Purpose

• Establishes when and how the Minnesota commissioner of veterans affairs can close a Minnesota veterans home. The goal is to ensure residents receive appropriate care and are moved to suitable settings safely if a closure becomes necessary, while maintaining rules about when closures are allowed.

Main Provisions

• Veterans homes obligation: The Minnesota veterans homes shall provide nursing care and related health and social services for veterans and their spouses who meet eligibility and admission requirements.
• Closure restrictions: The commissioner may not close a veterans home unless closure is specifically authorized or required by a law enacted after July 1, 2015.
• Closure under CMS rules: The commissioner may close a veterans home in compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements if there is an involuntary termination notice.
• Safe and orderly relocation: Before closing, every resident must be transferred, relocated, or discharged according to section 144A.161 subdivision 6 in a safe and orderly manner to the most appropriate setting for the resident.
• Advance notice: Before closing, the commissioner must provide notice of a closure to the governor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs.

Changes to Existing Law

• Expands circumstances under which a veterans home can be closed by allowing closures in response to CMS involuntary termination requirements, but still requires closures to be authorized or required by a law enacted after July 1, 2015.
• Adds specific requirements for safely relocating residents and for notifying key state leaders before a closure occurs.
• Keeps the baseline obligation that veterans homes provide nursing care and related services to eligible veterans and their spouses.

Definitions and Key Terms

• Minnesota veterans homes: The state facilities that deliver nursing care and related services to eligible veterans and their spouses.
• Veterans: As defined in Minnesota statute section 197.447.
• Involuntary termination notice: CMS action that can trigger a closure process.
• Transfer/relocation/discharge: Moving residents to other appropriate settings per section 144A.161 subdivision 6.
• Most appropriate setting: The best available location for each resident’s care and well-being.
• Notice of closure: Communication required to be sent to the governor and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the relevant legislative committees.
• CMS requirements: Standards and rules from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that relate to the operation and closure of health care facilities.

Oversight and Implementation Considerations

• The state must follow existing law about when closures are permissible (i.e., only if a law enacted after July 1, 2015 authorizes or requires it).
• Closures must be carried out with attention to resident safety, appropriate placement, and proper notification to state leaders.

Practical Implications

• If a veterans home faces conditions that trigger CMS involuntary termination, the commissioner has a pathway to close, but must still relocate residents safely and inform key state leaders beforehand.
• The changes aim to balance the need to comply with federal requirements with protecting residents and ensuring orderly handling of any closures.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota veterans homes - nursing care - related health and social services - eligibility and admission requirements - commissioner of veterans affairs - close a veterans home - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements - involuntary termination notice - transfer - relocated - discharged - section 144A.161 subdivision 6 - safe and orderly manner - most appropriate setting - governor - chairs - ranking minority members - legislative committees with jurisdiction over veterans affairs - law enacted after July 1, 2015 - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 198.01 - veteran (definition per section 197.447)