2007 Minnesota Statutes

256B.439 LONG-TERM CARE QUALITY PROFILES.
    Subdivision 1. Development and implementation of quality profiles. (a) The commissioner
of human services, in cooperation with the commissioner of health, shall develop and implement
a quality profile system for nursing facilities and, beginning not later than July 1, 2004, other
providers of long-term care services, except when the quality profile system would duplicate
requirements under section 256B.5011, 256B.5012, or 256B.5013. The system must be developed
and implemented to the extent possible without the collection of significant amounts of new data.
To the extent possible, the system must incorporate or be coordinated with information on quality
maintained by area agencies on aging, long-term care trade associations, and other entities. The
system must be designed to provide information on quality to:
(1) consumers and their families to facilitate informed choices of service providers;
(2) providers to enable them to measure the results of their quality improvement efforts and
compare quality achievements with other service providers; and
(3) public and private purchasers of long-term care services to enable them to purchase
high-quality care.
(b) The system must be developed in consultation with the long-term care task force, area
agencies on aging, and representatives of consumers, providers, and labor unions. Within the limits
of available appropriations, the commissioners may employ consultants to assist with this project.
    Subd. 2. Quality measurement tools. The commissioners shall identify and apply existing
quality measurement tools to:
(1) emphasize quality of care and its relationship to quality of life; and
(2) address the needs of various users of long-term care services, including, but not limited
to, short-stay residents, persons with behavioral problems, persons with dementia, and persons
who are members of minority groups.
The tools must be identified and applied, to the extent possible, without requiring providers to
supply information beyond current state and federal requirements.
    Subd. 3. Consumer surveys. Following identification of the quality measurement tool, the
commissioners shall conduct surveys of long-term care service consumers to develop quality
profiles of providers. To the extent possible, surveys must be conducted face-to-face by state
employees or contractors. At the discretion of the commissioners, surveys may be conducted by
telephone or by provider staff. Surveys must be conducted periodically to update quality profiles
of individual service providers.
    Subd. 4. Dissemination of quality profiles. By July 1, 2003, the commissioners shall
implement a system to disseminate the quality profiles developed from consumer surveys using
the quality measurement tool. Profiles may be disseminated to the Senior LinkAge line and to
consumers, providers, and purchasers of long-term care services through all feasible printed and
electronic outlets. The commissioners may conduct a public awareness campaign to inform
potential users regarding profile contents and potential uses.
History: 1Sp2001 c 9 art 5 s 29; 2002 c 220 art 14 s 12,13; 2002 c 379 art 1 s 113