Minn. Stat. §256B.0911 (Long-Term Care Consultation)

Federal and state laws require that all people entering a certified nursing facility, certified boarding and care facility or hospital swing bed be screened for the appropriate level of care and services regardless of the payer source. People under age 21 are especially identified for verification of the need for institutional care.

For the purpose of this page, the term NF refers to all three settings.

A face-to-face screening prior to admission to NFs is required. People under age 21 with a diagnosis or history of developmental disability or a related condition are also subject to screening according to OBRA requirements. Nursing facilities cannot claim Medical Assistance payment for NF services before the date of screening.

Complete screenings for NF admission using the same LTCC form for adults entering a nursing facility. All LTCC screening policies apply.

Person located in the hospital

The county long-term care consultation agency in which the hospital from which a nursing referral is made is responsible for screening the individual.

Person located in the community

If a referral is made for a person living in the community, the LTCC agency in the county where the person lives is responsible for the screening.

Inter-facility transfers and re-admissions

A person does not need a second LTCC screening when the person:

CAC, CADI, and TBI Waiver respite

An LTCC screening is not required when a person under age 21 is admitted to an NF as part of a waiver respite plan.

If the person does not meet the 30-day exemption, the county must perform PAS (including OBRA level I and OBRA level II evaluations) for all Minnesota residents seeking NF admission to an out-of-state facility funded by Minnesota Medical Assistance.

Rules in the admitting state will guide admission activities for people seeking admission to NFs located outside of Minnesota when Minnesota Medical Assistance is not responsible to pay for the admission.

People admitted to Minnesota NFs from other states should have their preadmission screenings performed by the state from which they come when that state is paying for the stay.

Level I Evaluation

1. Determine the need for NF level of care.
2. Evaluate whether a DD diagnosis or related condition is present or suspected.
3. Refer for a Level II evaluation to the county of financial responsibility if developmental disability or related condition is present or suspected. In the case of private pay, refer to the county in which the facility is located.

Level II Evaluation

1. Conduct a full team screening within seven to nine working days of receiving the Level I referral from the PAS team.
2. If the person is unknown to the county, refer the individual for a psychological evaluation to verify if a developmental disability exists.
3. Confirm the need for NF care.
4. If found to have a diagnosis of developmental disability or a related condition, determine if active treatment is needed during the NF stay. The evaluation and determination of the need for specialized services must be made by a Qualified Developmental Disability Professional.
5. Enter the full team screening and level II information in MMIS and route to location 570.

Keep a copy of the Level I and Level II forms in the person’s lead agency case file and forward a copy of each to the NF.

When a person is transferred from a NF to a hospital or another NF, the transferring NF is responsible to send copies of the most recent Level II evaluative report along with the person.

NFs cannot bill MMIS for services without an approved MMIS screening document.

Route the screening document containing LTCC information in MMIS to location 560. Because face-to-face screening is required prior to admission, hospital discharge timelines are often short. Notify DHS of a waiting screening document by calling 651-431-4300.