Description: In a proactive move to initiate LTC reform, Department of Human Services Commissioner Michael O'Keefe approached the leadership of the Legislature and suggested they create a special Legislative Task Force. The Legislature agreed, and together they convened the bipartisan Minnesota Long Term Care Task Force. The task force relied heavily on stakeholder involvement, including consumers and their families, providers, advocacy organizations, local governments, workers and unions, and citizens.

Dates active: 2000-2001

Sub-issue(s): Healthcare - Minnesota has the nation's second highest life expectancy and more residents over 85 than any other state. Consumers and providers expressed concerns about shortages of help, declining occupancy rates in nursing homes, increasing gaps betwee

Level(s): State

Initiators: Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Michael O'Keefe

Particular goals: The mission of the task force was to reach consensus on policy strategies that addressed the needs and issues in LTC for Minnesota's older citizens. These strategies would form the foundation of a comprehensive proposal for the 2001 Legislative Session.

Number of participants/year: 15 member task force

Population of community: Minnesota's population (2000 estimate) - 4,919,479

How meetings were structured: Facilitated discussions; public meetings; consumer; focus groups; multiple work groups

Sample outcomes: The task force agreed on 48 recommendations. Of those recommendations, 15 strategies were identified that would form the foundation of a proposal submitted in the 2001 Legislative Session. The final proposal passed both houses with only slight modifications, and implementation began immediately.

Benefits: State Senator Sheila Kiscaden, task force member: "The Minnesota Legislature's Health and Human Services Committees have had a great deal of success using work groups, joint task forces, and facilitated discussions to arrive at decisions on tough issues like long term care, welfare reform, and health care costs. These approaches have enabled us to find common ground, and at the same time, streamline our decision-making process."

Challenges: Re-shaping the Minnesota LTC system is an ongoing effort, and the remaining recommendations will be implemented incrementally, over time.

Full story:

• http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=id_005812

This case contributed by: Policy Consensus Initiative, 2007