ACTION newsletter: Vol 35 Ed 17

ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII

Friday, April 24, 2020

Top Stories This Week.......................................................................................................................................................... 2 • CMS to require reporting of COVID-19 to CDC • MDH NA & feeding assistant waiver guidance • Nursing assistant training • DHS nursing facility COVID-19 reimbursement form, instructions & FAQs! • Recommendations on moving ahead with medical procedures issued by CMS COVID-19 Updates ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 • CaringBridge as a virtual communication tool & family messaging • Honoring Choices® Minnesota COVID-19 advance care planning guide • Keep your building tight—but don’t deny hospice workers or compassionate care visits • Clarification on CMS waivers for three-day hospitalization stay due to COVID-19 • Additional physician services waived for nursing facilities Legislative/Advocacy.......................................................................................................................................................... 12 • Legislative update Learning Opportunities & Events ...................................................................................................................................... 14 • There is still time to submit convention presentation!

• Clinical/Nursing Best Practices Online Workshop Series—2020 • “Living with Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic”—Relias webinar Workforce............................................................................................................................................................................. 17 • DHS SNAP & MFIP benefit modifications • EEOC COVID-19 technical assistance publication • Minnesota Board of Nursing updates • MN Department of Labor updates COVID-19 FAQ Association News ............................................................................................................................................................... 21 • Recognize the efforts of your amazing staff!

• Post your open positions on Care Providers of Minnesota’s job board National ................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 • DHHS updates CARES Act provider relief info State...................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 • Housing support (formerly GRH) temporary increases update • State’s Live Well at Home Grant application deadline extended • DHS issues COVID-19 guidance for EW customized living • Personal incentive checks & Medicaid eligibility

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Top Stories This Week

Friday, April 24, 2020

CMS to require reporting of COVID-19 to CDC

By Patti Cullen, CAE | April 24, 2020 | All members On April 19, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new regulatory requirements (https://go.cms.gov/3cCK1Sb) that will require nursing facilities to inform residents, their families, and representatives of COVID-19 cases in their facilities. While the memorandum refers to nursing facilities, it will be applicable to any Medicaid/Medicare certified nursing facilities but NOT to assisted living. In addition, CMS will now require nursing facilities to report cases of COVID-19 directly to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). This information must be reported in accordance with existing privacy regulations and statute. This measure augments longstanding requirements for reporting infectious disease to state and local health departments. Finally, CMS will also require nursing facilities to fully cooperate with CDC surveillance efforts around COVID-19 spread.

It is important to note that this new guidance (QSO-20-26-NH) is not in and of itself a new requirement—there is NOTHING you need to do right now in response to this announcement. The announcement was made to give us a “heads up” that a rule is coming, and that rulemaking will follow. CDC will be providing a reporting tool to nursing facilities that will support federal efforts to collect nationwide data to assist in COVID-19 surveillance and response.

CMS and CDC will soon provide nursing facilities with specific direction on standard formatting and frequency for reporting this information through the CDC’s National Health Safety Network (NHSN) system. Currently, this information is provided optionally by nursing facilities. The required collection of this information will be used to support surveillance of COVID-19 locally and nationally, monitor trends in infection rates, and inform public health policies and actions.

In addition to requiring reporting to CDC, in rulemaking that will follow, CMS will also be requiring that facilities notify its residents and their representatives to keep them informed of the conditions inside the facility. This is separate from the reporting required to CDC in that this information will be shared by the nursing facility directly with residents and their representatives. At a minimum, once these requirements are in place, nursing facilities must inform residents and their representatives within 12 hours of the occurrence of a single confirmed infection of COVID-19, or three or more residents or staff with new-onset of respiratory symptoms that occur within 72 hours. Also, updates to residents and their representatives must be provided weekly, or each subsequent time a confirmed infection of COVID-19 is identified and/or whenever three or more residents or staff with new onset of respiratory symptoms occurs within 72 hours.

Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII MDH NA & feeding assistant waiver guidance

By Nicole Mattson, NHA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | April 24, 2020 | SNF/NF providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

On April 20, 2020, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) indicated that the state will be following the federal waiver (https://www.cms.gov/files/document/summary-covid-19-emergency-declaration-waivers.pdf), which waives the requirement that a non-registered nursing assistant must become registered within four months of hire. They stated (https://www.careproviders.org/members/2020/FINALNursingAssistantTraining.pdf): “the requirement in Minnesota Statute 144A.61 Subdivision 6a are identical to those waived in the federal waiver therefore the state law at 144A.61 Subdivision 6a is effectively waived.”

This move will allow providers to hire an individual, who is not on the registry, into a nursing assistant role, provided they are deemed competent by the facility and are enrolled into a nursing assistant training program (see training program options below). The ahcancalED “Temporary Nurse Aide” (https://educate.ahcancal.org/products/temporary-nurse-aide) eight-hour online curriculum can be used as an onboarding tool to get this person ready for work in your setting. The steps for hiring are also outlined here (https://www.careproviders.org/members/2020/HIring_in_the_COVIDera_NF_updated4_14.pdf).

MDH also weighed in our request to waive paid feeding assistant training. They indicated that: “this is not waived under CMS 1135 waiver. This regulation requires 8 hours of training for individuals working as Paid Feeding Assistants. MDH does not have the authority to waive this federal requirement nor waived under health care provider waiver issued on 4/15/20” (https://www.careproviders.org/members/2020/COVID_FINALFederalPaidFeedingAssistant.pdf).

