News

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Emergency Preparedness and Response Division is offering eligible health care partners an opportunity to receive personal protective equipment (PPE) and related supplies at no cost.

Minnesota senior services providers will soon have a more direct role in support plan compliance, and potentially a stronger voice in how services are understood, documented and delivered. Beginning Aug. 1, 2026, DHS will require the full support plan to be provided to and signed by all required parties within 60 calendar days of the person’s assessment or initial assessment review.

Effective July 1, 2026, entities and individuals submitting background study applications in NETStudy 2.0 will be responsible for paying service fees for credit and debit card payments. These fees will be collected by US Bank through the payment portal.

Earlier this year, the Minnesota Department of Human Services acknowledged delays in processing new provider enrollments while staff focused on completing the 5,583 provider revalidations due by May 31. DHS indicated it would begin addressing the backlog after that deadline.

Safe Homes Saint Paul, a tenant advocate organization, has collected 7,500 signatures to introduce a ballot measure to create an ordinance that could enable renters to arrange for repairs to their rented premises and, at times, common areas, and deduct the cost of the repairs from a future rent payment.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has released Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) rent and income limits. These limits are now available on Minnesota Housing’s Multifamily Rent and Income Limits webpage. Minnesota Housing uses the HUD published limits to compute income and rent limits for Multifamily loan programs.

Minnesota’s much-discussed “Grandparents’ Happy Hour” provision is now live, and it gives assisted living communities, nursing homes, and boarding care homes a clearer path to host resident-focused activities or events where alcohol may be served without obtaining a separate liquor license.

To help more learners succeed in CNA training, OnTrack Nursing Assistant now offers translated learner materials in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong — designed to strengthen comprehension and confidence.

Late last year, health insurer UCARE announced that due to mounting financial losses they would be shutting down operations.  They are now officially in court ordered “rehabilitation” which has put MDH in charge of all UCARE operations.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has announced the upcoming launch of the Assisted Living Competitive Grant Program, established under new legislation effective Jan. 1, 2026 (see Minnesota Statutes, section 144G.31). This program supports projects and initiatives that improve resident quality of care and outcomes in assisted living settings licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144G, or organizations with experience in assisted living operations, compliance, resident needs, or best practices.

In assisted living settings, unlicensed staff are often the first to respond to resident situations. LeadingAge Minnesota developed member supports to assist in clarifying practical expectations for incident response, reinforcing the use of the airway, breathing, circulation (ABCs), and providing education and tools that help organizations make decisions about when, and whether, to move a resident after a fall.

The MN Department of Revenue has recently reorganized their website content and added more training resources to help customers navigate the CRP system.

Federal enforcement activities in Minnesota have intensified following national directives expanding expedited removal and activating multi-agency Homeland Security task forces.

Stratis Health has been selected by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to create an educational toolkit to support compliance with state regulations for new and current home care and assisted living providers.

For nearly 30 years, the Senior LinkAge Line has been Minnesota’s primary aging resource connecting older Minnesotans, caregivers and others to the services and supports they need.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is seeking proposals for the Drive for Five Initiative Competitive Grants to conduct outreach, provide education and training, and job placement in high-demand fields, including the caring professions.

You can now use e-Services to create and submit 2025 Certificates of Rent Paid (CRPs). By making 2025 CRPs available now, you have the option to create CRPs for renters who move before the end of the year. You must give each renter a CRP by January 31 of each year.

In Minnesota, landlords are required to notify residential tenants about the availability of the Minnesota Attorney General's Office Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities handbook. 

The Minnesota Department of Health is expanding in-facility testing to add additional test sites for nurse aide candidates. Applications will be accepted until July 11.

When renewing your Assisted Living Facility license you may find the MDH Renewal Checklist helpful in preparing documents to submit with the renewal application.