All News

LeadingAge Minnesota is making it easier to fit professional development—and continuing education—into your schedule with the new 5-Pack Webinar Bundle.

Learning and professional development can take many forms, and LeadingAge Minnesota’s education partners offer additional opportunities for professionals to grow and explore new areas of expertise. One of those partners, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, offers graduate programs that help professionals build specialized knowledge and skills for the next step in their careers.

Section GG has become one of the most influential sections of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. While many clinicians recognize its importance for Medicare reimbursement, Section GG extends far beyond payment. Accurate coding directly impacts Quality Measures, Value-Based Purchasing, Five-Star performance, state Medicaid case-mix systems, discharge planning, and the resident's overall clinical story.

Despite its significance, many skilled nursing facilities continue to experience inconsistent GG coding—not because staff lack clinical knowledge, but because processes, communication, and education often fail to keep pace with evolving expectations. The encouraging news is that most of the opportunities for improvement are operational and can be addressed through standardized workflows and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Coding Usual Performance, Not Best or Worst

One of the most common challenges is determining the resident's usual performance. Section GG requires facilities to code the resident's typical level of function during the assessment period, not the resident's best or worst performance. A resident recovering from surgery or a stroke may require substantial assistance one day and only supervision the next. Selecting the highest or lowest level of function instead of identifying the resident's usual performance can significantly alter reimbursement and quality outcomes.

Observation, Not Assumption

Another frequent opportunity involves relying on assumptions rather than observation. Staff may unintentionally code what they believe a resident is capable of doing instead of what actually occurred. Section GG should always reflect observed performance supported by interdisciplinary documentation from nursing, therapy, and certified nursing assistants. Every member of the care team contributes valuable information that helps paint an accurate picture of the resident's functional abilities.

Selecting the Correct Level of Assistance

Facilities also continue to struggle with selecting the correct level of helper assistance. Distinguishing between setup assistance, supervision, partial assistance, substantial assistance, and dependent can be challenging without ongoing education. These distinctions may appear minor, but even a one-level difference can affect quality metrics and reimbursement. Routine competency training using real resident scenarios helps improve consistency and confidence among staff responsible for documenting functional performance.

Appropriate Use of "Not Attempted" Codes

The use of "Not Attempted" codes presents another opportunity for improvement. Codes such as 07, 09, 10, and 88 should only be used when the specific RAI Manual definitions are met and supported by documentation. These codes should never become the default option simply because an activity was not observed during a shift. Clear documentation explaining why an activity was not attempted is essential to support accurate coding and withstand audit scrutiny.

Communication Across Disciplines

Perhaps the greatest opportunity lies in improving communication across disciplines. Section GG should never be viewed as solely a therapy responsibility or an MDS responsibility. The highest-performing organizations recognize that accurate functional coding depends on collaboration between nursing, therapy, restorative nursing, MDS coordinators, and clinical leadership. When each discipline contributes its observations, the resulting GG coding more accurately reflects the resident's true functional status.

The Value of Daily Clinical Meetings

Daily Medicare or PDPM clinical meetings have proven to be one of the most effective strategies for improving GG accuracy. These brief interdisciplinary discussions allow the team to review recent functional changes, identify documentation gaps, confirm usual performance, and ensure coding decisions align with the resident's clinical presentation before the assessment is finalized. Addressing questions concurrently is significantly more effective than attempting to reconstruct the resident's performance days later.

Regular Auditing as a Bridge

Regular auditing is another valuable tool for bridging the gap. Reviewing completed GG coding alongside supporting documentation often reveals patterns that can be addressed through targeted education. Rather than viewing audits as compliance exercises, successful organizations use them as opportunities to coach staff, strengthen documentation practices, and improve consistency across departments.

The Benefits of Getting It Right

The benefits of accurate Section GG coding extend well beyond regulatory compliance. Facilities that prioritize functional accuracy often experience more appropriate Medicare reimbursement, stronger state Medicaid case-mix classifications where applicable, improved Quality Measure performance, better Value-Based Purchasing outcomes, and stronger Five-Star ratings. Equally important, accurate coding supports safer discharge planning by ensuring care teams clearly understand the resident's functional abilities and ongoing needs.

Telling the Resident's Story

At its core, Section GG is about telling the resident's story accurately. Every transfer, every walk to the bathroom, every meal completed independently, and every improvement achieved through skilled care contributes to that story. When documentation and coding truly reflect the resident's usual performance, facilities are rewarded with more accurate reimbursement, stronger publicly reported outcomes, and greater confidence during audits.

Bridging the gap in Section GG does not require coding residents higher or lower—it requires coding them correctly. By investing in interdisciplinary collaboration, standardized processes, concurrent reviews, and continuous education, skilled nursing facilities can transform Section GG from a documentation requirement into a powerful driver of clinical excellence, financial stewardship, and quality outcomes.

When organizations focus on coding accuracy instead of simply coding completion, everyone benefits. Residents receive care that reflects their true functional needs, clinicians gain confidence in the assessment process, leadership obtains more reliable quality data, and facilities are better positioned to thrive in an increasingly outcome-driven healthcare environment. In today's skilled nursing landscape, accurate Section GG coding isn't just best practice, it's a strategic advantage.

