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By Heidi Ampe, LSW (Social Worker, Hilltop Care Center) Beginning October, 2002, the Minnesota Department of Human Services will be implementing a New Minnesota Case Mix System. Case Mix refers to the levels of care that correlate to the cost of care for each Nursing Home resident based on the amount of care the individual requires. The date of implementation is subject to change by DHS. The change will be from the current system in which each resident is assigned a letter "A" though "K" that indicates their level of care. There is a daily rate for each level. The New Case Mix System will be divided into 34 levels of care. The Minnesota Department of Human Services will continue to assign the level of care based on each resident's care needs. Again, each level will correspond to a specific daily rate. Instead of 11 different rates there will be 34 different rates. The new rates have not been determined yet. As a result of the 2001 Minnesota legislative session, beginning with admissions on or after July 1, 2001, residents will be charged higher rates on the first 90 days of a resident's stay. Those 90 days are divided into two periods. For the first 30 paid days, the resident will be charged 120 percent of the resident's case mix rate. For the next 60 days, the resident will be charged 110 percent of the resident's case mix rate. After 90 days, the rate will remain at the "regular" rate. As a result of the New Minnesota Case Mix System, resident's may find a difference in the cost of care between the September 2002 billing and the October 2002 billing. Residents and their families are encouraged to contact the Directors of Nursing, Social Services or Administration for more information. Thank you for choosing Paynesville Area Health Care System to meet your family's health care needs.
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