Spring may have arrived finally! I’m enjoying the sunshine through my windows today 😍

Membership

We welcomed a new Tier 4 member, TEAM Public Choices has 2 PCA groups in MN: Hmong Home Health Care (serving the Hmong population) and its sister org, Circle of Life (serving the Native American population). The TEAM advocacy leads want to get engaged and will ‘spice up’ our advocacy work with their passion. The leader will be joining our Advocacy Committee and Kevin has agreed to join me for a committee orientation and setting the expectations around our professional approach.

I reached out to Dave Totaro from Bayada for tips on engaging Bayada, who agreed to re-join but hasn’t done so yet. Since he doesn’t oversee operations, he is working behind the scenes to move this along. #grateful

Advocacy

Our legislative issues remain in a ‘wait and see’ mode. While the Senate included our Medicaid payment reform and additional dollars, utilizing FMAP dollars, the House did not include it as they are awaiting further direction from CMS regarding the use of FMAP dollars. It is possible this issue will be delayed for a special session so that DHS and the legislature can determine how MN will utilize the FMAP funds. Thank you to all who took time to send a letter of support for Sen. Abeler’s bill. It’s greatly appreciated!

There is significant concern around PCA agencies closing their doors as the legislative action around PCA rates isn’t sufficient with the upcoming minimum wage changes in Minneapolis and St. Paul. I will be addressing this with the Advocacy Committee and discussing additional communication opportunities. The bottom line is there don’t seem to be enough funds to raise the wages and it’s unlikely the city will make exceptions – but we can express our concerns again, as we did initially.

The predatory offender bill passed off the floor in the Senate and we are awaiting it to pass the House. There’s a possibility it could be held-up in politics. 🤦‍♀️

On the federal level, Sue Morgan is joining me for a meeting with Representative Dean Phillips next Friday. We will address the HEAT Act, Medicare reimbursement for telehealth and CHOOSE home, a cost-effective and patient preferred home-based extended care benefit as a supplement to the existing home health benefit that supports patients to leave the hospital and recover at home. I’ve attached fact sheets on both issues for your info. Please note that the HEAT sheet includes bill numbers from the last Congress. S.1309 was just introduced in the Senate last week but there isn’t a House bill yet.

Operations

You may have noticed that I sent an update for the May board meeting. This will be a ‘bring your own lunch’ meeting, 11 am – 1 pm. One more zoom meeting before we return in person for the July meeting.

I will be out on medical leave, beginning Friday with hopes of returning in a week or so. Mandy will be the point person in my absence. It’s my turn for gallbladder surgery – what are the chances two of us would need this so close together?! Thank you, Bekki for covering the Workforce Workgroup meeting for me!

Enjoy the warm weather!!

Be Well,

Kathy Messerli

Executive Director

Minnesota Home Care 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