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The Minnesota Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board (NHWSB) has established training requirements for nursing home employers under the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board Act. All nursing home workers must complete at least one hour of training every two years on their workplace rights, provided by a Certified Worker Organization (CWO). This requirement takes effect January 1, 2025, with full compliance required by December 31, 2026.

As shared in last week’s Advantage, there are still several unknowns for how the federal budget bill, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”, will impact older adults and the services they need. Minnesota budget officials estimate that the law will result in nearly $500 million in annual losses to our Medicaid program. Most of those reductions will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2027, or later, and will be subject to future state action by the Minnesota Legislature.

We’re taking a fresh look at the Really Big Book of Nursing Home Regulations and want to hear from you. Your feedback will guide improvements to ensure this essential resource meets your needs in the most practical and valuable ways. The survey takes just 3–5 minutes to complete. Please click here to share your input—your voice makes a difference! 

LeadingAge Minnesota member St. Francis Health Services had a busy and exciting week filled with innovation and advocacy. Heritage Manor Healthcare Center in Chisholm made headlines in the Mesabi Tribune for hosting a public event that introduced two new additions to its programming: Pepper, an interactive humanoid robot, and Mobii, a state-of-the-art projection system.

LeadingAge Minnesota staff members Jessica Lacher and Shelli Bakken recently joined members Leon Tarlow and Reuben Knobel of Lakehouse Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for a meet-and-greet with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

We’re excited to share that the New American Resource Map is now available! This interactive tool highlights organizations, programs, and resources across Minnesota to help connect your staff—especially New Americans—with resources that support their lives outside of work. When our staff are well-supported, retention rates increase, and our entire long-term care community benefits.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the deadline for off-cycle Medicare provider revalidation to Jan. 1, 2026 — a significant shift from the previously announced Aug. 1, 2025 deadline. This marks the third postponement of the requirement.

Assisted living facilities that provide customized living (CL) services to people on the Brain Injury (BI) and Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waivers must follow specific limitations based on the setting’s CL enrollment date.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is implementing a procedural change to the background study process, effective July 14, 2025. Originally announced on June 16, this update is being reiterated to ensure broad awareness among providers. The change brings the background study process into alignment with federal requirements by shortening the timeline for completing required steps.

The passage of the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) introduces substantial reforms to Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, focusing on cost containment, program integrity, and greater state flexibility.

Value First is running the 5-Star Sweepstakes and your organization could win one of five $10,000 prizes. What would you do with $10,000? Maybe replace aging equipment or throw a staff party. The choice will be yours if you win one of the five grand prizes.

If you are an operator of an independent living senior housing community, you are invited to join the monthly networking group that is specifically designed for you!

The State of Minnesota has announced a public hearing to seek feedback on its LIHEAP funding plan for 2026. The hearing is set for July 25, and comments can be made until Aug. 1.

The Assisted Living and Home Care Statutes were changed effective July 1, to add a Level 5 to survey violation levels. The change affects the amount of fines incurred for each level of violation and demonstrates the degree of concern for resident impact of the violation at each level. Fines are decreased for Level 3 and 4 violations to $1000 and $3000, violations which are more common for providers.

Join LeadingAge Minnesota staff for an important webinar on the new Certified Worker Organization (CWO) training requirements for nursing facilities. We'll review the key employer responsibilities under the Minnesota Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board Act, including timelines, compliance documentation, and employee training logistics.

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBB) into law, making major changes to tax and spending policies. Key provisions for aging services providers include deep cuts to Medicaid funding and potential changes to nursing home reimbursement rates and long-term care coverage.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an update to payroll-based journal (PBJ) materials on the Staffing Data Submission Payroll Based Journal webpage. Updates to the PBJ Policy Manual include info for PBJ system registration through QIES and clarification that all reported nursing hours must be onsite hours. Updates to the PBJ Policy Manual FAQs reiterate the updates in the policy manual, and also include clarifications related to meal breaks, salaried staff, RN hours requirements and waivers, and questions pertaining to PBJ audits. Check out these updates in the PBJ Policy Manual and the PBJ Policy Manual FAQs located in the Downloads section of the PBJ page on the CMS website.