Nicole Mattson | Vice President of Strategic Initiatives nmattson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2482

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Nursing assistant training

By Nicole Mattson, NHA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | April 24, 2020 | SNF/NF providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

With the four-month rule waiver, it allows you to hire an individual, who is not on the registry. However, you may still want to ensure that this person is trained as a nursing assistant at some point. AHCA has an approved nursing assistant training curriculum, completely online: CNAonline (https://cnaonline.com/).

Additionally, we recognize that online may not work for all potential candidates. To that end, our friends at HealthForce MN (http://www.healthforceminnesota.org/) indicate there are several colleges that are enrolling students into nursing assistant programs. This is not an exhaustive list and we will update if we hear of additional sites: • Hibbing Community College (https://hibbing.edu/) • Dakota County Technical College (https://www.dctc.edu/) • Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College (https://fdltcc.edu/) • Pine Community and Technical College (https://www.pine.edu/) • South Central College (https://southcentral.edu/) • Century College (https://www.century.edu/) • St. Paul College (https://www.saintpaul.edu/) • Anoka Technical College (http://www.anokatech.edu/) On April 17, 2020, MDH announced a process for educational institutions to convert their face-to-face training curriculum to online. This move will allow many programs to run NA training programs despite social distancing. Look for this list to expand in the coming weeks.

MDH has new “quick” process for nursing assistant training programs that would like to convert face to face to online curriculum. Training programs just need to complete a form describing the changes your program will be implementing to convert curriculum to online and submit to health.nar.coord@state.mn.us.

The form may also be found on MN Nursing Assistant Registry website, under heading; Employer and Trainer Resources ( https://www.health.state.mn.us/nar).

Nicole Mattson | Vice President of Strategic Initiatives nmattson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2482

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII DHS nursing facility COVID-19 reimbursement form, instructions & FAQs!

By Todd Bergstrom | April 24, 2020 | SNF/NF providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is using the Nursing Facility Provider Portal (https://nfportal.dhs.state.mn.us/) to post the form, instructions, and FAQs for nursing facilities seeking reimbursement for COVID-19 related expenses. The form (instructions included) and FAQs are posted on the front page and are titled: • COVID FAQ #2 • COVID Form A.EZ Prior to applying, nursing facilities should review the instructions and FAQs. In general, the key steps in the process are as follows: • Reimbursement is retrospective, applications processed in order received, and multiple requests for funding is allowed • Facilities will be paid the incremental cost increase using base period before March 13, 2020 • Applications are due no later than December 1, 2020, for costs incurred before October 1, 2020 • Payment will be made as a gross adjustment during normal payment cycle as soon as possible • DHS will be offsetting these payments, and any other COVID-19 grants, payments, forgivable loans from current and future cost reports (as a result there may be future rate setting issues) Please contact Todd Bergstrom at the Association office if you have any questions.

Todd Bergstrom | Director of Research & Data Analysis tbergstrom@careproviders.org | 952-851-2486

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Recommendations on moving ahead with medical procedures issued by CMS

By Patti Cullen, CAE | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

On April 19, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new recommendations specifically targeted to communities that are in Phase 1 of President Trump’s “Guidelines for Opening Up America Again” (https://www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica/#criteria) with low incidence or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases. The recommendations update earlier guidance provided by CMS on limiting non-essential surgeries and medical procedures. The new CMS guidelines recommend a gradual transition and encourage healthcare providers to coordinate with local and state public health officials, and to review the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies, workforce availability, facility readiness, and testing capacity when making the decision to restart or increase in-person care.

It is important to note that Minnesota has not yet met the criteria for Phase 1, so will not be moving forward with these recommendations at this time. We have not passed the “gating criteria” included in the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, such as the following: • Cases: Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14 day period or downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period • Hospitals: Treat all patients without crisis care AND robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing Here is an excerpt from the new CMS recommendations (https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-flexibility-reopenessential-non-covid-services.pdf): However, CMS recognizes that at this time many areas have a low, or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19, and that it is important to be flexible and allow facilities to provide care for patients needing nonemergent, non-COVID-19 healthcare. In addition, as states and localities begin to stabilize, it is important to restart care that is currently being postponed, such as certain procedural care (surgeries and procedures), chronic disease care, and, ultimately, preventive care. Patients continue to have ongoing healthcare needs that are currently being deferred. Therefore, if states or regions have passed the Gating Criteria (symptoms, cases, and hospitals) announced on April 16, 2020, then they may proceed to Phase I. Non-COVID-19 care should be offered to patients as clinically appropriate and within a state, locality, or facility that has the resources to provide such care and the ability to quickly respond to a surge in COVID-19 cases, if necessary. Decisions should be consistent with public health information and in collaboration with state public health authorities. Careful planning is required to resume in-person care of patients requiring non-COVID-19 care, and all aspects of care must be considered—for example: • Adequate facilities, workforce, testing, and supplies • Adequate workforce across phases of care (such as availability of clinicians, nurses, anesthesia, pharmacy, imaging, pathology support, and post-acute care)

Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII COVID-19 Updates

Friday, April 24, 2020

CaringBridge as a virtual communication tool & family messaging

By Patti Cullen, CAE | April 24, 2020 | All members We know members have been using FaceTime, Zoom, and other platforms to help their residents virtually connect with family members during these times of no visitation—and how much these connections are appreciated. We were recently approached by CaringBridge, a nonprofit social network that helps people connect with family and friends during health journeys, about a role they could play for virtual connections. We are hearing more and more from healthcare staff across the country who are sharing CaringBridge with their patients and residents to connect them with their loved ones—they are seeking out a variety of resources to reduce social isolation and we are humbled to be included as a solution. All it takes is a patient or family caregiver starting a CaringBridge site to help them stay connected with their family and friends—the patient can write and interact with their loved ones directly or a family caregiver can share updates on behalf of the patient and read the comments from loved ones. A CaringBridge site is always available so people can re-read comments and view photos as often as they like for as long as they like.

