News

Today (Thurs. Jan 23), LeadingAge MN Vice President of Advocacy, Erin Huppert, testified before the House Human Services Policy & Finance Committee to share serious concerns with and opposition to Governor Walz's proposed budget, which was released on Jan. 16, 2025.

On Dec. 5, 2024, Judge Leonard Strand, who is presiding over the lawsuit filed by LeadingAge Minnesota and other LeadingAge state affiliates and state Attorneys General to challenge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Minimum Staffing Rule, held a hearing on our motion for a preliminary injunction to halt the rule’s enforcement and implementation.

Last week, our attorney filed an amended complaint in our legal challenge of the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s (NHWSB) Holiday Pay Rule. The amended complaint included more information about the harms suffered by our members because of implementing the Holiday Pay Rule at their nursing homes.

Earlier today, Governor Walz released his budget proposal for the next two years, which amounts to an extremely disappointing proposal that balances the state budget on the backs of seniors and those who care for them. The combination of impacts, particularly for nursing homes, is almost certain to lead to a decline in access due to increased likelihood of closures, especially in rural areas.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's (DEED) new article highlights the looming impact of federal minimum staffing regulations on Minnesota's nursing homes.

The Minnesota legislature is set to convene for the 2025 session next week, Tuesday, Jan. 14, under extraordinary conditions. Notably, earlier this week, House DFLers threatened not to show up on the first day of the legislative session if a power-sharing agreement is not reached.

Post your open positions with a new member-only discount on AgingServicesJobs.org – the premier job board for aging services employers to post their critical-to-fill positions and get connected with qualified applicants.

Starting Jan. 27, 2025, the nurse aide knowledge test will be available in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong, in addition to English, as allowed by Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.61.

Several new laws impacting aging services took effect on Jan. 1. We’ve included a summary below – members are encouraged to review the 2024 Legislative Report for full impact analyses and links to session law.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has made a significant policy shift back to a more pro-union stance, reinstating the "clear and unmistakable waiver" standard.

The Holiday Pay rule was officially entered into the State Register on December 9, with state enforcement of the rule set to begin on Jan. 1, 2025.

Earlier this week, the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board rule that would require eleven paid holidays took the final step toward approval and implementation, which is due to start Jan. 1, 2025.

Mark your calendar and register for LeadingAge Minnesota’s first District Meeting of 2025. Scheduled for January 16, the agenda for this virtual meeting features:

This Thanksgiving season, as we gather with loved ones and reflect on all we’re grateful for, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is thankful for our elders and excited to help tackle challenges they face in rural areas of the state.

A new study by the Minnesota Center for Rural Policy and Development was released last week, highlighting the dwindling access to nursing home care for older adults in rural Minnesota.

Yesterday, the Long-Term Care Imperative launched a public messaging campaign urging Governor Walz to stop the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board’s Holiday Pay Rule, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2025. Below, you can read the news release that was sent yesterday to targeted media outlets across the state.

CaringCareersStartHere.com is helping connect job seekers with long-term care employers. We’ve welcomed over 50,000 visitors to the site since May, helping to elevate careers in aging services across the state.

As the year draws to a close, we’re gearing up for the event that brings our community together like no other: the annual Institute & Expo! And this time, we’re doing things a little differently. Our theme—Courageous Thinking—is all about celebrating bold ideas and innovative approaches to improving the lives of older adults. We want your stories to take center stage.

We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our brand-new Foundation newsletter! Arriving in your inbox this December, it will be your go-to source for the latest groundbreaking initiatives transforming the experience of aging in Minnesota.

While final numbers are still being calculated, this November, Minnesota voters continued a long-standing tradition of high voter turnout.