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Too often, the loudest voices in senior care focus on challenges and shortcomings. But across Minnesota, providers are demonstrating excellence, innovation, and high performance. Our new series, Quality in Action, aims to spotlight these success stories—highlighting senior care organizations that are achieving exceptional results through their commitment to quality and safety.

The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has been accepting grant request applications for its workplace Ergonomic Safety Grant Program since summer 2023. To date, 75 of 79 awarded grants have been provided to nursing home applicants with several more requests due to be awarded soon.

During a roundtable on Tuesday, April 15, Governor Tim Walz said: “If you think we’re in a crisis now, especially for seniors living in rural Minnesota, cut Medicaid and find out what happens. There’s no way the state of Minnesota can come close to back filing what’s lost.”

Is your organization receiving job seeker matches? CaringCareersStartHere.com is helping connect job seekers with long-term care employers and elevating careers in aging services across the state.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has released changes to the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers should review their current I-9 form’s expiration date and begin integrating the new I-9 form into their employee verification systems and processes.

The Office of Higher Education's (OHE) Dual-Training Pipeline Grant is open for applications until April 15.

Did you know that Minnesota has a Reframe Aging Initiative? The Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation and the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging are sponsoring a series of sessions, titled, “Free Framer Fridays” to engage Minnesotans in championing a Minnesota free of agism.

On April 7, 2025, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk (TX) ruled in favor of the American Health Care Association, LeadingAge, and four nursing homes, finding that CMS exceeded its authority by imposing a federal minimum staffing mandate on nursing homes.

This week, LeadingAge Minnesota members headed to our nation’s Capital to advocate on behalf of aging services providers and the seniors we serve.

This week, lawmakers worked long hours to construct budget bills that direct spending and cuts over the next two years.

Select Rehabilitation is LeadingAge Minnesota Solutions preferred therapy partner. Your partnership with them helps advance our outreach, advocacy, and education at LeadingAge Minnesota, in addition to the many benefits they bring to your community.

HUD has released its income limits for affordable rental communities, effective 4/1/2025.    These income limits are used by providers of affordable rental property to help a property determine eligibility criteria.

Each month, Minnesota Housing posts an update for providers called HOT Topics. This publication recaps top items they’ve been finding in Management Occupancy Reviews (MOR) and other relevant updates for providers of HUD housing.

Effective July 1, 2025, MnCHOICES initial assessments will be valid for 365 days from the interview date to establish program eligibility, extended from the current validity of 60 days.

Data submission for Quarter 1, 2025 is now open through April 30 in the LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal. Take advantage of this opportunity to track your operational performance over time and benchmark your data against others at the state, regional and other comparison groups, such as groups with similar capacity and services.

Late last week, the House and Senate released budget targets with significant differences. The House proposes $1.1B in cuts this biennium, compared to $754M from the Senate. Those gaps widen in FY2028–29: $2.6B vs. $1.7B, respectively.

Starting April 9, LeadingAge Minnesota’s new Operations Certificate Program is specifically designed for professionals in long-term care settings—including assisted living and care centers—who are looking to expand their operational knowledge and leadership abilities.

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.

The Office of Higher Education's (OHE) Dual-Training Pipeline Grant is open for applications until April 15.

OnTrack’s impact is broadening its reach beyond Minnesota. As healthcare employers embrace international recruitment to address workforce shortages, OnTrack International is preparing international candidates before they arrive in Minnesota.

This week, legislation that would establish implementation timelines for Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly received hearings in the House and Senate Committees on Human Services. Testimony on the bill featured speakers from LeadingAge Minnesota members including Presbyterian Homes and Volunteers of America. 

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Health Dimensions Group® (HDG®), a leading senior living, post-acute, and long-term care management and consulting firm based in Minneapolis, MN, announced that they have hired Barbara Klick as executive vice president of quality. With this position, Klick will join HDG’s Executive Leadership Team.

For providers of residential rental property in the City of Minneapolis, please note two new ordinances to be aware of, both effective March 1. These Minneapolis-specific rental ordinances typically affect independent apartment rental as opposed to assisted living rental, but it is recommended that you stay apprised of all laws that affect your city.

On July 1, 2025, the Housing Support maximum monthly room and board rate will increase to $1,192. There was a typo in the table last week for the personal spending allowance, which should be $128. The rate is correct at $1192. See the corrected table below.

Some small residential providers have had challenges complying with AL statutes due to what would be cost-prohibitive remodeling required, or unwillingness of a landlord to allow the changes in rented settings. Changes were made to 144G.195 in the 2024 legislative session to allow these settings to relocate within certain parameters.

Three new resources have recently been added to the Governance Resource Center to use with your nonprofit governing board. These resources are free of charge to LeadingAge Minnesota Members with your member login required.

On Wednesday, more than 100 LeadingAge Minnesota members gathered at the Fairview Community Health and Wellness Hub for our annual Day at the Capitol. This event provided a crucial opportunity for members to engage with legislators and advocate for key issues affecting long-term care providers and the individuals they serve.

MDH invites you to participate in the Insight 2 Action focus groups to tackle the persisting challenges in infection prevention in our settings.

In case you missed it, the MDH Assisted Living Quarterly Update information that was presented on February 20, 2025, is now posted to the MDH Website.

On July 1, 2025, the Housing Support maximum monthly room and board rate will increase to $1,192.