News Archives
December 2025 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
DHS Rate Notice Delay: Key Updates
On December 11, 2025 by Jeff Bostic
As we reported previously, DHS has informed LeadingAge MN that, due to some internal IT challenges, they will not publish Jan. 1, 2026 nursing home Medicaid rate notices during the month of December. Nursing homes need to provide a notice to their private pay residents before the rate increase is effective on Jan. 1, even if the amount of increase is not known.
Other Events – Upcoming January Webinars
On December 11, 2025 by Sharon Hollister
Mark your calendar now and join us for these webinars happening in January:
2026 Institute & Expo – Specialty Education Tracks for Quality and IT
On December 11, 2025 by Sharon Hollister
The 2026 Institute & Expo – Change Makers – is Feb. 11-12, 2026, in St. Paul. We encourage you register your site and the people attending before the Jan. 7 early bird deadline to save $100 on your organizational site/entity registration fee!
Important Notice: List and Hotel Room Solicitation Scams
On December 11, 2025 by LeadingAge Minnesota
Large events that include exhibitors and overnight accommodations can unfortunately attract fraudulent activity, including unauthorized list selling and hotel room solicitations. We encourage you to exercise caution when responding to unsolicited emails or phone calls.
Upcoming New Member Orientation & Member Refresh Session – December 17
On December 11, 2025 by Jessica Lacher
Whether you’re new to LeadingAge Minnesota or looking to make the most of your organization’s membership, we invite you to join our next New Member Orientation & Existing Member Refresh session on Wednesday, December 17 at 11 AM.
2026 Membership Renewal Invoices
On December 11, 2025 by Jessica Lacher
As we look ahead to the new year, we would like to remind members that 2026 membership renewal invoices were sent in November to the dues contact currently listed for each organization.
Rural Technology Innovation Cohort and Funding Opportunity
On December 11, 2025 by Gina DiMaggio
AscendRural, a program of Sourcewell, is inviting rural senior-serving nonprofits and government agencies to apply for their Senior Care Community Cohort — a guided pathway focused on identifying high-potential technology solutions that solve your organization’s most critical problems.
Monthly IL Operators Professional Networking Group December 16th
On December 11, 2025 by Shelli Bakken
Operators of Independent Living Housing, we hope to see you on December 16 at 10 a.m. for our final Professional Networking Group of the year.
PockeTalk Device Request Period Now Closed
On December 11, 2025 by Kirstan Ketter
Thanks to an overwhelming response from our member providers across the state, the PockeTalk sign-up window is now closed. In just a short time, we received requests for more than 245 devices from over 95 members.
Information to Share with Older Adults on Holiday Scams and Financial Exploitation
On December 11, 2025 by LeadingAge Minnesota
The holiday season brings increased shopping activity, gift giving and charitable appeals. It also brings a rise in scams that target older adults.
2026 LIRC Renewal Application Process Updates
On December 11, 2025 by Shelli Bakken
The Low-Income Rental Classification (LIRC) program provides a reduced property tax class rate for qualifying rental housing and can lower property tax obligations.
Right to Repair Ordinance Info for Duluth Providers
On December 11, 2025 by Shelli Bakken
In November, voters in Duluth, Minnesota approved a Right to Repair ballot initiative, granting tenants a right to repair certain defects in residential rental units when applicable requirements are met.
SNF Off-Cycle Revalidations Suspended Indefinitely
On December 11, 2025 by Mark Schulz
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has indefinitely suspended the Skilled Nursing Facility Off-Cycle Revalidation required by January 1, 2026. It is important to note that only the January 1 (“off-cycle”) compliance date has been suspended.
LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Seeks Silent Auction Donations
On December 11, 2025 by Lori Meyer
The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to announce our Tenth Annual Silent Auction which will take place as part of the 2026 Institute. All proceeds from the Silent Auction go to the Gayle Kvenvold Commitment to Caregivers Fund to benefit dedicated caregivers throughout Minnesota.
Minnesota’s Economic Forecast Offers Mixed Signals for Aging Services
On December 4, 2025 by Erin Huppert
Today, Minnesota officials released its fall economic forecast, which will inform state lawmakers’ priorities in 2026.
2026 Institute & Expo – Register Your Team for Easy Check-In
On December 4, 2025 by Sharon Hollister
The 2026 Institute & Expo – Change Makers – is Feb. 11-12, 2026 in St. Paul. This is two days of nonstop education for everyone on your team, plus the largest aging services expo in the region, special events, and valuable connections with peers.
Immigrant Workforce Matching Program Brings Workforce Relief
On December 4, 2025 by LeadingAge Minnesota
When Benedictine faced persistent staffing shortages in its rural North Dakota locations, it found an unexpected but powerful partner: Cherokee Federal.
Sign-Up for Free “PockeTalk” Translation Devices is Now Open!
On December 4, 2025 by Kirstan Ketter
The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to offer up to 143 PockeTalk translation devices—at no cost—to member providers. These devices support New Americans with limited English proficiency who are working in long-term care roles by improving language access in real time.
Celebrating the 2025 Leadership Academy Graduates: Sixteen Years of Growing Leaders in Aging Services
On December 4, 2025 by Barbara Landeen
We are proud to celebrate the recent graduation of LeadingAge Minnesota’s 2025 Leadership Academy cohort, marking a significant milestone in our organization’s commitment to developing strong, values-driven leaders across the aging services field.
HUD Secretary Sends Letter Addressing Guidance for Criminal Background Screening
On December 4, 2025 by Shelli Bakken
Members who provide HUD subsidized housing may have received a letter dated November 25, 2025 from HUD Secretary E. Scott Turner addressing the current administration’s guidance related to criminal background screenings for prospective tenants.
Certificates of Rent Paid (CRP) for 2025 Due by January 31
On December 4, 2025 by Bobbie Guidry
The MN Department of Revenue has recently reorganized their website content and added more training resources to help customers navigate the CRP system.
Federal ICE Enforcement Actions Increase in Minnesota
On December 4, 2025 by Mark Schulz
Federal enforcement activities in Minnesota have intensified following national directives expanding expedited removal and activating multi-agency Homeland Security task forces.
DHS Will Not Be Providing Rate Notices by Jan. 1, 2026
On December 4, 2025 by Jeff Bostic
DHS recently informed LeadingAge MN that, due to some internal IT challenges, they will not publish Jan. 1, 2026, nursing home Medicaid rate notices during the month of December. They do not have an estimated date at this point, but they are working to complete them by sometime in early 2026.
CMS Repeals Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Standards
On December 4, 2025 by Mark Schulz
An interim final rule repealing the nursing home minimum staffing standards was released to the Federal Register on December 2. It is important to note that the interim final rule does not repeal the entire rule that was finalized in April 2024.