The Impact of Proposed Legislation on Breck
For all of its history, Breck has been required to be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health. Over the years, as larger assisted livings were being built at rapid rates, places like Breck ended up under the same umbrella of licensing requirements as the large places and therefore must meet the same regulatory requirements. Rule changes have caused any group home that has more than 4 beds (like Breck, which has 6 beds per house) to end up in the same category as a facility that may take in 200 residents. The new proposed legislation will require these small care homes to meet even greater financial and regulatory burdens.
We think that the intention of the rules change was to make larger facilities operate in a more accountable model- more like the way Breck already does. Unfortunately, by changing the definition of a residential provider, many smaller places, including Breck, may be forced to close their doors, because this new model is unsustainable for them. It will generate much more paperwork, increase managerial workload, and cause greater operational costs for smaller homes.
monetary impact
Licensing changes will create an undue financial burden. Typical licensing fees for a home that has 6 residents has already risen from $150 to $4000 per year. Proposed changes will add up to $29,000 per year of financial burden. These changes will be especially challenging for homes that accept voucher patients who already face tremendous financial pressure.
Regulatory impact
Increased reporting, tracking, and inspection requirements will add to the workload of staff, and provide no additional benefit to residents or family members. One of the reasons Breck is able to retain such a loyal and experienced staff is because the team is empowered to respond creatively as resident needs change over time. Filling out additional documentation, completing checklists, and posting notifications will waste time that can be much better spent with residents.
facilities impact
Some new facilities requirements (installation of sprinkler systems, adding specialized sinks to the kitchen, providing locked storage areas in each resident’s room, etc.) will require a significant expenditure, and provide no added benefit for residents. Jenny and her team always put safety front and center - but these changes are simply unnecessary for the safe operation of Breck.