News

LeadingAge Minnesota was at FarmFest last week, connecting with attendees and raising awareness about the importance of supporting aging services across Minnesota.

After months of delay, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, CMS approved Minnesota’s State Plan Amendment (SPA). This approval triggers significant nursing facility rate, wage, and surcharge changes.

As Minnesota is in peak summer season, a familiar seasonal illness is drawing extra attention this year. Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness that is the subject of a large multistate outbreak that has sickened more than 18,000 people nationally, with a subcluster tied to iceberg lettuce from a Taylor Farms supplier sourcing from central Mexico.

New videos, on-demand webinars and practical tools help aging services providers recruit, support, and retain New American employees while creating stronger, more welcoming workplaces for everyone.

The 2026 LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament helped raise record-breaking funds for the next round of caregiver scholarships. In total, thanks to golfers, sponsors, volunteers, on-course games, and ticket sales, the event raised nearly $108,000 before expenses.

Second quarter data submission for all LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal applications is due by July 31. By submitting your data each quarter, you'll build a stronger picture of your organization's performance over time while gaining access to meaningful benchmarks that can support quality improvement, strategic planning, budgeting, and operational decision-making.

The application materials for another round of the nursing facility moratorium exceptions process were recently posted on the MDH website. Nursing homes interested in applying for approval to fund a construction project will need to complete all the required application materials and return them to MDH by December 17, 2026.

Assisted living providers routinely face difficult questions about whether a person can safely move in (or remain in the community) when decision-making, communication or disability-related needs complicate the situation. Two new Minnesota laws change how providers must approach those decisions.

Every election season, senior housing communities receive calls from candidates asking to visit residents. These requests can raise as many questions as opportunities. While candidates are eager to meet older voters—one of the most civically engaged groups in Minnesota—property managers are focused on resident comfort, safety, and operations.

The LeadingAge Minnesota Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for one director-at-large position and for Honorary Lifetime Membership.

CMS has announced a major shift in how nursing homes will be surveyed. On July 16, 2026, CMS issued QSO-26-14-NH, formally launching the Risk-Based Survey (RBS) process nationwide beginning September 8, 2026.

Northern Minnesota's wildfires have pushed air quality to hazardous levels across much of the state this week, with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issuing alerts covering the metro, Duluth, Brainerd, St. Cloud, and dozens of other communities.

There's still time to save on registration for the 2026 Assisted Living Conference, but not for long. Early bird pricing ends Friday, July 10.

A grant-funded evaluation opportunity is available to member facilities, with no restriction on the number of evaluations provided.

If you haven’t had a chance to review it yet, LeadingAge Minnesota’s 2026 Legislative Report remains an important resource for understanding the policy decisions that will shape aging services in the months and years ahead.

State and federal regulations require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to have emergency plans that describe how they will respond to emergencies, including fires in the building. These same regulations also require facilities to practice those plans.

LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to present its 2026 Legislative Report. More than a summary, this report is designed to help you lead with insight and intention. It provides a clear-eyed look at the session’s outcomes and a summary of the decisions that will directly impact your organizations and the people you serve.

LeadingAge Minnesota members gathered across the state in June for the association's district meetings, bringing together providers, county leaders, advocacy partners and members for important discussions about the future of aging services in Minnesota.

The June 4 edition of Advantage included a detailed article titled What Providers Need to Know About Minnesota’s New Happy Hour Process. The new Minnesota law loosens some of the red tape for licensed assisted livings, nursing homes, and boarding care homes.

The FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) Proposed Rule is more than just another annual reimbursement update. While the headlines focus on a 2.4% payment increase, the deeper message from CMS is much more significant: the agency is preparing for tighter oversight, faster accountability, expanded reporting expectations, and increased scrutiny of MDS coding patterns across the skilled nursing industry.