News

Skilled nursing facilities can now access updated SNF Provider Preview Reports reflecting quality measure data that will be publicly reported in January 2026. Providers have until December 17, 2025, to review their data and request CMS corrections if needed.

Lawmakers continue to wrestle with the rollout and confusion of the Walz Administration’s order to pause Medicaid payments for 14 services (now technically 13 due to one of the services being discontinued entirely), pending an audit by Optum.

Following recent member discussions and questions about the upcoming Minnesota Paid Leave (MPL) law, we wanted to provide clarity about its relationship with the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board (NHWSB) established minimum wages and how those NHWSB minimum wages may not necessarily be the minimum wages required to be paid for MPL compliance.

The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Employee Scholarship and Loan Forgiveness application is open until Dec. 12, 2025.

Effective November 2025, MDH is using a new Physical Environment Inspection Report to document physical environment deficiencies identified during:

Due to mounting financial losses, health insurer UCARE announced earlier this week that it is shutting down all operations and will be transferring clients to another non-profit Minnesota health insurer, Medica.

The ongoing federal government shutdown is now threatening key programs that help Minnesotans stay warm and support early childhood development. Funding delays for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) could leave up to 125,000 Minnesota households struggling to afford heating costs as winter approaches, while the Cold Weather Rule offers only partial protection—excluding many rural residents who rely on propane or fuel oil. At the same time, several Head Start programs across the state face the loss of federal funding, putting services for preschool children at risk.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act has been reintroduced – A federal bill that proposes to recapture up to 40,000 previously authorized but unused immigrant visas—25,000 for nurses and 15,000 for physicians.

LeadingAge Minnesota business partner CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) recently released their 40^th Annual SNF Cost Comparison and Industry Trends Report. This year's report is centered on the importance of understanding the reimbursement landscape, how quality drives performance, and enhancing business operations and acumen.

Effective governance is the foundation of a strong organization. Your board and leadership team each play vital roles in supporting sustainability, advancing your mission, and ensuring that high-quality care remains central to your work.

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 any up-to-the minute updates related to HUD.

Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 18 at noon and join the Fund Developer Network for an interactive conversation on all things fundraising in senior care.

Congratulations to Perham Health/Elevate for winning the 2025 Minnesota Rural Health Team Award. This award, presented by the Minnesota Department of Health, recognizes dedicated health care organizations that have made significant contributions to the health and wellbeing of their rural communities. It's presented just in time for honoring Rural Health Day, which is today, Thursday, November 20. 

Consonus Pharmacy is proud to announce that Jessica Androff, PharmD, BCGP, President of Pharmacy, has been named President-Elect of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP).

A new kind of senior living community has broken ground in Plymouth. Belleston Residence, an assisted and independent living community designed to provide high-acuity care in a residential setting will be located at 18035 Old Rockford Road.