The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that Building 19 on the Minneapolis Veterans Home Campus is now certified to receive Medicaid and Medicare funds. This is the first CMS certification in the Minnesota Veterans Home system.

"I am very proud of the dedication by staff - on every level - who worked to achieve this goal. This certification not only reflects the high quality care we provide our Veterans, but it also represents our commitment to financial responsibility and future planning," said Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Shellito.

The CMS certification designates that this facility has met certain quality guidelines. It also means that Residents receiving care there can use their Medicare coverage to help pay for it.

CMS contracts with each state to conduct onsite inspections that determine whether its nursing homes meet the minimum Medicare and Medicaid quality and performance standards. The states inspection team evaluates all aspects of Resident care - examples include access to care, Resident rights, care plan assessment, dietary services, staffing, and the quality of care among many other things. The Homes are inspected once annually at a minimum, and inspections are conducted without notice to the facility.

Building 19 opened in August, 2012 on the Minneapolis campus and operates 100 skilled nursing beds. As a newly constructed facility, many of the requirements needed to achieve certification were incorporated into the building plans. However, it is possible to apply for and receive CMS certification for existing facilities, and the Department will be pursuing certification for existing Homes in the future. There are four additional State Veterans Homes in Minnesota, located in Fergus Falls, Hastings, Luverne and Silver Bay.

Building 19 is a state-of-the-art skilled nursing care facility that incorporates the latest technology and modern amenities to enhance care. This building has 100 private rooms designed around "neighborhoods" to offer care in a home-style atmosphere. This facility includes a greenhouse, barber and beauty shops, common areas with natural light and greenery and a town square.

For more information, or to take a virtual tour of the Home, visit the /mdva/homes/index.jspMDVA Veterans Homes page.