News

The LeadingAge Minnesota’s Institute and Expo is quickly approaching! While we’re working hard behind the scenes to share with you the Institute experience you have come to expect, we wanted to share a change in this year’s schedule.

All but 62 of Minnesota’s nursing homes would not be eligible for a hardship exemption to CMS’s hours per resident day requirement found in the proposed staffing standard rule. Only approximately 18% of providers would qualify.

On Monday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) convened a meeting with LeadingAge Minnesota and other provider o

Vacancy rates for registered and licensed practical nurses increased last quarter to over 20%, according to data submitted by members in the LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal.

New LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal benchmark reports are now available for assisted living quality and services measures.

Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, who represents Minnesota’s 7^th Congressional District, introduced HR 5796, a bill proposing to prohibit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from promulgating its misguided minimum staffing ratio mandate.

In its proposed staffing rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) puts forward a minimum staffing standard of 0.55 hours per resident day (HPRD) for RNs and 2.45 HPRD for nurse aides.

The Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, created during the past legislative session, met for the first time last Thursday.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the nursing home minimum staffing standards proposed rule in the Federal Register on Sept. 6 and proposes standards that include minimum staffing for Registered Nurses (RNs) and nurse aides (NAs). 

Employers can sign up now to become an employer partner for the next round of the Next Generation Nursing Assistant or NextGen “barrier-free” training program.

As Minnesota high schoolers head back to school this fall, they have new incentives to work in caring careers.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the nursing home minimum staffing standards proposed rule in the Federal Register on Sept. 6 and proposes standards that include minimum staffing for registered nurses (RNs) and nurse aides.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has decided to extend the application deadline for the Nursing Facility Workforce Incentive Grant Program to Friday, Sept. 15. DHS has posted a revised version of the RFP and application form for Workforce Incentive Grants on the Nursing Facility Provider Portal.

Despite the current workforce reality, the evidence that no single staffing level would guarantee quality care, and our ardent advocacy to negate the most troubling portions of this rule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a rule that will impose minimum staffing ratios. We are disappointed our calls to moderate and mitigate the potentially devastating impacts of the rule were not heeded.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting an increase in COVID-19 cases as of last week. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) COVID-19 status update shows Minnesota’s cases are increasing, especially in people 85 and older.

A nursing home minimum staffing feasibility study commissioned by CMS was leaked this week. The key findings provide important insights into the challenges of proposing and implementing staffing ratios in nursing homes.

Members and staff of the House and Senate Human Services Committees went into the community last week to experience firsthand the care given by long-term care providers, see the impact of their legislative actions, and talk about priorities for 2024. Over a single day, they visited five providers of senior care and disability services.

Four new resources requested by members are now available in LeadingAge Minnesota’s Resource Library related to cannabis, education requirements, staffing in assisted living, and background checks.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) released the minimum-wage rate information that begins on Jan. 1, 2024. Minnesota's minimum wage rates will be adjusted for inflation on Jan. 1, 2024, to $10.85 an hour for large employers and $8.85 an hour for other state minimum wages.

Effective Aug. 1, 2023, two modifications were made to consumer surveys for assisted living, adult day services, and home care.