Are you passionate about shaping the future of senior care and aging services in Minnesota? Ready to lead, inspire, and make a meaningful impact? This is your moment. LeadingAge Minnesota is seeking visionary leaders to fill two Director-at-Large positions on our Board of Directors – powerful roles that influence the direction of our work together and the well-being of those we serve. These are three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Additionally, we’re also looking to recruit a Secretary/Treasurer, a key role on our Executive Committee. This individual will serve a two-year term, then advance to Chair-Elect for two years, and ultimately step into the role of Board Chair for two more years. At LeadingAge Minnesota, we’re striving to transform and enhance the experience of aging. Our Board of Directors play a pivotal role in helping the association achieve our mission. The nomination process to fill these open positions will open later this week. Watch for more details coming soon!

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" into law, enacting sweeping changes to tax and spending priorities. Of particular importance to aging services providers, the bill includes significant cuts to Medicaid funding and adjustments that may impact nursing home reimbursement rates and long-term care coverage in the future. While some tax provisions aim to benefit workers, the overall fiscal changes raise concerns about the sustainability of safety-net programs that support older adults. It's important to note that impacts to Minnesota remain unclear: providers should not make any immediate changes to their budget or operations until more information is known. Governor Walz's staff indicated the passage of the federal bill could trigger a second special session later this year, but that has not been confirmed. This is a breaking news item. LeadingAge Minnesota is still reading through the final law and working with partners on impact and analysis. Further details and in-depth analyses of the federal bill’s implications for Medicaid providers, nursing homes, and non-profit tax entities will be shared soon. Watch Advantage later this week for more detailed analyses of the new law and what it means for care access, provider operations, and resident wellbeing. If you are a LeadingAge National member, you are also invited to join their member call today at 2:30 Central Time. Follow this link to register.

We are now soliciting ideas for inclusion in the 2026 Institute& Expo General Session. Is your organization doing some new, innovative, or creative work that others would want to know about?

We’re always pleased to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of our members. This month, we’re excited to share a significant announcement from Rodè & Coffin, LLC.

Marvella, a vibrant senior living community in Saint Paul, Minnesota, celebrated a major milestone recently. A dedication ceremony for its newest addition brought together business leaders, senior managers and staff from Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) to mark the occasion.

The Minnesota Department of Health is expanding in-facility testing to add additional test sites for nurse aide candidates. Applications will be accepted until July 11.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is sponsoring a statewide call related to infection prevention and control for nursing homes and hospitals on August 13 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. All nursing home and hospital infection prevention and control practitioners and affiliated leadership are encouraged to attend.

Significant changes are coming to Minnesota’s Case Mix Review (CMR) program and Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment requirements. These updates impact classification notices, assessment procedures, documentation standards, and data submission methods—effective October 1, 2025. Providers are encouraged to prepare early and attend the state-led training webinar for detailed guidance.

On July 1, 2025, a new wave of legislation officially took effect across Minnesota, introducing changes that will impact aging services providers. Staying informed about these laws is critical for providers to remain compliant and responsive to shifting public policy.

On July 14, 2025, the Nursing Home Survey & Certification functionality will launch in iQIES—just one month prior to the PBJ submission deadline. This rollout is expected to result in a substantial influx of new users, potentially leading to longer hold times.

On June 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released memo QSO-25-20-NH, announcing several impactful changes to the Nursing Home Care Compare website, set to take effect with the July and October 2025 quarterly data refreshes. These updates are part of CMS’s continuing efforts to enhance transparency and improve the accuracy and utility of performance data for nursing home providers, residents, and families.

Effective July 1, 2025, DHS will implement new residential support services criteria as required under Minn. Stat. §256B.49, subd. 29 and Minn. Stat. §256B.092, subd. 11.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a formal alert warning Medicare providers of a new phishing scheme involving fraudulent fax requests. Scammers are impersonating CMS and sending deceptive faxes that request medical records and documentation under the guise of an audit. These communications are crafted to appear official and can easily mislead busy healthcare providers into disclosing sensitive patient or organizational information.