Information Bulletin 20-02

NH - 187
BCH - 81

Update: MDH State Licensed Providers Related to Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act Initial Disposition Notification and Public Maltreatment Reports

Purpose

The purpose of this information bulletin is to inform all state licensed providers of changes to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) initial disposition notification and sending of public maltreatment reports.

Implementation Date

March 23, 2020

Updates

1) The Vulnerable Adults Act under MN Statute 626.557 Subd. 9c(a) states:
(a) Upon request of the reporter, the lead investigative agency shall notify the reporter that it has received the report, and provide information on the initial disposition of the report within five business days of receipt of the report, provided that the notification will not endanger the vulnerable adult or hamper the investigation.

• MDH has determined that providing information on receipt of a provider self-report and initial disposition on a provider self-report hampers an investigation.
• To meet the requirement that inspections are unannounced, MDH will no longer provide notices to providers that self-reports received have been closed out.

This change does not affect initial disposition of the report sent to complainants.  Initial disposition for complainants will still be sent within five business days.

2) The Vulnerable Adults Act under MN Statute 626.557 Subd. 9c (f) states:
(f) Within ten calendar days of completing the final disposition, the lead investigative agency shall provide a copy of the public investigation memorandum…

• MDH will be sending all public maltreatment reports and accompanying letters to providers through electronic correspondence. 
• This electronic correspondence will be sent to the same provider email address on file where MDH electronically sends the provider’s state licensing orders.  If the provider email comes back undeliverable, MDH will call the provider’s phone number in an attempt to correct the email address. If MDH is unable to obtain a valid email address, a paper copy of the public maltreatment report and accompanying letters will be sent postage mail to the provider’s mailing address on file.

MN Statute 144A.742 Subd. 6 states:
The temporary licensee or licensee shall notify the commissioner in writing within ten working days after any change in the information…

A provider can notify MDH of a change in information using this form: Change of Information - Temporary Licensed and Licensed Home Care Providers (PDF)