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The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has contracted with All Clear Emergency Management to offer free in-person technical assistance for implementing continuity of operations planning.

On Dec. 5, 2024, Judge Leonard Strand, who is presiding over the lawsuit filed by LeadingAge Minnesota and other LeadingAge state affiliates and state Attorneys General to challenge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Minimum Staffing Rule, held a hearing on our motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the rule’s enforcement and implementation.

Last week, our attorney filed an amended complaint in our legal challenge of the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s (NHWSB) Holiday Pay Rule. The amended complaint included more information about the harms suffered by our members because of implementing the Holiday Pay Rule at their nursing homes.

Earlier today, Governor Walz released his budget proposal for the next two years, which amounts to an extremely disappointing proposal that balances the state budget on the backs of seniors and those who care for them. The combination of impacts, particularly for nursing homes, is almost certain to lead to a decline in access due to increased likelihood of closures, especially in rural areas.

Applications for the 2025 Leadership Academy are now open.

Leadership Academy is a unique program with a 15-year track record of developing leadership capacity and core competencies of aging services professionals by tapping their natural talents and authentic leadership style.

Congratulations to Ebenezer Senior Living for assuming ownership of Oak Meadows Senior Living in Oakdale, MN, effective January 1, 2025.

LeadingAge Minnesota is thrilled to announce a new member benefit that brings even more value to your membership: LAMN Perks!

Winona State University is offering another round for individuals to become certified instructors of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training certification this April.

Yesterday, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News released a breaking story that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will offer nursing students up to $40,000 in tuition reimbursement and/or $10,000 outright to work for a nursing home or state survey agency.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's (DEED) new article highlights the looming impact of federal minimum staffing regulations on Minnesota's nursing homes.

The Minnesota legislature is set to convene for the 2025 session next week, Tuesday, Jan. 14, under extraordinary conditions. Notably, earlier this week, House DFLers threatened not to show up on the first day of the legislative session if a power-sharing agreement is not reached.

On December 16, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Senate-passed version of S. 141, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, clearing the way for the bill to be signed into law by the President.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has launched the Employer Engagement Team to address workforce challenges by connecting employers with skilled workers, particularly in the Drive for 5 fields: caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology, and trades.

With our coldest months ahead, just a reminder that the 2023 legislature passed a law, which took effect in 2024, requiring landlords to keep their units heated to a minimum temperature of 68 degrees from Oct. 1 through April 30.

Post your open positions with a new member-only discount on AgingServicesJobs.org – the premier job board for aging services employers to post their critical-to-fill positions and get connected with qualified applicants.

Starting Jan. 27, 2025, the nurse aide knowledge test will be available in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong, in addition to English, as allowed by Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.61.

Several new laws impacting aging services took effect on Jan. 1. We’ve included a summary below – members are encouraged to review the 2024 Legislative Report for full impact analyses and links to session law.

EduCare, LeadingAge Minnesota’s exclusive, on-demand training partner, is releasing new courses to meet new Assisted Living requirements.

January 2025 will bring significant updates to the Five-Star Quality Rating System. The freeze on four Quality Measures (QMs) that began in April 2024 will come to an end with the Care Compare update.

On Nov. 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released QSO-25-07-NH outlining updates to Appendix PP, including revised surveyor guidance and F-tag changes for nursing homes.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published a new rule requiring housing providers to provide written notification to tenants facing eviction for non-payment of rent 30 days in advance of filing a formal judicial eviction procedure.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released finalized provisions for nursing home reporting through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has made a significant policy shift back to a more pro-union stance, reinstating the "clear and unmistakable waiver" standard.

The Holiday Pay rule was officially entered into the State Register on December 9, with state enforcement of the rule set to begin on Jan. 1, 2025.

Mark your calendar and register for LeadingAge Minnesota’s (LAMN) first District Meeting of 2025. Scheduled for January 16, the agenda for this virtual meeting features an excellent line-up of speakers.

With great excitement, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation welcomes Kirstan Ketter as our new Foundation Project Manager to lead our initiative to bridge pathways between New Americans and senior care employers, a nearly $1million grant-funded investment from the DHS GEAR Division.

On Dec. 5, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to clarify expectations for language access services, stressing compliance with the new final rule on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (“Section 1557”).

Earlier this week, the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board rule that would require eleven paid holidays took the final step toward approval and implementation, which is due to start Jan. 1, 2025.

Our theme—Courageous Thinking—celebrates bold ideas and innovations that enhance the lives of older adults.

On Dec. 3, 2024, Bob Dahl, President and CEO of Cassia, formally announced his plan to retire in January 2026.