Greetings!

How are you all coping? We’d be interested in hearing if you have clients and/or staff that have tested positive. Are you taking COVID hospital discharge patients? Having that information helps us better advocate for you. As you know a lot of attention is on the assisted livings and nursing homes right now because the majority of cases have been in those congregate settings. But the work you are doing is critical and we are working to keep that message front and center.

Advocacy

In general, the number of COVID-related meetings have increased. Karen and I have split them up so we can keep you informed of the newest information. A sampling of the meetings includes: MN Health Care Tactics, MN State Emergency Operations Center – LTC, Metro Coalition for home care & hospice (emergency preparedness), NAHC Town Hall, Forum of State Associations. There have been several other activities in the past couple of weeks:

• As I noted in my last update, there is a need for additional language for HCN & therapy to be ordered by NPPs in MN. Kevin was working on a couple options and I had a good conversation with my Senator, Sen John Hoffman. We made an impact and this is now being viewed as urgent due to COVID-19 so at this point, it’s in the policy bill.
• The MN Senate formed a COVID-19 Working Group that is addressing a wide array of issues. I sent them a letter with our outstanding priorities to keep home care on their radar.
• We were asked by a member about their liability should they unintentionally pass COVID-19 along from one client to another. After some investigating, I learned that the 2 nursing home associations and the hospital association were working on this issue. We have our name on a letter that was sent to the Governor requesting an Executive Order to provide immunity from civil, administrative, and criminal liability.
• On the federal level, NAHC wrote another letter to CMS and collaborated with the hospital associations. MHA agreed to sign onto that letter, at my request. NAHC was also working with LeadingAge at the national level so MN’s LeadingAge is also on the letter. MN was well represented.  The ask in this letter was to lift some regulatory barriers, with a focus on telemedicine and signed documents.

I have referenced several letters and don’t want to bombard you with too much during this busy time. If you’d like to see any of them, please let me know. I’d be happy to forward to you.

Misc

• Able Care Connect (part of the Goodman Group) joined this past week.
• There are several grants and funding options available for home care agencies. I hope you have seen the information on our COVID-19 webpage.
• Congressman Phillips’ staff told me that they are hoping there will be some funding for 501c6 orgs in the next round. MHCA can then decide whether to apply for any funding. The latest word is that the US may not be able to get back to ‘normal’ for 18 months when vaccinations are available and utilized. I don’t know what to expect for mandates on large groups during this time. MHCA could be financially impacted if we are not able to host our planned conferences and/or if we see a dip in membership due to financial concerns among our agency members.

As always, MHCA is here for you!

Be Well,

Kathy Messerli

Executive Director | Minnesota HomeCare Association

2550 University Ave. W.,  Ste. 350 S | St. Paul, MN 55114-1900

Direct: 651.635.0038 | Main: 651.635.0607

Toll-free: 866.607.0607 | Fax: 651.635.0043

www.mnhomecare.org | kmesserli@mnhomecare.org

Mission: MHCA represents and supports Minnesota home care providers committed to high quality home care services.

Vision: MHCA will shape the home care landscape to improve and sustain quality home care services.