Confidential Document for Members
PROPOSED POLICY ACTION PLAN
Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging
Legislative Committee
June 27, 2007
(revised 8 7 07)
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO DATE
2005 Session
Blueprint to Rebalance Long-term Care HF 2203/SF 2080
Major provision
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Shift state and federal resources from institutional care to community care. By
2010, 60% of resources to be spent on community care of older persons
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Close 6,000 nursing home beds and reallocate savings to care at home
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Expand home and community-based services through the Waiver programs,
MA homecare and Aging Grants, including an expanded Aging Grants menu
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Expand caregiver support via virtual, Internet-based resource center
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Engage local stakeholders to prioritize service expansion in their market areas
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Develop a relocation demonstration targeted to older persons in their first 60
days of nursing home placement
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Extend COLA increases across the provider community
2006 Session
Long-term Care Investment Study SF 2080 (delete all amendment)
Major provisions

Ensure choice to meet consumer needs and preferences across service
continuum; findings of study to inform Legislature to set reallocation goals and
investments in core services
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Specific information about the needs of family caregivers of frail seniors
Cost/benefit analysis of home and community-based care, including informal
support
Efficacy and efficiency of existing service models within varying economic,
demographic and social groups at the community level
Recommendations for a core set of services
2007 Session
Community Care Act for Older Minnesotans HF 2178/SF 1931
Major provisions
 Assure access to an array of affordable home and community-based services;
enact essential initial policy changes to develop a system of care grounded in the
community
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Provide a tax credit for family caregivers of adults of all ages
Develop innovative home modification, escorted transportation and evidencebased caregiver support services; implement sliding fee scales
Restore funding for the Aging Grants reduced in 2003; add COLA provision
Conduct studies to improve access to Waiver services, hospice care, and adult
protection and elder abuse prevention services
Establish a statewide priority to enhance the mobility of seniors
Reduce fragmentation for seniors who need care from multiple sources
through development of best practices in intake, assessment, referral and
care coordination
Accomplishments
Council members have established the coalition’s issues and presence with
legislators, the governor’s office, the MN Board on Aging, Department of Human
Services, service providers and other coalitions over the three-year period. In
December 2006, the Council held a successful Aging Policy Exchange, drawing 300+
persons and organizations interested in issues of aging. Warren Wolfe, Star Tribune,
reported on the Policy Exchange with the headline “There’s a new voice for
Minnesota’s aging population.” The Exchange affirmed consensus on three principles
on which to base future policy change. During the event the Council introduced its
website and list serv at www.mnlcoa.org. Ten organizations published their policy
platforms on the site in the 2007 session.
Each session, the Council’s bill passed the relevant policy committee, and in 2005
and 2006, passed the finance committee in at least one body. Committee hearings
led to referral for possible inclusion in the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill.
The Legislature enacted some provisions of the 2007 Community Care Act – namely
the extension of a COLA to the Aging Services Grants and a modest increase in base
funding for nutrition and RSVP, Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion services.
Other organizations were the primary advocates for these measures and the
Governor’s budget included them at the outset of the session.
PROPOSED POLICY ACTION PLAN 2007-2010
2007
1. Follow-up with Community Care Act authors; analyze offers to champion
issues and determine next steps; conduct other follow-up as needed,
including meeting with DHS Health Care Purchasing staff members to
understand their position on the MSHO and EW issues raised by the Council.
2. Analyze legislative proposals from the 2007 session relevant to older persons
and family caregivers; understand policy thrusts and determine if/how to
connect.
3. Gather information and map systems change initiatives with community longterm care and related foci to include: DHS Quality System Architecture;
Comprehensive Assessment launch and related electronic linking efforts;
MBA’s Aging and Disability Resource Centers and Choices project; Transform
2010 and sub-initiatives; Community Care Act; current LTC Imperative design
strategies; AARP/MHHA LTC Redesign pilot project; etc. Identify players and
thinkers for future Design Teams/Stakeholder Groups to help develop 20092010 Charter. Develop document and release at January 08 Policy Exchange;
publish on www.mnlcoa.org.
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4. Analyze Community Care Act and strengthen for BIG WIN strategy in 2008.
5. Meet with Commissioner Ludeman, DHS and Governor Pawlenty to request
inclusion of the refined Community Care Act in the Governor’s budget
proposal. Establish relationships with Brian Osberg, Alex Bartolic and other
state agency leaders.
6. Determine if MNLCOA could/should pursue change at the federal level.
2008
1. Hold 2nd Annual Aging Policy Exchange.
2. Conduct a strategic organizing campaign to assure a BIG WIN for the
Community Care Act in the 2008 session.
