By Lori EhdeRepresentatives from the region’s hospitals and nursing homes attended a "listening session" at Luverne Community Hospital Wednesday, Sept. 3, to give legislators direction in the upcoming session."I think it went well," said Jerry Carl, Luverne Community Hospital Administrator and CEO.Rep. Lynda Boudreau (R-Faribault) met with administrators, doctors, nurses, and local leaders from more than 10 local hospitals and nursing homes Wednesday."It is important to meet face to face with the people who provide our medical care," Boudreau said. "You can get new ideas and better grasp of the issues when you take the time to look and listen."Boudreau is chair of the House Committee on Health and Human Services Policy. Rep. Doug Magnus (R-Slayton) was also at the meeting.While a lagging economy makes it difficult to consider major new spending programs, the Legislature can help health facilities by reducing costs for red tape and reporting requirements.Nursing homes are facing special pressures from increased paperwork and red-tape imposed by state agencies. "We need to let nurses be nurses, and cut back on the paperwork that does not contribute to the quality of care," Magnus said.Bonnie Hengeveld, attended the Sept. 3 meeting as Tuff Village Administrator and as Tuff Memorial Home assistant administrator. She told legislators that the Hills assisted living apartments are operating at an efficient level under its current licensures, but she asked lawmakers to protect that status."From the assisted living standpoint, we don’t want any more regulations," Hengeveld said. "We already operate on numerous licenses, and to keep regulation down will help keep costs down and allow us to care for folks in a manner they want to be cared for."The Tuff Village, with 19 apartments, has been operating with no vacancies since it opened two years ago."If there is a way to save hospitals money without reducing the level of safety and quality of care, then we should be ready to act," Boudreau said.In addition to concerns about changes in Medicaid reimbursement, Carl said he brought up specific concerns about mental health patients.He asked legislators to find a way for southwest Minnesota patients on public assistance to access mental health professionals in Sioux Falls.Because the specialized care many patients need isn’t available here, they often are sent to St. Cloud or further, because red tape prohibits access to care across the state line. Carl also asked legislators to discourage the Minnesota Department of Health’s plan to required registered nurses in hospice facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week."The problem we have is that hospice facilities across the state provide different levels of care," Carl said.In Luverne’s Hospice Cottage, that level of care is rarely necessary, because patients utilize the nearby hospital. It wouldn’t be cost-effective to staff a registered nurse there permanently.Boudreau plans to visit about 30 hospitals, clinics and nursing homes around the state to prepare for the next Legislative session in February.