On August 13, 2026, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the surveyor resources for the newly implemented Risk Based Survey (RBS) process.

Every Stars Among Us Award begins the same way: with someone taking the time to nominate a deserving person or program.

On August 17, U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Brasel issued an Order dismissing the lawsuit that LeadingAge Minnesota, along with our Long-Term Care Imperative (LTCI) partner, filed in March 2026 challenging the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board (NHWSB).

After months of delay due to late submission by DHS of the State Plan Amendment (SPA) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), nursing home rate notices for January 1, 2026 are about to be posted to the nursing facility provider portal.

Occupancy doesn't belong to one department. Marketing creates awareness. Sales builds relationships. Operations delivers the experience. And every interaction with a prospective resident or family shapes how they see your organization. That's why the Sales and Marketing Certificate Program goes beyond traditional sales and marketing tactics.

LeadingAge Minnesota is sharing that William Levine, Data & Membership Coordinator, is taking the next step in his professional career and has accepted a data analyst position with another organization and will therefore be moving on from the association.

The agenda will be published and registration will open in the coming week for LeadingAge Minnesota’s October District Meetings. This fall, we’re adding something new to the district meeting format based directly on member feedback.

As you consider who to nominate for a 2027 Stars Among Us Award, don't overlook everyday excellence. Not every star seeks the spotlight, and some of the people most deserving of recognition are the least likely to ask for it.

Aging services providers know that helping older adults thrive takes more than excellent care—it requires strong partnerships throughout the community.

The CDC is shutting down SimpleReport. The Minnesota Department of Health requires assisted living organizations to transition to alternative electronic tools to report positive point-of-care test results within one working day.

In a rapidly evolving turn of events, a Ramsey County judge ruled on 8/10/2026 that the “Right to Repair” ballot initiative should be included on the November ballot in Saint Paul’s general election.

LeadingAge Minnesota was at FarmFest last week, connecting with attendees and raising awareness about the importance of supporting aging services across Minnesota.

After months of delay, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, CMS approved Minnesota’s State Plan Amendment (SPA). This approval triggers significant nursing facility rate, wage, and surcharge changes.

Quality improvement isn't a one-time initiative — it's an ongoing commitment to delivering the best possible care and outcomes. Whether you're looking for timely updates on today's federal quality programs or want to build deeper expertise in quality leadership, LeadingAge Minnesota offers education designed to help you strengthen performance, improve outcomes, and lead with confidence.

Stars Among Us Awards nominations are open through Sept. 28. You don't have to be a professional writer to submit a great award nomination. The strongest nominations have one thing in common: they tell a story. The Stars Among Us Nomination Guide can help.

A review of mechanical lift–related events and survey findings from the first two quarters of 2026 identified recurring safety concerns involving sling assessment, equipment selection, staff communication, teamwork, and completion of required safety checks.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized changes to COVID-19 vaccination reporting requirements under the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially released the FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) Final Rule, and the biggest takeaway is one of stability. The final rule closely mirrors the proposed rule issued earlier this year, with very few substantive changes. While there were no major surprises, there are several important updates that skilled nursing providers should understand as they prepare for the years ahead.

In response to discussions with LeadingAge Minnesota, The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has created an additional topic on their Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement (AGE) website intended to give clarity to apartment buildings.

As Minnesota is in peak summer season, a familiar seasonal illness is drawing extra attention this year. Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness that is the subject of a large multistate outbreak that has sickened more than 18,000 people nationally, with a subcluster tied to iceberg lettuce from a Taylor Farms supplier sourcing from central Mexico.

New videos, on-demand webinars and practical tools help aging services providers recruit, support, and retain New American employees while creating stronger, more welcoming workplaces for everyone.

The 2026 LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament helped raise record-breaking funds for the next round of caregiver scholarships. In total, thanks to golfers, sponsors, volunteers, on-course games, and ticket sales, the event raised nearly $108,000 before expenses.

Most leaders don’t struggle because they lack answers, but because they rarely have time to ask the questions that matter.

St. Francis Health Services of Morris, Inc. (CEO, Carol Raw) and Benedictine (CEO, Jerry Carley) have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore an affiliation between the two Catholic, nonprofit organizations in which Benedictine would become the sole corporate member of SFHS. If the membership substitution occurs, Duluth Benedictine Ministries would, subject to its own agreement, become the Catholic sponsor of SFHS.

Do you want the chance to win $10,000 for your community? Maybe you need to replace aging equipment or want to celebrate your staff.  The choice will be yours if you win one of the six grand prizes that will be drawn in Value First’s 5-Star Dining Program Sweepstakes.

Second quarter data submission for all LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal applications is due by July 31. By submitting your data each quarter, you'll build a stronger picture of your organization's performance over time while gaining access to meaningful benchmarks that can support quality improvement, strategic planning, budgeting, and operational decision-making.

The application materials for another round of the nursing facility moratorium exceptions process were recently posted on the MDH website. Nursing homes interested in applying for approval to fund a construction project will need to complete all the required application materials and return them to MDH by December 17, 2026.