News Archives
November 2025 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
Perham Health’s “Elevate” Wins Rural Health Award
On November 20, 2025 by LeadingAge Minnesota
Congratulations to Perham Health/Elevate for winning the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Team Award. This award, presented by the Minnesota Department of Health, recognizes dedicated health care organizations that have made significant contributions to the health and wellbeing of their rural communities. It's presented just in time for honoring Rural Health Day, which is today, Thursday, November 20.
New Member Resource Available: Two-Part Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leaves Webinar
On November 20, 2025 by Sharon Hollister
LeadingAge Minnesota hosted two consecutive webinars on Tuesday, Oct. 14, to help providers prepare for the Jan. 1, 2026 implementation of Minnesota’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave and Meal and Rest Break laws.
New Physical Environment Inspection Report
On November 20, 2025 by Bobbie Guidry
Effective November 2025, MDH is using a new Physical Environment Inspection Report to document physical environment deficiencies identified during:
UCARE Announces Shutdown of Operations
On November 20, 2025 by Jeff Bostic
Due to mounting financial losses, health insurer UCARE announced earlier this week that it is shutting down all operations and will be transferring clients to another non-profit Minnesota health insurer, Medica.
SNF Provider Preview Reports Updated and Ready for Review
On November 20, 2025 by Alecia Crumpler
Skilled nursing facilities can now access updated SNF Provider Preview Reports reflecting quality measure data that will be publicly reported in January 2026. Providers have until December 17, 2025, to review their data and request CMS corrections if needed.
Human Services Legislators Continue to Take Feedback on Walz’ Medicaid Program Pause
On November 20, 2025 by Erin Huppert
Lawmakers continue to wrestle with the rollout and confusion of the Walz Administration’s order to pause Medicaid payments for 14 services (now technically 13 due to one of the services being discontinued entirely), pending an audit by Optum.
Minnesota’s Paid Leave and NHWSB Minimum Wage: What You Need to Know
On November 20, 2025 by Mark Schulz
Following recent member discussions and questions about the upcoming Minnesota Paid Leave (MPL) law, we wanted to provide clarity about its relationship with the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board (NHWSB) established minimum wages and how those NHWSB minimum wages may not necessarily be the minimum wages required to be paid for MPL compliance.
Federal Review Slows 2026 Nursing Facility Rates: Guidance for Providers
On November 17, 2025 by LeadingAge Minnesota
The implementation of the 2025 legislative changes and the need for approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has delayed the publication of the January 1, 2026, nursing facility rate notices by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS is waiting to see what CMS does and does not approve.
DHS is waiting to issue rate notices until the end of November. At a minimum, the January 1, 2026 rate notices issued at the end of November will reflect the 2024 cost report, the PDPM transition and the operating rate caps, which do not require CMS approval.
According to DHS, the nursing facility minimum wage rate add-on and the increase to the nursing home surcharge cannot be implemented without approval from CMS. Therefore, these two 2025 legislative changes are not expected to be on the November rate notices.
In the meantime, if your minimum wage rate application is still under review by DHS, please make sure to continue working with the department to complete so that amount can be added to your facility’s rate when CMS approves the minimum wage funding.
It is not known when CMS will approve the minimum wage mandate and the corresponding rate add-on, and approval of the nursing home surcharge is still in question. The specific dates of implementation for the minimum wage rule and associated rate increase will be determined upon approval by CMS. At this point, members should assume that the minimum wage requirements and increased surcharge will likely not be implemented on Jan. 1 and do not need to plan to implement them until the effective date is known.
We’ve created talking points that providers may use with their residents and staff to communicate the implications of the CMS delay. To access these talking points, please click here.
New Member Resource Available: 2025 Legislative Changes affecting Assisted Living Providers (Webinar)
On November 13, 2025 by Sharon Hollister
The 2025 legislative session brought significant changes to contracts, notifications, and terminations for assisted living providers.
Belleston Residence Breaks Ground in Plymouth Offering New Senior Living Community
On November 13, 2025 by LeadingAge Minnesota
A new kind of senior living community has broken ground in Plymouth. Belleston Residence, an assisted and independent living community designed to provide high-acuity care in a residential setting will be located at 18035 Old Rockford Road.
Stratis Health to Develop Compliance Toolkit for Minnesota Home Care and Assisted Living Providers
On November 13, 2025 by Bobbie Guidry
Stratis Health has been selected by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to create an educational toolkit to support compliance with state regulations for new and current home care and assisted living providers.
Minnesota–Kenya Workforce Partnership Spotlighted in Boston at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Global Ageing Network
On November 13, 2025 by Anna Mowry
At the 2025 LeadingAge Annual Meeting in Boston, LeadingAge Minnesota was honored to share the stage with distinguished partners from Kenya and Minnesota to spotlight an emerging model of international collaboration in the aging services workforce.
Ballot Measures Pass in St. Paul and Duluth
On November 6, 2025 by Shelli Bakken
Voters in Duluth and St. Paul pass ballot referendums on Tuesday intended to provide added protections to renters. Member organizations who operate apartments or assisted living facilities should be aware of these changes and how they may affect their operations.
Turn Insight Into Action with our Latest Q2 QUEST Report
On November 6, 2025 by Julie Apold
The LeadingAge Minnesota QUEST Report is now available for second quarter 2025. This quarterly analytic resource for association members focuses on key trends in the senior care sector:
Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Program: Employers Focused FAQ
On November 6, 2025 by Mark Schulz
Following recent LeadingAge Minnesota member webinars on the upcoming Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave (MPL) law, we received dozens of thoughtful and practical questions from providers.
Minnesota May Suspend Payments for 14 Medicaid Services: Here’s What You Need to Know
On November 6, 2025 by Bobbie Guidry
On Oct. 28, the Walz Administration announced it would be using a new process for Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to review claims for certain Medicaid benefits and services before they are paid.