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In March 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General released two reports examining how nursing homes administer antipsychotic medications to residents.

If it feels like oversight activity is ramping up, you’re not imagining it. Between enhanced claim reviews, focused federal audits, and Minnesota’s revalidation push, providers are operating in a more scrutiny-heavy environment. The good news? None of this is unmanageable if you know what’s coming and stay organized.

As reported on our social media channels and in Capitol Conversations last week, the “free the happy hour” bill was signed into law on April 21. Earlier this week, the Star Tribune and MinnPost both covered the policy change.

LeadingAge Minnesota is launching a new, in-depth webinar series designed specifically for nursing home quality leaders who want to strengthen their understanding and use of federal quality programs.

On-Demand access to the 2026 Virtual Institute & Expo expires Thursday, April 30. If you were registered for the 2026 Institute & Expo, you have access to all 27 virtual education sessions, plus five additional sessions and two keynote presentations from the in-person conference.

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care has opened the application period for the 2026 Workplace Safety Grants for Health Care Entities. Application submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on June 12.

Across member organizations, code status documentation continues to be a common driver of regulatory citations often tied to inconsistencies in how resident wishes are captured, verified, and communicated across care settings.

Malnutrition is one of the most common—and most overlooked—clinical conditions in long-term care. While interdisciplinary teams are actively assessing, monitoring, and intervening, one critical step is often missed: accurate coding on the Minimum Data Set (MDS).

On Feb. 12, the Department of Human Services (DHS) published new ratings and corrected previously published ratings for its Assisted Living Report Card.  

If you asked most assisted living leaders what they would improve tomorrow with the right funding, you’d likely hear the same themes: staffing, training, safety, and resident quality of life. The challenge isn’t identifying the need—it’s finding the resources to act. The Minnesota Assisted Living Competitive Grant offers a path to turn those priorities into reality.

Registration is now open for LeadingAge Minnesota’s June district meetings, offering members an opportunity to connect, collaborate and stay informed on key issues impacting aging services across the state.

LeadingAge Minnesota’s 2026 Day at the Capitol was one for the books—an energizing, deeply meaningful day centered on advocacy, connection, and the voices of older adults and the providers who serve them.

The 2026 edition of the Older Adult Services Orientation Manual is now available. This updated resource is designed to help board members quickly understand the complex and evolving world of aging services. Written in clear, accessible language, it includes an overview of key areas across the field along with a helpful glossary of terms. 

Recently, we shared an exciting new webinar series designed to help aging services providers better recruit, support, and advance New Americans in their workforce. But those sessions are just one part of a larger effort to equip you with practical, real-world tools.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is committed to supporting long-term care (LTC) professionals in MN who are working in infection prevention and control (IPC)related roles. In support of this effort, MDH contracted with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) to provide FREE national and state membership to qualified staff working in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in Minnesota.

We have good news for nursing facility providers: Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) has resolved a billing issue that caused some nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) and ambulance claims to be denied.

On Thursday, April 30, from 12-1:30 p.m. the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Health Regulation Division is holding a quarterly webinar for assisted living licensees and interested stakeholders to educate on regulatory trends and provide updates.

Formerly known as Group Residential Housing (GRH), Housing Support is a state-funded program that helps cover basic living expenses, primarily rent and raw food, for eligible individuals. Each year, the state recalculates the rate using a standardized formula tied to federal and state benchmarks that estimate the minimum income necessary for a person to live safely and independently in the community.

Older Americans Month is just around the corner (May), and LeadingAge Minnesota is proud to introduce our new Celebrate Aging apparel and merchandise collection—created to honor the impact, wisdom, and contributions of older adults, as well as the dedicated professionals who serve them every day.

We are excited to announce a new, coordinated Emergency Preparedness Training Series designed to support assisted living providers, while also welcoming and encouraging participation from nursing homes. This initiative represents a significant step forward in supporting your organization’s compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Appendix Z requirements while strengthening real-world readiness.

This Friday, the legislature will reach its finance deadline, a benchmark that means any bill with fiscal impact must be out of committees and on its way to eventual floor votes. Unlike other years, leadership and the Governor's office did not agree to budget targets for each jurisdiction area.

The Central Minnesota Council on Aging has released a new funding opportunity through the Title III E National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP)—designed to strengthen services that support family and informal caregivers of older adults. 

LeadingAge Minnesota is launching a new, coordinated Emergency Preparedness Training Series to support assisted living providers, with nursing homes encouraged to participate.

Falls continue to be a significant challenge across long-term care, affecting resident wellbeing, staff workflows, and quality outcomes. As technology continues to evolve, many providers are exploring new tools to better understand risk and support prevention efforts.

In October, 2024, Eventide Senior Living Communities and Tabitha Senior Care, a Nebraska-based senior living organization, officially joined forces through a strategic affiliation agreement, marking a significant milestone in enhancing support for seniors across the Midwest. 

A March 26, 2026 Executive Order (EO) prohibits federal contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities” described as unethical and inefficient.

As Older Americans Month approaches this May, LeadingAge Minnesota is proud to introduce our new Celebrate Aging apparel and merchandise collection—created to honor the impact, wisdom, and contributions of older adults, as well as the dedicated professionals who serve them every day.

MDH recently notified nursing homes that submitted proposals in the current moratorium exceptions round of their approval status. All five proposals were approved, representing a total annual state cost of just under $1.1 million.

Mark your calendars for two of LeadingAge Minnesota’s signature events this summer and fall, designed to support both operational excellence and strategic leadership across aging services.

As a reminder, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) maintains several very useful and informative websites for nursing home providers.