Starting a site is free, data is never shared or sold, and it takes less than five minutes. If you have a resident or family caregiver needing the social support or care coordination that comes through CaringBridge, please encourage them to start a CaringBridge site (https://www.caringbridge.org/) today. Through CaringBridge, a resident, friend/family member or caregiver can: • journal and share health updates; • identify multiple co-authors to share in communication activities; • customize privacy settings to control who has access to their site; • receive well wishes and words of encouragement; • coordinate daily instrumental support through the planner; and • share photos, videos and support links CaringBridge is available via a mobile-friendly website (https://www.caringbridge.org/) and in the Apple and Google Play stores.

CaringBridge has a customer care team that is available via email, live chat, and over the phone. Contact details can be found here (https://caringbridgehelp.custhelp.com/).

Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Honoring Choices® Minnesota COVID-19 advance care planning guide

By Patti Cullen, CAE | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

There is no better circumstance than a global pandemic to remind us that completing a healthcare directive or revising an existing directive is essential for all adults. Download the Honoring Choices® Minnesota COVID-19 ACP guide (https://honoringchoices.org/media/attachments/2020/04/14/covid-19-acp-guide-final-4.10.20.pdf) (two pages only!) to help you through the process of advance care planning in the context of COVID-19.

For healthcare providers and professionals, Honoring Choices recommend the following resources to guide your conversations about COVID-19 and advance care planning with your patients: • Respecting Choices’ resources to have planning conversations in COVID-19 (https://respectingchoices.org/covid19-resources/#planning-conversations) • Center to Advance Palliative Care COVID-19 toolkit (https://www.capc.org/toolkits/covid-19-response-resources/) • VitalTalk COVID-19 communication guide (https://www.vitaltalk.org/guides/covid-19-communication-skills/) • Minnesota Department of Health crisis standards of care (https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/ep/surge/crisis/index.html) • National POLST COVID-19 statement (https://polst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020.04.02-National-POLSTCOVID-19-Statement.pdf) • Minnesota POLST and COVID-19 guide (https://bit.ly/2KnhkMX) • Completing POLST forms in crisis standards of care (https://polst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020.04.01National-POLST-Crisis-Standards-of-Care.pdf) Visit Honoring Choices® Minnesota “COVID-19 Advance Care Planning Resources” page (https://honoringchoices.org/covid-19) for the most up-to-date COVID-19 ACP resource list (updated weekly).

Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Keep your building tight—but don’t deny hospice workers or compassionate care visits

By Doug Beardsley | April 24, 2020 | All providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

Providers are doing a tremendous job of minimizing visitors and non-essential persons from entering their buildings, in an attempt to keep your residents safe. However, we have been receiving some complaints that two categories of “outside” people are being denied entry, and it is resulting in some negative press and unfortunate outcomes. When appropriate, providers should permit entry (screened of course) of hospice staff for hospice-related services and selected resident family members in end-of-life situations.

Hospice The American Health Care Association, the National Center for Assisted Living, and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization have developed an excellent document: “Guidance on the Role of Hospice Services in LTC Facilities During COVID-10 Pandemic” (https://bit.ly/2VOoT4H).

Long-term care facility residents and staff are experiencing a number of stressors and losses. LTC facility staff are experiencing challenges both personally and professionally. This has increased the need for hospice’s holistic, end-of-life care for patients and families as well as grief and bereavement support for residents, families, and staff. It is critical that LTC and hospice staff partner together to ensure simple, clear, and supportive communication, minimizing mixed messages.

To prevent the spread, facilities and healthcare workers need to significantly reduce the number of people entering and interacting with residents and staff. This needs to be balanced with providing the most benefit to the resident and family, especially at the end-of-life. The risk–benefit must be made on a case-by-case basis, incorporating the best interest of the resident, against the risk of introducing the virus to other residents, a cohort that has a very high morbidity and mortality rate.

Compassionate care For individuals that enter in compassionate situations (e.g., end-of-life care), facilities should require visitors to perform hand hygiene and use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as facemasks. Decisions about visitation during an end-of-life situation should be made on a case-by-case basis, which should include careful screening of the visitor (including clergy, bereavement counselors, etc.) for fever or respiratory symptoms. Those with symptoms of a respiratory infection (fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat) should not be permitted to enter the facility at any time (even in end-of-life situations). Those visitors that are permitted, must wear a facemask while in the building and restrict their visit to the resident’s room or other location designated by the facility. They should also be reminded to frequently perform hand hygiene.

Doug Beardsley | Vice President of Member Services dbeardsl@careproviders.org | 952-851-2489

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Clarification on CMS waivers for three-day hospitalization stay due to COVID-19

By Patti Cullen, CAE | April 24, 2020 | Skilled nursing facilities

Friday, April 24, 2020

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently updated their SNF Medicare Part A coverage waiver guidance in an updated FAQ (https://www.cms.gov/files/document/03092020-covid-19-faqs-508.pdf) (see page 34 for SNF responses). The responses clarified when Medicare coverage would/would not change depending on the spell of illness and clarified when the three-day waiver applied. Using the authority under Section 1812(f) of the Act, CMS waived the requirement for a three-day prior hospitalization for coverage of a SNF stay, for those people who experience dislocations, or are otherwise affected by COVID-19.

The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has developed visual flowchart guidance to help providers understand when longstanding CMS SNF Part A coverage policies apply, or when and how the Section 1135 waivers may be applied in various scenarios, including admissions and readmissions from hospitals, direct admissions from the community, and whether a SNF long-stay resident can be “skilled-in-place.”

