News

The Minnesota Department of Health is exploring infection prevention and control barriers in long-term care settings utilizing Collaborative Systems Change. Initial research for areas of study has concluded and focus group work will begin soon. MDH issued a gov. delivery last week that included the areas of study along with additional information about the research process.

Assisted Living licensed providers of customized living services who applied before December 31, 2023, to transition to DHS licensing as a community residential setting may qualify for a license transition support opportunity.

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

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has launched the Employer Engagement Team to address workforce challenges by connecting employers with skilled workers, particularly in the Drive for 5 fields: caring professions, education, manufacturing, technology, and trades.

The next cycle for the Minnesota Long-Term Care Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program is now open. The program provides funds to repay qualified educational loans for eligible RNs and LPNs.

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, if your facility charges pet fees or deposits, your rental lease or contract will be required to disclose that these fees or charges are prohibited for, and do not apply to, service and support animals.

The next cycle for the Minnesota Long-Term Care Nurse Loan Forgiveness Program is now open. The program provides funds to repay qualified educational loans for eligible RNs and LPNs.

As of Monday, Oct. 21, DHS has limited account access to NETStudy 2.0 for providers who submitted background study applications between Sept. 3 and Sept. 6, 2024; were unable to pay for those studies due to a DHS technical system issue; and have not yet paid for those studies.

Changes were made to the statutes regarding Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) and Independent Informal Dispute Resolution (IIDR) during the 2024 legislative session.

As Minnesota high schoolers head back to school this fall, don’t forget—they have new incentives to work in long-term care.

This October, the MN Dual-Training Pipeline program is hosting community conversations around the state for employers to come together and share their workforce challenges and successes, network with business leaders, and learn about the MN Dual-Training Pipeline program.

On Sept 24, the MN Geriatrics ECHO is hosting a session featuring our newest resource, CaringCareersStartHere.com, along with LeadingAge’s Director of Workforce, Anna Mowry.

The Home and Community Based services (HCBS) workforce incentive grant program being implemented by DHS is using a two-step process to determine how much funding each provider will receive.

DHS recently sent an email to all the nursing homes that received 2023 Workforce Incentive Grant (WIG) funds. Roughly one year, ago DHS issued WIG payments to nursing homes. 

In partnership with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, LeadingAge Minnesota is hosting a webinar on resident voting on Thursday, September 12 from noon to 1:00 p.m. This webinar is free to all LeadingAge MN members.

The Department of Labor and Industry is reminding employers that Minnesota’s minimum-wage rate will be adjusted for inflation on Jan. 1, 2025, to $11.13 an hour for all employers in the state.

As part of our advocacy efforts, and in response to our direct requests of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to provide routine reconsideration data to providers, the agency has provided its second quarter 2024 calendar year assisted living and home care licensures reconsideration data to us.

On Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Legislative Taskforce on Aging met to hear a proposal for a new cabinet-level Department on Aging.

During the 2024 legislative session, the Minnesota Board on Aging removed the assisted living long-term care options counseling/verification code requirement for persons considering moving into an assisted living facility.

Aug. 1 represents the effective date for several new Minnesota laws that do not have budget impact.