyouknow,onJan. 1,2014,Minnesotawassupposedtoraisethecriteriathatareusedtoqualifyapersonforthefollowing Medical Assistance programs:

  • Nursing facility
  • Elderly waiver in a housing with services/assisted living setting
  • Elderly waiverinthecommunity
  • Community alternatives for disabled individuals (CADI)
  • Alternative care

However,GovernorMarkDayton'sactionhasdelayedimplementationofthelevelofcarechangesuntilJan. 1,2015.

CareProvidersofMinnesotahaspostedseveralimportantdocuments on thedelay here .

  • Nursingfacilityadministratorsandstaffshouldmakesuretoreadthelettertitled,"DHSLettertoNursingFacilityAdministratorsonLevelofCareDelay(12-31-13)."
  • Thepostingtitled,"DHS:NursingFacilityLevelofCareImplementationDelay,"istheletterfromDHStotheHealthandHumanServicesCommitteeChairsexplainingthedelay.

ThestatementfromGovernorMarkDayton(read fulltextofstatementhere includes:

"The2009legislatureeliminatedeligibilityforin-homeservicesnowbeingprovidedtoabout3,300Minnesotaseniorcitizens,effectiveJanuary1,2014.Ihaveaskedmyadministrationtodelayimplementationforatleastoneyear,toassurethatthenecessarycommunitysupportsareinplacetoensurethoseseniorswillreceivealternativecare.Thisdelaywillalsoprovidethe2014legislaturetheopportunitytoreexaminethelawandmakeanychangesdeemed necessary."

Inthestatement,theGovernormentionsthatthealternativesupportssuchastheCommunityFirstServicesandSupportsprogramarenotcurrentlyavailableandnotanticipatedtobeimplementeduntillaterin2014.TheEssentialCommunitySupportsprogramisnotfullyautomatedandnotyetavailablestatewide.TheGovernoralsomentionsthatthedefinitionofdependencyislikelytobeexaminedthislegislativesession,andifaltered,mayimpacttheseupcomingchanges.Therefore,thestatementgoesontosay,"Aoneyeardelaywillallowforthesesystematicchangestobeimplementedtoensuretherightsupportsareinplaceforthepeopleweserve."

In light of this delay, Care Providers of Minnesota is canceling the Jan. 14, 2014 New Level of Care — What Nursing Home Providers Need to Know webinar. We will provide education on nursing facility level of care later in 2014.

PleasecontactToddBergstromattheAssociationofficeifyouhaveanyquestions.