Below are links to documents that contain flowcharts and step-by-step guidance to help providers identify whether a particular beneficiary is eligible for Part A benefits under: 1) normal coverage policies; 2) the COVID-19 three-day stay waiver; or 3) the COVID-19 spell-of-illness waiver, as well how a claim can be coded to indicate that a COVID-19 waiver applied to the beneficiary.

• Beneficiary is hospital inpatient (community admission or SNF readmission) (https://bit.ly/2XVAS3a) • Beneficiary admission from community, ER, or hospital observation stay (https://bit.ly/3eNkaJp) • Beneficiary is SNF long-term care resident (skill-in-place) (https://bit.ly/2VKeQxw)

Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Additional physician services waived for nursing facilities

By Doug Beardsley | April 24, 2020 | SNF/NF providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added to their list of 1135 approved waivers. While prior waivers authorized physicians and non-physician practitioners to use telehealth options for nursing facility resident visits, the new waivers (https://www.cms.gov/files/document/summary-covid-19-emergency-declarationwaivers.pdf) provide the following additional flexibility: • CMS is waiving the requirement that prevents a physician from delegating a task when the regulations specify that the physician must perform it personally o This waiver gives physicians the ability to delegate any tasks to a physician assistant or nurse practitioner • CMS is waiving the requirement that all required physician visits must be made by the physician personally o CMS is modifying this provision to permit physicians to delegate any required physician visit to a nurse practitioner (NPs) or physician assistant who is not an employee of the facility, who is working in collaboration with a physician, and who is licensed by the state and performing within the state’s scope of practice laws CMS states these actions will assist in potential staffing shortages, maximize the use of medical personnel, and protect the health and safety of residents during the PHE. Note that CMS is not waiving the requirements for the frequency of required physician visits at § 483.30(c) (1). As set out above, CMS has only modified the requirement to allow for the requirement to be met by an NP or physician assistant, and via telehealth or other remote communication options, as appropriate. In addition, CMS notes they we are not waiving requirements for physician supervision in § 483.30(a)(1), and the requirement at § 483.30(d) (3) for the facility to provide or arrange for the provision of physician services 24 hours a day, in case of an emergency. It is important that the physician be available for consultation regarding a resident’s care.

Doug Beardsley | Vice President of Member Services dbeardsl@careproviders.org | 952-851-2489

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Legislative / Advocacy

Friday, April 24, 2020

Legislative update

By Toby Pearson | April 24, 2020 | All members Both the Senate and the House have mostly dealt with issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak, passing a package of provisions that address the crisis in a number of different areas, while discussing further measures that may be needed.

The House also passed on Friday—and Gov. Tim Walz signed into law—a measure allowing restaurants to sell beer and wine with to-go orders during the pandemic. The House now stands adjourned until April 28, unless leaders reach an agreement to reconvene before then to take additional action. The Senate came back into session on April 23, 2020.

There were a number of committee and division hearings scheduled for this week, and more likely to follow as they try to move toward the mandated adjournment date.

Senate The Minnesota Senate started moving issues related to COVID-19, as well as issues related to overall policy questions in the respective committees. The Senate is moving forward with a more regular meeting schedule and will be meeting as an entire body in floor sessions, more frequently than the House.

• Health & Human Services Finance & Policy; chair: Sen. Michelle R. Benson; meeting on MN COVID-19 testing capabilities; this remote committee hearing is conducted pursuant to Temporary Senate Rule 12.1(b); the hearing will be facilitated through Zoom o Agenda:  SF4500 (Benson)—COVID-19 serological testing grant program establishment and appropriation • Citizens' Council for Health FreedomTestimony SF4500 (pdf) (https://bit.ly/2x4JJVe)  SF4476 (Nelson)—COVID-19 advance research, development and implementation of tests necessary to respond to pandemic grant appropriation • Human Services Reform Finance & Policy; chair: Sen. Jim Abeler; meeting livestreamed at: www.Youtube.com/MnSenateMedia or www.senate.mn/media; this remote committee hearing is conducted pursuant to Temporary Senate Rule 12.1(b) o **The A-7 DE amendment is now posted. The previous A-2 amendment will not be offered.** o Agenda:  SF3694 (Abeler)—Personal care assistance services MnCHOICES lead agencies notice requirement restoration • SF3694 A-2 DE (Abeler) (pdf) (https://bit.ly/2x449h4) • SF3694 A-3 (Hoffman) (pdf) (https://bit.ly/3arkvOh) • SF3694 A-7 DE (Abeler) (pdf) (https://bit.ly/3bwLUQ7)  Update from the Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Budget Now, with the uncertainty of what the COVID-19 pandemic will cost the state up and down the ledger sheet, both shortand long-term, state officials can no longer paint a rosy picture—or a full one—because the economic impacts won’t be known for some time. Both the Senate and the House had finance committee meetings discussing state budget issues.

“The signals we normally use are delayed and muddied and less clear than they usually are,” State Economist Laura Kalambokidis told the committees.

What Minnesota Management & Budget officials are certain of, and were able to share at the remote hearing, is that expenses are rising, and revenues are falling. No action was taken at either the House or Senate meetings.

Released Friday, the latest revenue and economic update showed state General Fund revenues for February and March were $103 million below forecast amounts.

Additionally, Minnesota’s macroeconomic consultant, IHS Markit, projected a 2.1% national economic growth in 2020, the number used by the state in developing the February Forecast. However, a 5.4% decrease is now projected for the calendar year.

According to the update, “IHS expects the spread of COVID-19 to peak and then dissipate in the second calendar quarter of 2020, allowing social distancing restrictions to be lifted during the third quarter. Economic recovery begins in the third quarter, and real GDP growth turns positive in the fourth. Real GDP growth in 2021 is projected at 6.3 percent.” The key word may be “expects.”

