News

As communities across Minnesota respond to increased immigration enforcement activity and related events, many organizations are navigating heightened concern, questions, and uncertainty. To support members during this time, LeadingAge Minnesota has developed and compiled a set of resources designed to help organizations prepare, respond thoughtfully, and communicate with care.

For years, skilled nursing facilities (SNF) operated in a system where data submitted through the Minimum Data Set (MDS) was largely accepted at face value. Facilities reported, measures were calculated, and reimbursement and public reporting followed. That is ending.

This week, the Minnesota Senate Human Services Committee held interim hearings on the state’s Medicaid fraud response, and its corresponding impact on access to services. This marked a return-to-work for committee chair, Senator John Hoffman, who has been recovering during the interim from multiple gunshot wounds, which he sustained in the tragic events of last summer.

Join DHS and Minnesota Networking in Education and Assistive Technology (MN-NEAT) for the webinar, “Assistive Technology for Aging Adults,” on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026.

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 2024 Minnesota Legislature directed DHS to implement Minn. Stat. §256S.191, which allows people age 65 and older to access to budget exceptions when they discharge from a hospital with high care needs.

Yesterday, Jan. 14, the U.S. State Department announced a pause on immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, a change that may affect some employment-based green card cases used by long-term care providers to recruit international health care professionals. The pause is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 21.

CMS has recently moved nursing home survey and certification data into its new cloud-based system, iQIES (Internet Quality Improvement and Evaluation System). While this modernization is intended to improve data quality and reliability, the transition has resulted in data discrepancies that may be visible on Nursing Home Care Compare.

The National Association of Long-Term Care Boards (NAB) has launched the 2025-26 Professional Practice Analysis (PPA) survey. A PPA, sometimes referred to as a Job Analysis, is the practice of gathering and analyzing details about a particular job, such as responsibilities, day-to-day duties, qualifications, etc.

As we near the end of January, we’d like to share a quick reminder that 2026 LeadingAge Minnesota membership invoices are coming due. Thank you for being part of our community and for your continued investment in our shared work.

Is this your year to secure new grant funding? We’ve just updated our members-only Grant Grid with five new funding opportunities and now is a great time to take a look.

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating the people who make aging services extraordinary.

Schwickert’s Tecta America, a trusted leader in the roofing & mechanical services industries, proudly celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. This marks more than a century of commitment to the customer, delivering quality work, and impacting local communities.

Vista Prairie Communities is pleased to announce the promotion of Lacie Lampman to Executive Director of Vista Prairie at Ridgeway.

LeadingAge Minnesota is collecting artwork created by older adults for display during our third annual art exhibit the week of Day at the Capitol. This is an opportunity to highlight creativity, talent, and lived experience from communities across the state for legislators and policy leaders.