News

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an update to payroll-based journal (PBJ) materials on the Staffing Data Submission Payroll Based Journal webpage. Updates to the PBJ Policy Manual include info for PBJ system registration through QIES and clarification that all reported nursing hours must be onsite hours. Updates to the PBJ Policy Manual FAQs reiterate the updates in the policy manual, and also include clarifications related to meal breaks, salaried staff, RN hours requirements and waivers, and questions pertaining to PBJ audits. Check out these updates in the PBJ Policy Manual and the PBJ Policy Manual FAQs located in the Downloads section of the PBJ page on the CMS website.

Are you passionate about shaping the future of senior care and aging services in Minnesota? Ready to lead, inspire, and make a meaningful impact? This is your moment. LeadingAge Minnesota is seeking visionary leaders to fill two Director-at-Large positions on our Board of Directors – powerful roles that influence the direction of our work together and the well-being of those we serve. These are three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Additionally, we’re also looking to recruit a Secretary/Treasurer, a key role on our Executive Committee. This individual will serve a two-year term, then advance to Chair-Elect for two years, and ultimately step into the role of Board Chair for two more years. At LeadingAge Minnesota, we’re striving to transform and enhance the experience of aging. Our Board of Directors play a pivotal role in helping the association achieve our mission. The nomination process to fill these open positions will open later this week. Watch for more details coming soon!

On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" into law, enacting sweeping changes to tax and spending priorities. Of particular importance to aging services providers, the bill includes significant cuts to Medicaid funding and adjustments that may impact nursing home reimbursement rates and long-term care coverage in the future. While some tax provisions aim to benefit workers, the overall fiscal changes raise concerns about the sustainability of safety-net programs that support older adults. It's important to note that impacts to Minnesota remain unclear: providers should not make any immediate changes to their budget or operations until more information is known. Governor Walz's staff indicated the passage of the federal bill could trigger a second special session later this year, but that has not been confirmed. This is a breaking news item. LeadingAge Minnesota is still reading through the final law and working with partners on impact and analysis. Further details and in-depth analyses of the federal bill’s implications for Medicaid providers, nursing homes, and non-profit tax entities will be shared soon. Watch Advantage later this week for more detailed analyses of the new law and what it means for care access, provider operations, and resident wellbeing. If you are a LeadingAge National member, you are also invited to join their member call today at 2:30 Central Time. Follow this link to register.

Last week HUD reported to LeadingAge National that 90% of late subsidy payments for June have gone out for payment. This means most of LeadingAge's affordable senior housing provider members who were impacted by subsidy delays should either now see the funding or see it scheduled for payment in the system. However, HUD also informed LeadingAge that there are still around 100 contracts that HUD is working to resolve for June. HUD is scheduling those remaining contracts for payment next week. The reason HUD gave for the continued delay is that those HAP subsidy (voucher) submissions were either received late or were higher than usual, prompting additional HUD review. Actions for LeadingAge members to take: If you have not seen any subsidy payments scheduled for June, please let LeadingAge know ASAP. HUD has offered to investigate individual contracts and follow-up with specific information related to the delay. Please send the property name, address, contract number, and point of contact to Juliana Bilowich, LeadingAge's Senior Director of Housing Operations and Policy. If housing providers have not yet received the subsidy for June and need to cover costs in the meantime, you can consider requesting a Reserve for Replacement draw. Reach out to Shelli Bakken at LeadingAge MN for other questions.

On Thursday evening, 6/12, DHS sent a communication regarding NETStudy 2.0 experiencing issues generating and updating Universal Enrollment Identification (UEID) numbers. After reviewing the error, it was determined that the issue impacted some background studies submitted on June 11 and June 12. As of Friday, 6/13, the system is no longer experiencing issues generating and updating UEID numbers for submitted applications.

Instruction for Impacted Background Studies. As a result, the Background Studies Division is granting impacted study subjects an additional one or two days to complete the fingerprinting and photograph requirements. Study subjects should now have received an email from the fingerprint vendor, and providers can view the UEID numbers on the Applications tab of their profile. If a study subject did not receive an email notification from the fingerprint vendor, or if you need technical support, please contact DHS at dhs.netstudy2@state.mn.us or 651-431-6620.

Hosted by LeadingAge, this timely webinar will focus on the latest CMS updates on off-cycle revalidation. Get clear, practical guidance on complex requirements for additional disclosable parties (ADPs), board members, real property ownership, government authorities, and more—before the Aug. 1 deadline. As a reminder, all Medicare-certified nursing homes must complete the first off-cycle revalidation regardless of receiving a letter or not, even if they just did a revalidation last year (before the new requirements were implemented and the new form became available in September) by Aug. 1. If a nursing home does not accept Medicare, only Medicaid and/or private pay, they do not need to submit revalidation at this time. Key topics covered in the webinar will include: An overview of the statutory and regulatory framework, what’s required, and what’s changed; a brief review of new guidance and clarifications on reporting ADPs, board members, real property ownership, and government authorities; and an extended Q&A—giving you a unique opportunity to get practical advice in real time. Learn more and register here.

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has published an update to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis codes, which will become effective Oct. 1, 2025. This FY 2026 (Oct. 1, 2025, Update) Conversion Table includes the new ICD-10-CM codes and is provided to assist users in data retrieval. For each new code the table shows the effective date and its previously assigned code equivalent in bold. Unless otherwise specified, the code effective date is Oct. 1 of the year listed.

• 2026 Conversion Table (ZIP)
• 2026 Code Descriptions in Tabular Order (ZIP)
• 2026 Addendum (ZIP)
• 2026 Code Tables, Tabular and Index (ZIP) 

More information available here. 

Stay on top of your family's health with Docket, an optional digital tool that provides secure access to your Minnesota Immunization Information Connection (MIIC) immunization records. Easily view your immunization history, check for due or upcoming vaccines, and download printable PDF records for school, travel, or health needs. For other ways to access your MIIC record, visit Find My Immunization Record. MIIC does also have an app to download. To get started, go to your app store and search “Docket”. For more information, visit MIIC FAQ.

CDC's Project Firstline and the American Medical Association (AMA) recently hosted a webinar to share important measles updates and help providers and clinics stay prepared for measles. The recording is now available to watch and share. The webinar featured a panel of CDC experts covering current trends in measles epidemiology, clinical recognition of measles, the importance of vaccination, and infection prevention and control measures to help prepare and respond to measles in healthcare settings. "Continuing Medical Education" is available and can be accessed via the recording page. 

Additional measles resources: 

• Project Firstline's New Measles Micro-Learn: Resource for leading a quick, on-the-job training about recognizing measles and preventing spread. 
• CDC's Be Ready for Measles Toolkit: Tools and communication materials to make it easier for jurisdictions to communicate with the public, clinicians, and partners before and during a measles outbreak. 
• AMA Measles Resources: Resources and information from AMA for clinicians and public health professionals.

There are less than two weeks until the next required paid holiday under the Board’s holiday pay rule occurs. However, because the court has not issued its order yet, we have no new update about the situation in our ongoing legal challenge against the Holiday Pay Rule. That said, we are expecting the court to issue its order shortly. At the end of the hearing held in mid-February, the court indicated it would issue its order before the Memorial Day holiday (5/26), but that could literally mean the day before the holiday. Therefore, the pragmatic result is this: providers should continue to prepare for compliance with the rule (definitions of who gets paid the holiday pay, and how much they are paid on those 11 state holidays, or those holidays the employer worked with the employees to change the date or time of) for now. Once we receive the court’s order, we will notify members directly regarding what the decision means for your operations.