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Friday, April 24, 2020 During his Monday media briefing, Gov. Tim Walz said he’s asked state officials to build a new budget projection in early May that reflects the state’s economic changes. Earlier in the day, Walz extended the peacetime emergency through May 13 and reiterated he won’t reopen the state’s economy until widespread coronavirus testing is available. Less than 1% of Minnesotans have been tested.

Additionally, a hiring freeze has been instituted on all executive branch positions unless the hire is directly related to the state’s COVID-19 response. Agencies cannot use contracts, including professional technical service, to circumvent the freeze. Walz, his chief of staff and all 24 cabinet commissioners will have their salary cut by 10% for the rest of 2020.

Many economic, employment and other factors are used to create the most accurate projection. But with numbers rapidly changing over the course of the pandemic, there is much more uncertainty. For example, Kalambokidis said new income tax withholding data arrives each week and some could be hard to interpret in the uncertainty overshadowing the current monetary climate.

Myron Frans, commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget, expects to have an ongoing dialogue with legislators and plans to provide additional updates throughout the summer and fall because revenues and expenses will continue to change.

So far this session, more than $551 million has been signed into law by Walz in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: $330.6 million March 28, $200 million March 17 and $20.9 million March 10.

Minnesota is expected to receive approximately $2.2 billion from the federal government within the next week to help cover COVID-19-related expenses. Frans previously said $1.2 billion would be for state government and the remainder for local levels of government. But, he warned, that doesn’t help with decreased state revenue.

As for a large bonding bill in 2020? “The interest rate situation is much more volatile than we have faced before,” Kalambokidis said. “It’s countercyclical. It’s good to put people to work; it will have an impact on the budget and that will compete with other needs as resources become more scarce, as revenues contract.”

Toby Pearson | Vice President of Advocacy tpearson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2480

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Learning Opportunities & Events

Friday, April 24, 2020

There is still time to submit convention presentation!

By Cheryl Smith | April 24, 2020 | All members We are looking forward to better times and the 72nd annual Convention & Expo where you may share your stories of resilience and lessons learned. This year’s theme—Exploring Opportunities—was selected long before current events, however in hindsight provides the perfect backdrop to showcase long-term care providers rising to the challenge and weathering the storm by finding creative solutions.

The Convention & Expo returns to Mystic Lake Center, November 16–18, 2020. This event attracts nearly 2,500 long-term care providers in skilled nursing, assisted living, housing, and home care settings. For three days, we host dynamic keynote sessions, engaging learning sessions, an exposition with more than 110 vendors, awards presentations, and other special events.

We look to you to showcase your knowledge and expertise by submitting a LEARNING SESSION and/or MINIBYTE proposal. Learning sessions are 75-minutes and MiniBytes are 15-minute sessions by one speaker on one topic. You may submit both LEARNING SESSION and MINIBYTE proposals, however, there is a limit of two proposals per category for a maximum of four proposals total.

Find out more about target professions, target topics, plus the two types of proposals (LEARNING SESSION and MINIBYTE) here (http://www.careproviders.org/convention/cfp).

Proposals will be accepted Wednesday, April 1 through Thursday, April 30.

Questions? Please contact me for questions about the submission process or educational content for convention presentations.

Cheryl Smith | Director of Education csmith@careproviders.org | 952-851-2488

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Clinical/Nursing Best Practices Online Workshop Series—2020

By Cheryl Smith | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

Care Providers of Minnesota is bringing back the successful Clinical/Nursing Best Practices Online Workshop Series with new topics in 2020. The series is created for clinical staff in skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, assisted living, and home care.

There is an option to earn CEUs in each of the workshops.

Each workshop is 60 minutes—45 minutes for formal presentation on a topic with the remaining 15 minutes for Q&A, interactive dialogue, virtual networking, and the opportunity to discuss current issues and share experiences. Register for one, multiple, or all four workshops—you decide!

June 16, 2020—Person-centered care plans Our first workshop in the 2020 series will focus on development of person-centered care plans in post-acute care setting. We will discuss what “person-centered” means and how Check out the brochure! to establish tools and education to inform and support staff as they write and update plans of care. Myths about the care planning process will be explored and dispelled.

Participants will identify useful strategies to move their organization’s care plans into a person-centered format.

July 14, 2020—The role of the nurse leader in post-acute care This workshop will explore the various roles that the nurse leaders play in a post-acute care setting. Expert clinician, regulatory expert, resident advocate, and staff mentor are just a few of the roles of this critical position. Join us to discuss strategies for embracing these roles and achieving satisfaction with your position.

August 18, 2020—Nurses as leaders Nurses are often promoted due to their clinical and organizing skills into leadership positions, with little preparation for the role. You accept leadership positions to offer your gifts and talents to the organization, its staff, and those for whom they care. One of the foundations for success is building an effective team. In this workshop, we will explore what the transition from clinician to leader looks like and focus on best practices to build an extraordinary team.

September 9, 2020—Best practices in incident investigation The clinical leader is often the person responsible for investigation of residents; incidents and required self-reporting of potential vulnerable adult issues. Our final webinar will explore best practices in conducting investigations, documenting information, and follow-through. We will discuss how to take a look at both the micro- and macro- environments of an incident and build a wholistic picture of what happened so that we can make real quality improvements.

Presenter/Facilitator Ms. Karolee Alexander RN, RAC-CT, Clinical & Reimbursement Director Pathway Health Services, has over 25 years of nursing leadership in long-term care, including 12 years as a director of nursing services for various facilities and six years in various MDS and reimbursement positions. In these roles, she has established herself as an expert in the management of nursing operations, reimbursement systems, and performance improvement. She is a strong proponent of personcentered care, having established many programs and processes to bring about the cultural changes to ensure the success of the programs.

