Well, I left town and advocacy seemed to explode! Here are a few updates:
Federal Advocacy
There is a great deal of discussion around the CoP implementation dates and the possibility of requesting a delay. Some states are taking the initiative to ask Congress to delay the implementation for a year. VNAA is seeking input from
us on which specific provisions are most problematic so they can ask for delays on those. Of greatest concern is the lack of Interpretive Guidelines. The nursing facilities had to move forward with their CoP without the guidelines! VNAA has put a request into
CMS that they be released within 30 days. If not received, VNAA will use that opportunity to seek a delay in implementation. NAHC is gathering input from members also and I will be on a call with them Monday to learn more about their position.
With all of the flurry regarding Trump’s new requirements/mandates, there are many questions about the future. It is appearing more likely that Block Grants may be in our future and significantly reduce the funding available. VNAA shared
the Kaiser Family Foundation Issue Brief on
Medicaid Block Grants and encouraged us to set the tone with our state on the value of home based care.
The issues that were carried over are also being pursued but we don’t have more specifics on those issues at this time.
State Advocacy
Best Life Alliance Bill:
This bill was “dropped in the hopper” on Thursday and we expect it will be introduced on Monday. The bill is being carried by Rep. Hamilton and Sen. Dahms. After the bill’s introduction we will have bill numbers for the bill that can be
used when communicating with your legislator about the bill. We are also close to finalizing an updated one page fact sheet on the bill that can also be used in these communications. The bill requests a 4% rate increase effective July 1st, 2017 and a 4% rate
increase effective July 1st 2018. The bill language states that if a 4% rate increase is passed, a 4% wage increase must be passed along to all staff that provide direct care to clients.
Raising of the Medical Assistance Spenddown Income and Asset Limits (HF 225 Zerwas; Albright; Clark; Dehn, R.; Dettmer; et al. / SF 250 Utke; Abeler; Hoffman; Lourey; Nelson)
Medical Assistance Asset And Spenddown Limits Increased For Persons Who Are Blind, Have Disabilities, Or Are 65 Or Older.
Link to bill: House and
Senate
Dates introduced: HF 225-1/12 SF 250-1/23
Overview: This bill raises the asset limits for individuals and couples accessing Medical Assistance to $10,000 for an individual (current law is $3,000) and $18,000 for a couple (current law is $6,000). The bill also raises the income limit for individuals
accessing Medical Assistance to be 100% of the federal poverty guidelines (current law is 80%). These changes would be effective July 1, 2017.This bill was heard in the House HHS Reform Committee on 2/2 and was passed on to the House HHS Finance Committee.
See below for a detailed summary of the bill hearing, including various comments made by legislators.
Creation of Certified Paraprofessional (HF 464 Zerwas; Albright; Theis / SF 318 Relph; Abeler; Hoffman)
This bill was scheduled to be heard in the House HHS Reform committee, but was pulled from the agenda when a collection of groups, including the MHCA, expressed concern and requested more stakeholder work on
the language. MHCA co-signed a letter, along with MNA, MLPNA and MSRC (Respiratory Care) that was sent to Rep Zerwas and Andrea Jung reached out to him as her legislator.
The bill is scheduled for a hearing on 2/6 in the Senate Human Services Reform Committee but Sen Abeler made it clear that he doesn’t plan to pass this out of committee on Monday. Kevin will be testifying for
MHCA in opposition to this bill, as written today.
Kevin, Jane Vujovich and I had a lively conversation with PHCC this afternoon. We have asked for additional information on the “scope ” and more details on what Medical Assistants are authorized and certified
to do in MN (PHCC insists they are more trained than we have accounted for). We did learn that they intend to pull trach/vent care out of the bill. MDH and DHS are both submitting comments of concern. There are technical difficulties with the bill and I don’t
know how likely it is to move forward without knowing how MDH and DHS will respond. At this point, we are showing a good faith effort in being collaborative. If discussions continues, we will need to ascertain how much training we believe is acceptable or
if we simply are not interested in further dialogue. Kevin is meeting with the other concerned organizations next week. Stay tuned.
EVV – thank you all for responding to the recommendation. Kevin is working with DHS on the language for the bill.
Operational
We are prepared to help our members be ready for the CoPs – even though there’s a slight chance of a delay. MHCA is offering a 3 part webinar series on CoPs in March-April.
We are gearing up for our new Region Meeting format and I’d like to encourage the board members to attend – showing support for the association and to help greet members who may not have been regular attendees. The 1st quarter
meeting will be March 15, the day prior to our March meeting. The locations will be listed in the Feb 7th Informer.
Mandy has been with us for 2 weeks and hit the ground running. She is already enhancing our new member on-boarding process, has reviewed the website and will be researching options for our website enhancement, helped with some of the Informer
and is preparing for her first Membership Team meeting March 15th! What a blessing it was to return from vacation and realize hiring her was not a dream
J Allison and Annie are thrilled to have her on-board also!
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.
MHCA supports the
Best Life Alliance.
