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Since the federal approval of the nursing home rate changes for 2026, DHS has been moving rapidly to implement those rates. The rates are loaded into the billing system, so August services are being paid at the higher rate. DHS is also automatically reprocessing claims back to Jan. 1, 2026 and that process should be complete this month.

One consequence of the federal approval of nursing home rates for 2026 and 2027 is that the minimum wage rule adopted by the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board goes into effect today, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.

Two legislative committees held interim hearings this week, shaping the policy discussion for older adult services ahead of the 2027 legislative session.

While still grieving the three victims of a July shooting at Davern Park Apartments in St. Paul, the property management industry was confronted with another deadly shooting at Shoreline Plaza apartments in Minneapolis. LeadingAge Minnesota extends our sympathy to all those affected by these tragedies, including residents, staff, families and the law enforcement officers who responded.

Survey preparation is often treated as a countdown, but the most valuable work happens between surveys. That is when organizations can address vulnerabilities thoughtfully, examine their systems without the pressure of an impending visit, and turn lessons from across the field into lasting improvements.

As part of their statutory mandate to collect feedback from nursing home employees and employers, the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board is hosting a series of forums and conducting a survey. The survey is designed to get feedback from both employees and employers.

Skilled nursing facilities operate in an environment where reimbursement, quality outcomes, staffing efficiency, and resident function are increasingly interconnected. Yet one valuable clinical program is often underdeveloped or viewed primarily as an MDS requirement: restorative nursing.

LeadingAge Minnesota members are increasingly reporting situations in which employees with pending Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal applications are approaching—or experiencing—gaps in employment authorization before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) completes the renewal process. If this is impacting your organization, please complete our short survey at the end of this article.

Section GG has become one of the most influential sections of the Minimum Data Set (MDS), yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. While many clinicians recognize its importance for Medicare reimbursement, Section GG extends far beyond payment. Accurate coding directly impacts Quality Measures, Value-Based Purchasing, Five-Star performance, state Medicaid case-mix systems, discharge planning, and the resident's overall clinical story.

LeadingAge Minnesota is hearing from members whose employees are being taken off the schedule—or may soon be unable to work—while they wait for federal renewal of their work authorization. Take our brief survey to let us know if this is impacting your organization.

With less than three weeks remaining to submit nominations for the 2027 Stars Among Us Awards, now is the time to turn good intentions into action. If you've been thinking about someone who deserves recognition, don't wait to start their nomination.

Looking for funding to support your organization’s programs, workforce, facilities, or other priorities? New grant and scholarship opportunities have recently been added to the LeadingAge Minnesota Grant Grid.

Construction projects are often measured in square feet, schedules and budgets. But the best projects are ultimately measured by something much harder to quantify: relationships.

LeadingAge Minnesota will soon launch our annual member roster update process to help ensure our records are accurate and members across your organization stay connected to the resources, communications, education and opportunities available through membership.

Learning and professional development can take many forms, and LeadingAge Minnesota’s education partners offer additional opportunities for professionals to grow and explore new areas of expertise. One of those partners, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, offers graduate programs that help professionals build specialized knowledge and skills for the next step in their careers.