For details on workshops, including registration, go here (https://www.careproviders.org/CPM/LearningOpportunities/Clinical_Series.aspx).

Cheryl Smith | Director of Education csmith@careproviders.org | 952-851-2488

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII “Living with Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic”—Relias webinar

By Doug Beardsley | April 24, 2020 | All providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

This free webinar, hosted by Relias learning, will highlight different person-centered working practices and routines to optimize the well-being of all involved, given the impossibility of following isolation guidelines for many persons living with dementia.

Webinar details Friday, April 24, 2020 1:00–2:00 PM CT Hosted by Teepa Snow, topics in this webinar include the following: • Assist program leaders and staff in identifying who will be able to adhere to the social distancing protocol and who will require alternate care provision • Provide care staff with techniques to interact within intimate space and intimate care tasks with reasonable protection while actively engaging the person living with dementia in a friendly and supportive manner • Offer gathering plans and actions that provide meaningful and energizing social opportunities and connections in 1:1, small groups, and larger groups while minimizing potential for COVID-19 transmission • Provide program leaders and staff with effective and accurate language and rationale to share with families and authorities Register online here (http://go.relias.com/pac-wbn-living-with-dementia-during-covid-19-reg.html).

Doug Beardsley | Vice President of Member Services dbeardsl@careproviders.org | 952-851-2489

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Workforce

Friday, April 24, 2020

DHS SNAP & MFIP benefit modifications

By Nicole Mattson, NHA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | April 24, 2020 | All members The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has temporarily modified procedures to make it easier for people to get, keep, and use essential programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which offers monthly food benefits.

Information about SNAP and other hunger resources is collected on the department’s new food emergency webpage (https://mn.gov/dhs/food-emergency/). People who use SNAP and don’t want to leave their homes to get food can authorize a trusted relative, friend, or neighbor to pick up and deliver groceries using their electronic benefits card. They must contact their county or tribal financial worker to make the authorization.

Using her emergency authority to waive and modify procedures during the peacetime emergency declared by Governor Tim Walz, Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead has approved these temporary changes to other economic assistance programs: • Eliminating paperwork, in-person meetings and other requirements that would be difficult or impossible to meet under social distancing restrictions, for economic assistance programs including the Minnesota Family Investment Program, General Assistance, Housing Support, and Minnesota Supplemental Aid • Ensuring that people who receive assistance don’t have to repay overpayments caused by worker or system errors Minnesotans can fill out an application for SNAP online (https://applymn.dhs.mn.gov/). For help applying or additional food resources, contact the food helpline at 1-888-711-1151 or visit the Hunger Solutions site (http://www.hungersolutions.org/programs/mn-food-helpline/).

The Minnesota Family Investment Program serves more than 29,000 families each month. MFIP provides temporary income support and employment services to families with children experiencing poverty, with Medical Assistance and childcare assistance available to most families.

Temporary changes affecting MFIP include the following: • Modifying requirements so that participants won’t face sanctions if they can’t attend meetings or submit paperwork • Ensuring that participants experiencing family violence won’t have to be put in potentially dangerous situations, such as face-to-face meetings with an abusive partner

Nicole Mattson | Vice President of Strategic Initiatives nmattson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2482

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII EEOC COVID-19 technical assistance publication

By Nicole Mattson, NHA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

On April 17, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/release/4-17-20.cfm) posted an updated and expanded technical assistance publication addressing questions arising under the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The publication, “What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws” (https://bit.ly/2RWEbmX) expands on a previous publication that focused on the ADA and Rehabilitation Act, and adds questions-and-answers to anticipating return to work situations, making reasonable accommodations, and harassment.

In response to inquiries from the public, the EEOC has provided resources on its website (https://www.eeoc.gov/coronavirus/) related to the pandemic in an employment context. The agency will continue to monitor developments and provide assistance to the public as needed.

Nicole Mattson | Vice President of Strategic Initiatives nmattson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2482

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Minnesota Board of Nursing updates

By Nicole Mattson, NHA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

The Board of Nursing received many questions regarding the Nurse Practice Act (NPA) and the COVID-19 pandemic—so they released the Minnesota Board of Nursing COVID-19 and the NPA FAQ (https://bit.ly/2xQKd1l) to provide guidance. It will be updated regularly. You can also visit the “COVID-19 Resources” page (https://mn.gov/boards/nursing/practice/nursing-covid-19-resources/) on the Board's website for more information.

Nicole Mattson | Vice President of Strategic Initiatives nmattson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2482

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII MN Department of Labor updates COVID-19 FAQ

By Nicole Mattson, NHA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has updated its frequently asked questions document for employers and employees (https://bit.ly/2UU54sb) with responses to the most common questions and concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal paid sick days, expanded family leave For the most recent information and resources about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, visit the “COVID-19 and the American Workplace” page (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic) on the US Department of Labor website. Employers should be aware that this law includes a new federally required workplace poster that can be distributed to teleworkers by email. In addition, employers and others who are interested in setting up an informational webinar about this law can email David Skovholt (david.skovholt@state.mn.us).

Worker protections DLI's COVID-19 worker protections document has now been translated into Hmong, Somali, and Spanish.

