CEO Blog

Reform 3.0: Add issues like Emergency Medical Assistance to the list

By Patricia Cullen on 1/26/2012 9:48 AM

The 2012 Legislative Session began this week, with a few key bipartisan themes: jobs and reform. Yup, it is tough to argue with creating more jobs, sustaining current jobs, and “doing things smarter.” So let’s talk about the call for reform. Certainly this is not the first time either the administration or one political party or another tooted the reform horn. Some of the concepts on the Republican’s Reform 2.0 list (www.reform2.mn) are great ideas — especially the one we forwarded to them on conversion of life insurance policies to pay for long-term care services! Most of the list is either “low hanging fruit” or concepts, rather than true reform plans.

When I think of reform I think of really changing up some long-standing ways of doing things in this state.

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2011 update

2012 continues the reform journey

By Patricia Cullen on 1/10/2012 9:21 AM

2012 may prove to be as confusing and as dynamic as 2011 when it comes to long-term care changes. Clearly in 2011 there were planning efforts underway to implement various reform initiatives that passed the state legislature in 2008, 2009 and 2011; and the federal health care reform act of 2010. In other words, there is reform on top of reform on top of reform going on. … No wonder it is hard to keep up.

As the new year begins, I thought it would be helpful to provide an update on the various initiatives that are underway as well as an opinion on their impact. I apologize in advance for the lengthy list — it doesn’t even include all of the projects underway because that would be as long as a novel!

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2011 update

Musings on the Level of Care Changes

By Patricia Cullen on 12/1/2011 11:15 AM

In October I wrote a blog about the Medicaid Reform Waiver and the Home and Community-Based Services Redesign that passed during the 2011 Special Session.

Every week Association staff has been participating in a variety of workgroup meetings designed to provide input and develop recommendations on some of the waiver reform project directives from the 2011 legislation. While the details are not yet “ripe” for many of the provisions, there is enough information available now on the level of care changes to provide some fuel for comment.

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2011 update

Medicaid Reform Waivers Include HCBS Redesign — Got Any Ideas??

By Patricia Cullen on 10/12/2011 12:15 PM

Section 53 of the omnibus health and human services bill that passed during the special legislative session includes a directive to the commissioner of human services to report to the Legislature by January 15, 2012 on a significant change to the medical assistance program in Minnesota — known as the medical assistance reform waiver. The legislative language describes in some detail the “projects” that are envisioned under this reform section — from “testing alternative payment and service delivery models” to “promoting personal responsibility and encourage and reward healthy outcomes” to “redesign home and community-based services.”

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2011 update

When Should People Surrender Their Decision-Making Ability??

By Patricia Cullen on 9/19/2011 12:23 PM

I have been contemplating for some time the philosophical issues that come to mind when reviewing the new law that passed during the dark of night requiring citizens to receive (or refuse) counseling before moving into a housing with services establishment.

I have been separating out the business process issues from the emotional/belief issues and I want to share where I am with these mental exercises.

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2011 update

Want Great Nursing Home Care?? Get Thee to a Prison!

By Patricia Cullen on 8/23/2011 10:41 AM

Economics was never my strong suit — matter of fact the only graduate school class I dropped was macroeconomics. Having said that, I can figure out simple math and budgeting, and really do understand the concept of cost-effectiveness and value. I can look at the most recent state bulletin listing the cost-of-care rates for state operated services and clearly understand that the state seems to “value” incarcerated individuals over frail seniors who haven’t been sent to prison.

Here is what I see:

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2011 update

How to Respond to Negative Media Stories

By Patricia Cullen on 8/11/2011 10:40 AM

Do you ever feel like you are getting attacked from all sides when all you are really trying to do is your very best at a very tough job?? I am sure most of you are saying yes!

Over the past few months there has been an increasing number of negative news stories published in a major Minnesota newspaper, and these stories are taking their toll on some of our members; and certainly they are increasing the emotional angst for family members making a tough decision about a loved one who needs medical care.

So, what do we do when we don’t have access to the same open bully pulpit?

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2011 update

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun!

By Patricia Cullen on 7/6/2011 9:45 AM

Last month was a blur for many of us at the Association. We were busy with legal and public relations strategies for members preparing for the state shutdown, which was a tense and solemn experience.

At the same time we were getting ready for a party.

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2011 update