News

Coming later this summer, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is launching the “Nurse Aide Registry (NAR) Modernization Project,” a project to transition the nurse aide registry to a new digital format. This new and improved NAR portal will allow nurse aides and nursing homes to complete all their updates, reports, and communications electronically within the portal rather than via U.S. mail or email.

LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to share its 2023 Minnesota Session Legislative Report. This written report summarizes what you need to know about the 75 laws sent to the Governor this year impacting aging services, the seniors you care for, when those laws are effective, and the steps you should take next.

Coming later this summer, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced that it is expanding in-facility nurse aide testing.

Today marks the start of CNA Week, an annual celebration of the vital work of nursing assistants. Since 1977, the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) has observed CNA Week yearly.

Healthcare organizations used N95 or higher-level respirators for all aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) as a transmission mitigation strategy throughout the public health emergency (PHE).

LeadingAge Minnesota updated the COVID-19 Facility Risk Assessment and Workbook to reflect a change in the metrics published by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

Minnesota now recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday. Employers should review collective bargaining agreements and policies to ensure compliance with the new law.

Beginning June 5, onsite surveys and investigations will include an electronic provider feedback form to help provide information for the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) continuous improvement.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will discontinue the nursing home staff vaccination mandate in early August.

As of Monday at midnight, the Minnesota Legislature has adjourned the 2023 legislative session. After months of tireless advocacy by seniors, their families, and their caregivers, we are proud to report that we have left the session with historic investments in aging services that will help ensure access to care for Minnesota seniors and support caregivers with the wages they deserve.

New information released over the last week directs each nursing home and assisted living in conducting a COVID-19 facility assessment to determine whether a broader source control practice is needed. LeadingAge Minnesota has created a sample COVID-19 facility assessment to aid in implementing the new practices.

The Human Services Conference Committee closed the conference report on Wednesday with far-reaching implications for senior care. The report, which will proceed to each legislative chamber for final passage, includes mixed outcomes for aging services providers.

A proposal to create a regulatory Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board within the Department of Labor is poised to advance this session. The measure recently included in the Jobs and Labor Omnibus Conference Report will allow the Governor to appoint a nine-person commission to adopt rules establishing minimum nursing home compensation standards for nursing home workers.

The Legislature is required to adjourn by May 22. With less than two weeks remaining, LeadingAge Minnesota and its members continue to advocate for funding that will help ensure seniors have access to the care they need when and where they need it

The Dining Robotics Playbook is the second in a series of workforce technology solution playbooks designed to help you identify technology solutions to address the workforce crisis.  Dining robotics can improve efficiency and convenience by reducing step count during food delivery and table bussing and enabling staff to remain in the dining room and be available to residents.

Investing in the professional development of the aging services workforce is more important now than it has ever been. The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to offer educational scholarships to eligible caregivers and other employees of our member organizations for 2023.

Executive orders are a tool to direct action to set policy guidance and for an administration’s executive branch agencies.  President Biden’s executive order released last week provided several topics and concepts for different federal agencies to effectuate.  You can read the analysis of the executive order here. 

A new survey of nursing home and assisted living providers conducted by the Long-Term Care Imperative shows that the challenges faced by providers are continuing. Lack of adequate state funding to support higher wages for Minnesota’s long-term care workforce has pushed nursing homes and assisted living settings deeper into financial distress, resulting in diminished access and fewer care options for Minnesota’s seniors and families.

On April 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released simplified vaccine recommendations. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met yesterday to discuss updated COVID-19 vaccine changes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended emergency use authorizations (EUA) for Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech products earlier this week.

The Biden Administration outlined several new plans ostensibly targeted at supporting care workers and family caregivers. Continuing a framework set out early in the Biden campaign, the strategy targets caregivers and workers in childcare, aging services, and services for people with disabilities.