News

HUD has released the Fiscal Year 2026 Fair Market Rents (FMRs), which are now available on their website. These new rates will take effect on October 1, 2025, unless HUD receives valid reevaluation requests for specific areas, as outlined in its August 22nd Federal Register notice. The public has until September 22nd to submit comments. 

To assist you in setting budget revenue goals for the coming year, providers of affordable housing with rents based on HUD’s published FMR’s should refer to the link above for the rent that is appropriate for your county.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced updated recommendations for flu vaccination for the 2025–2026 flu season. On August 28, 2025, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) approved the guidance that will shape flu prevention efforts nationwide.

LeadingAge learned this week of a move within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to execute on President Trump’s March 1 English-as-America’s-official-language Executive Order (EO) by replacing the agency’s Limited English Proficiency (LEP) policy with an English-only policy.

Memo

In a memo to HUD employees, HUD deputy secretary Andrew D. Hughes stated that the EO will “enhance social and economic integration,” and reports that the agency will no longer have contracts for translation services for documents or communications, and all paper and online materials in languages other than English would be removed. HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated on Fox News, “… HUD will solely use English for all Departmental business and services. We are one people, united, and we will speak with one voice and one language to deliver on our mission.”

Previously, HUD had a practice of translating materials like resident brochures, documents, and forms into nearly 20 languages.

LeadingAge National confirmed the announcement with HUD leadership, who said that the change would take effect “immediately.” However, next steps and timelines for removing materials and ending contracts is currently unclear, and as of August 20, several translated materials are still available online through HUD’s LEP webpage.

LeadingAge National is working to save translated materials that housing providers may need in order to serve households with diverse LEP needs. Providers are encouraged to consider doing the same, particularly for documents that you use frequently for the population you serve.

If you are an operator of a HUD community, you are invited to join our upcoming quarterly networking group. Get together with other operators to network, share best practices, and get the latest updates related to HUD.

In a July Advantage article, we shared that HUD has released draft forms to implement and comply with new HOTMA requirements.

CMS is proposing a steep 9% cut to the Medicare Fee for Service (FFS) payment rates for home health services. Our partners at LeadingAge have been analyzing the 2026 Home Health Payment System Rate Update, and when combined with the 8.8% payment reductions the agency has imposed since CY2023, the impact will be significant to all providers of home health care.

On July 30, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) informed LeadingAge Minnesota that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has once again clarified its position regarding resident rights and Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP).

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has posted draft materials needed for certain federally-assisted housing providers to comply with requirements under the Housing Opportunity and Modernization Act (HOTMA).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the deadline for off-cycle Medicare provider revalidation to Jan. 1, 2026 — a significant shift from the previously announced Aug. 1, 2025 deadline. This marks the third postponement of the requirement.

On June 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released memo QSO-25-20-NH, announcing several impactful changes to the Nursing Home Care Compare website, set to take effect with the July and October 2025 quarterly data refreshes. These updates are part of CMS’s continuing efforts to enhance transparency and improve the accuracy and utility of performance data for nursing home providers, residents, and families.

Each month, Minnesota Housing posts an update for HUD providers called MOR Hot Topics. This publication recaps top items they’ve been finding in Management Occupancy Reviews (MOR) and other relevant updates for providers of HUD housing. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Nursing Homes has resumed regular calls with LeadingAge and other national stakeholder associations.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has weighed in on questions from LeadingAge National about how housing providers should handle retroactive payments resulting from the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA).

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is pausing its appeal of court rulings that blocked the agency’s April 2024 overtime rule, which sought to increase the salary thresholds necessary to exempt a salaried executive, administrative or professional (EAP) employee from federal overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Staff from HUD have announced publicly - at both the LeadingAge Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. and a recent NAHMA conference – that there will be a delay in requiring providers to comply with HOTMA (Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act).

Nursing homes must now submit off-cycle revalidations by August 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) enacted a final rule in November 2023 implementing portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which added a section to the Social Security Act related to ownership, management, and related parties.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has released changes to the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers should review their current I-9 form’s expiration date and begin integrating the new I-9 form into their employee verification systems and processes.

HUD has released its income limits for affordable rental communities, effective 4/1/2025.    These income limits are used by providers of affordable rental property to help a property determine eligibility criteria.

Each month, Minnesota Housing posts an update for providers called HOT Topics. This publication recaps top items they’ve been finding in Management Occupancy Reviews (MOR) and other relevant updates for providers of HUD housing.

Significant changes are coming for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). On March 24, 2025, new and revised surveyor guidance, including updated critical element pathways, will take effect.