• English (https://bit.ly/3bsaWzW) • Hmong (https://bit.ly/3cHcxlU) • Somali (https://bit.ly/2xFNFMw) • Spanish (https://bit.ly/2VSAAHL) Other DLI COVID-19 resources • Minnesota OSHA: o COVID-19 health and safety guidelines for the meatpacking industry (https://bit.ly/3eLp89w) o COVID-19: Protecting grocery store employees fact sheet (https://bit.ly/2RXYOz2) o Safety and health guidelines for the employers and employees of essential work operations (https://bit.ly/2zdRjNN) • Workers' compensation—FAQs (https://bit.ly/2VrSAtc) about the new Minnesota workers' compensation presumption law that covers first responders and certain health and childcare workers.

Nicole Mattson | Vice President of Strategic Initiatives nmattson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2482

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Association

Friday, April 24, 2020

Recognize the efforts of your amazing staff!

By Lisa Foss Olson | April 24, 2020 | All providers Care Providers of Minnesota’s Recognition Program is a simple—and easy—way to show your appreciation for standout employees/staff/peers/volunteers who are providing care.

We’ve made it convenient to submit the nomination: simply fill out the online form, upload two support documents (or something similar, i.e., video), and then click the submit button. Award recipients will be presented with their award at our annual convention, November 16–18, 20202.

And here is why it’s important to nominate—even if your nominee is not chosen, EVERY NOMINEE RECEIVES A SIGNED CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION from Care Providers of Minnesota. This means that regardless of being selected, you can present them with a certificate that shows you value them.

There are 10 award categories from which you can nominate. Find out more here (http://www.careproviders.org/awards).

Nominations accepted through May 8, 2020.

Lisa Foss Olson | Director of Public Relations & Communications lolson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2483

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Post your open positions on Care Providers of Minnesota’s job board

By Lisa Foss Olson | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

Care Providers of Minnesota’s job board continues to be the place to advertise your open positions. As a reminder, members can post all their job openings—for free! Non-members are welcome to post positions for a fee of $150. There is no limit to the number of open positions you can post, with all postings active for 30 days.

Care Providers of Minnesota’s job board is also open to the public, requiring no login to view the list of positions (note: you will need to login to POST a position on the job board).

If you need any assistance or would like Care Providers of Minnesota to post the job for you, we are happy to help! Just send your information to Lisa (lolson@careproviders.org) at the Association office.

Lisa Foss Olson | Director of Public Relations & Communications lolson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2483

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII National

Friday, April 24, 2020

DHHS updates CARES Act provider relief info

By Patti Cullen, CAE | April 24, 2020 | Skilled nursing facilities On April 16, 2020, the US Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) updated the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund website (https://covid19.linkhealth.com/#/step/1)—DHHS added the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Payment Attestation Portal. Providers who have been allocated a payment from the initial $30 billion general distribution must sign an attestation confirming receipt of the funds and agree to the terms and conditions within 30 days of payment.

DHHS also has added an additional clarifying statement to the "Who is Eligible for the Initial $30 billion," in the last bullet of the section. The statement now reads (bold text is new), "If you ceased operation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you are still eligible to receive funds so long as you provided diagnoses, testing, or care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19. Care does not have to be specific to treating COVID-19. HHS broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19."

As a reminder, the initial funding was sent to Medicare providers. The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) anticipates this statement applying to the second and third tranches of funding as well but will provide updates on any changes in the language. However, the provider relief fund terms and conditions (https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/relief-fund-payment-terms-and-conditions.pdf) remain in place, and providers should development financial management systems to track and report on grant use.

While DHHS has not released detailed reporting instructions, the attestation form includes a statement on how DHHS will determine appropriate use of payments via reporting requirements including maintaining an accounting of payments, and how providers are processing payments from the fund. Examples of how DHHS will use fund reporting information include, but are not limited to, monitor contractors (and/or to its subcontractor) who has been engaged to perform services on an automated data processing (ADP) system used in processing financial transactions and to be shared with appropriate law enforcement agencies when relevant to an investigation, to the Treasury Department, and to auditing organizations conducting financial or compliance audits. A complete list of routine uses may be found online here (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/11/03/2015-27980/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records-notice).

Finally, if you are experiencing challenges with grant payments, DHHS has requested that provides call the toll-free CARES provider relief line at 866-569-3522.

Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487

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ACTION Newsletter

CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA Volume XXXV, Edition XVII State

Friday, April 24, 2020

Housing support (formerly GRH) temporary increases update

By Jill Schewe | April 24, 2020 | Assisted living providers We previously communicated that part of an emergency COVID-19 response bill passed on March 26, 2020, allowed for a temporary 15% increase to the Housing Support rate. The Department of Human Services (DHS) has released guidelines on who will receive the increased payment, how payments will be issued over the next four months, what kinds of expenses are eligible, and how providers need to track and report expenses.

Read the important update from the DHS Housing Support team regarding Housing Support payment increase HERE (https://www.careproviders.org/members/2020/HousingSupportFundingIncreaseDetails.pdf).

Care Providers of Minnesota has confirmed this add-on payment to Housing Support will not affect any eligibility for waivered services.

Jill Schewe | Director of Assisted Living, Housing & Home Care jschewe@careproviders.org | 952-851-2484

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII State’s Live Well at Home Grant application deadline extended

By Patti Cullen, CAE | April 24, 2020 | Assisted living & home care providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

The deadline for applying for a Department of Human Services (DHS) Live Well at Home Grant has been moved to Friday, May 15, 2020. Look for the information on the Live Well at Home grant page (https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-andproviders/grants-rfps/live-well/apply-for-live-well-grant/) on the DHS website.