3. Develop and conduct a multi-media campaign to raise issues of aging to be
addressed by candidates in the 08 election. Use the mnlcoa list serv, radio,
television and print venues featuring stories of older persons and their
families. Consider the following issues and highlight solutions:
a) Customized Living policy changes of 2007 session and impact on people
and providers, including the unintended consequences counter to
expanding non-institutional care – likely resulting in increased nursing
home placement
b) Access to care issues for dually eligible seniors resulting from the transition
of the EW program to health plans
c) Inadequacy of services for elder abuse prevention and intervention, and
outdated VA Act
d) Family caregiving
4. Assemble a think-tank and process to develop a vision for a comprehensive,
ideal care system of the future. Become thoroughly grounded in innovation,
quality, best/promising practices, consumer preferences, consumer directed
care, cost containment, change initiatives in other states, and payment
streams.
2009 – 2010
1. Assuming a BIG WIN in 2008, advance the vision developed in 2008 with
broad elements of common ground to charter the care system of the near
future. Engage broad coalition to adopt the charter and commit to its top line
presentation in all discussions with policy makers, the media and other
stakeholders.
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2. Set the stage for a “Care System Omnibus Bill” fully negotiated among the
community players and other stakeholders before the outset of the 20112012 legislative session.
4
Proposed Policy Action Plan (2007)
July 07
August 07
Analyze meetings with
September 07
October 07
November 07
December 07
Follow-up with authors, champions, opponents.
legislators of the 07
session. (Dawn)
John, Mike, Leni, Barb,
Meet with Pam Parker to
Michele F., and Dawn
gain understanding of
strategize for meeting with
MSHO/EW issues from DHS
Pam Parker, DHS on
perspective.
MSHO/EW issues.
Analyze legislative
proposals & enacted
provisions of 07 session to
determine common policy
thrusts. (Lee)
Analyze and refine Community Care Act for BIG WIN.
Develop and launch a strategic organizing process to advance the Community Care Act.
Strive for focused request with greatest opportunity for
Develop and implement a communications plan to include grassroots advocacy and media.
success.
Coordinate communication and media efforts with the Network Committee.
Meet with Commission Ludeman, DHS, and Governor
Pawlenty. Request integration of Community Care Act in
Governor’s budget. Work with Loren Coleman and Jean
Wood. Establish relationships with additional, key state
agency leaders (Osberg, Bartolic, others).
Gather information and map systems change initiatives to feature at the 08 Aging Policy
Exchange and for publication on the Web site.
Table 1 – 2007 Timeline
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Proposed Policy Action Plan (2008)
Jan 08
Feb 08
March 08
April 08
May 08
June 08
July 08
Aug 08
Sept 08
Oct 08
Nov 08
Dec 08
Hold 2nd
Aging Policy
Exchange
Implement Legislative Strategy to achieve BIG WIN with the Community Care Act.
Develop media campaign to
Secure media series on
raise awareness of aging
priority issues that may
issues as election issues.
include: 1) Customized
Living policy change, 2)
elder abuse/VA Act
inadequacies, 3) issues of
access to services for dually
eligible older persons, 4)
family caregiving
Assemble think-tank. Develop vision for the future, ideal care system (Charter) and secure commitment from stakeholders to promote
MNLCOA policy Charter during the 2009-2010 legislative session.1
Table 2 – 2008 Timeline
1
Consider a more assertive timeline to develop “omnibus bill” for introduction in the 2010 session for full action in 2011 budget session.
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Proposed Policy Action Plan (2009)
Jan 09
Feb 09
March 09
April 09
May 09
June 09
July 09
Aug 09
Sept 09
Oct 09
Nov 09
Dec 09
Hold 3rd
Aging Policy
Exchange
With other stakeholders, promote the vision for the ideal
care system and its charter with legislators, governor, state
agencies, and others.
With think-tank, design the ideal care system and implementation plan, including strategies to build a
coalition with shared power across stakeholders. Determine policy and other changes needed at all levels
of government and community.
Table 3 – 2009 Timeline
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Proposed Policy Action Plan (2010)
Jan 10
Feb 10
March 10
April 10
May 10
June 10
July 10
Aug 10
Sept 10
Oct 10
Nov 10
Hold 4th
Aging Policy
Exchange
Negotiate single legislative proposal among all players for 2011-2012 session to advance the ideal vision and supporting policy transformation.
Table 4 – 2010 Timeline
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Dec 10