News

Four new resources requested by members are now available in LeadingAge Minnesota’s Resource Library related to cannabis, education requirements, staffing in assisted living, and background checks.

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) released the minimum-wage rate information that begins on Jan. 1, 2024. Minnesota's minimum wage rates will be adjusted for inflation on Jan. 1, 2024, to $10.85 an hour for large employers and $8.85 an hour for other state minimum wages.

Effective Aug. 1, 2023, two modifications were made to consumer surveys for assisted living, adult day services, and home care.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has posted a Request for Applications for Workforce Incentive Grants for care centers on the nursing facility provider portal.

Released last week, the nation’s largest nursing home salary report shows a continued upward trend for nursing home staff salaries.

The 2023 LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament helped raise funds for the next round of caregiver scholarships. Thanks to golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and ticket sales, the event raised over $62,000 before expenses.

Several new laws became effective before or on Aug. 1 and impact senior care services in the state. While you can review more information about these changes and more in the 2023 Legislative Report, we have provided links to Advantage articles for topics previously discussed for easy reference and review.

Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the annual final rule that updates the Prospective Payment System (PPS) rates for care centers. The rule calls for an update in the rates starting Oct. 1 that averages 4%.

Enhanced benchmarking reports have been added to the LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal to help you track your data over time and benchmark your performance with other member organizations.

Temporary nurse aides hired or who worked under the 1135 waiver have until Sept. 11 to be added to the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry. LeadingAge Minnesota is here to help providers with this transition process.

Until July 31, eligible providers with nurse aide training programs can apply to become a test site for nurse aide candidates.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has been receiving many questions about the Aug. 1 payments that will be sent to all care centers.

Requirements for residents with dementia residing in a facility licensed as Assisted Living with Dementia Care include that each person is to be evaluated for their particular interests and specialized needs. Based on the evaluation, service planning should include an individualized activity plan.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released a new waiver request form for nursing homes to complete after losing the ability to operate a nurse aide training program for two years.

The Resident Vital Signs Machine Technology Playbook is the third in a series of workforce technology solution playbooks designed to assist you in identifying technology solutions to help address the workforce crisis.

After a successful pilot program, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is expanding in-facility testing to add additional nurse aide test sites around the state.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) has developed plans to distribute lump sum payments for care centers approved in the recently completed legislative session.

The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) is now accepting grant request applications for its Workplace Safety Grant Program. The legislature provided DLI with $2 million in one-time funding to establish a temporary grant program to assist impacted employers.

After a year of historic investments in long-term care, LeadingAge Minnesota has compiled a resource detailing several grant programs and other opportunities funded in the 2023 Minnesota legislative session.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) recently announced that they have opened the selection process for all care centers in the Medical Assistance program to select a new goal to work on for another round of the Quality Improvement Incentive Payment Program (QIIP). Each year, based on their progress toward the goal they select, care centers receive a rate increase of $0 to $3.50 per resident day for QIIP.