• Purpose of the grant: To develop and /or provide services for older Minnesotans to live in the community o Allow local communities to improve their capacity to develop, strengthen, integrate programs o Maintain home and community-based services for individuals' age 65 and older and at risk of long-term nursing home use and/or spending down into Medical Assistance o Proposals may include strengthening services for the caregiver support network • Total completed applications submitted: Five as of April 13, 2020 Key dates • March 5, 2020: Responders conference, 10:00–11:30 AM CT, WebEx Meeting (https://bit.ly/3bsXID1) • April 24, 2020: Questions due to staff by 4:00 PM CT; email questions to: courtney.whited@state.mn.us • April 27, 2020: FAQs posted by 4:00 PM CT • May 15, 2020: Applications due 4:00 PM CT

Patti Cullen, CAE | President/CEO pcullen@careproviders.org | 952-851-2487

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII DHS issues COVID-19 guidance for EW customized living

By Todd Bergstrom | April 24, 2020 | Assisted living & home care providers

Friday, April 24, 2020

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) reinforced existing mechanisms when issuing guidance relating to COVID-19 and Elderly Waiver Customized Living (EW-CL). The April 17, 2020, communication (https://bit.ly/3atMEEk) does not create any new avenues for clients to receive additional services. The formal statement notes several times that options described are already a current option for case managers/care coordinators, and the process is not affected by COVID-19. Instead, DHS explained how additional services may be received by an EW-CL client. Specifically, DHS states the following: COVID-19 guidance for EW customized living Lead agencies and providers are partnering in their efforts to prevent and contain COVID-19 in their community.

This partnership is critical to continue to meet the needs of people living in the community in customized living provider settings.

For general information about customized living, see CBSM–Customized living (including 24-hour customized living) (https://bit.ly/3axnjcK).

Considerations Customized living providers are engaged in significant efforts to prevent and contain COVID-19 outbreaks within settings and to continue to meet the needs of residents.

Lead agencies must respond to requests from providers and/or people on EW to perform assessments and reassessments and/or adjust customized living service delivery plans and resulting rates, as needed. This is especially important if a person on EW is symptomatic and/or has tested positive for COVID-19. In this instance, lead agencies should give this work the highest possible priority and follow the guidelines outlined in this eList announcement.

How to amend a current residential services tool and customized living service plan Case managers/care coordinators can amend a person’s current residential services tool and customized living service plan, without recording changes in MMIS, when both of the following are true: • The person needs additional services • There is sufficient resource within the person’s case mix budget and/or customized living/24-hour customized living case mix rate limit to support changes in amount or type of component service.

This is a current option for case managers/care coordinators, and the process is not affected by COVID-19.

Submit the revised workbook by following the process outlined on DHS–EW residential services (https://bit.ly/2Ktt0xC).

How to record changes in MMIS for case mix or 24-hour customized living Case managers/care coordinators should use activity type 10 (service change) in MMIS to record a person’s changes in need when the changes will affect the case mix classification or establish eligibility for 24-customized living. Using this activity type does not extend the EW eligibility span beyond the current service year.

Case managers/care coordinators may choose to complete a reassessment instead of an activity type 10 if the person’s current waiver span is ending relatively soon.

This is a current option for case managers/care coordinators, and the process is not affected by COVID-19.

Submit the revised workbook by following the process outlined on DHS–EW residential services (https://bit.ly/2Ktt0xC).

Todd Bergstrom | Director of Research & Data Analysis tbergstrom@careproviders.org | 952-851-2486

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CARE PROVIDERS OF MINNESOTA ACTION Newsletter Volume XXXV, Edition XVII Personal incentive checks & Medicaid eligibility

By Todd Bergstrom | April 24, 2020 | All members

Friday, April 24, 2020

There are a number of questions related to the COVID-19 personal incentive checks and how the funds impact Medicaid eligibility. According to a recent communication from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living: Medicaid Treatment of Relief Payments in CARES Act. CMS has clarified that the relief payments people receive from the CARES Act may not be counted as income when making Medicaid and CHIP eligibility determinations. In addition, these payments may not be counted as resources for 12 months. See Question 54 in the Medicaid FAQ here (https://www.medicaid.gov/state-resource-center/downloads/covid-19-section-6008-CARES-faqs.pdf).

Question 54 text: Is the relief payment to individuals and families provided by section 2201 of the CARES Act countable for Medicaid and CHIP eligibility? No. Section 2201 of the CARES Act allows a refundable tax credit for 2020 to eligible individuals. It also directs the Internal Revenue Service to provide payments in 2020 as an advance refund of the credit to eligible individuals, called “Recovery Rebates.” The payments are not taxable income, and are therefore not countable in MAGI-based eligibility determinations. Separately, 26 U.S.C. § 6409 prohibits the counting of federal tax rebates or advance payments with respect to refundable tax credits as income, and, for 12 months following receipt, resources, in the eligibility determination of any federal needs-based program (such as Medicaid). Thus, the Recovery Rebates may not be counted as income, and, for 12 months, as resources, in non-MAGI financial eligibility determinations.

Personal Incentive Check Distribution to SSA Beneficiaries (virtually ALL SNF patients are Medicare beneficiaries and therefore are receiving SSDI or OASDI and most long-stay residents are receiving SSI and are therefore Medicaid eligible): For Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability beneficiaries (this includes OASDI (old age retirement), SSDI (disabled workers), SSI (elders and persons with disabilities with very low incomes) who do not have qualifying children under age 17, do not need to take any action with SSA or the IRS. Treasury will automatically deposit the $1,200 economic impact payment directly from the IRS as long as into the bank account on record as a long as an SSA-1099 for 2019 was filed. If not, the beneficiary simply goes to a form at the IRS webpage to provide the information. Click here (https://blog.ssa.gov/new-guidance-about-covid-19-economic-impact-payments/) for SSA guidance.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has not yet issued any formal directions on the technical aspects of processing this through the eligibility systems.

Todd Bergstrom | Director of Research & Data Analysis tbergstrom@careproviders.org | 952-851-2486

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