News

On Feb. 12, the Department of Human Services (DHS) published new ratings and corrected previously published ratings for its Assisted Living Report Card.  

If you asked most assisted living leaders what they would improve tomorrow with the right funding, you’d likely hear the same themes: staffing, training, safety, and resident quality of life. The challenge isn’t identifying the need—it’s finding the resources to act. The Minnesota Assisted Living Competitive Grant offers a path to turn those priorities into reality.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is committed to supporting long-term care (LTC) professionals in MN who are working in infection prevention and control (IPC)related roles. In support of this effort, MDH contracted with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) to provide FREE national and state membership to qualified staff working in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in Minnesota.

We have good news for nursing facility providers: Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) has resolved a billing issue that caused some nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) and ambulance claims to be denied.

On Thursday, April 30, from 12-1:30 p.m. the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Health Regulation Division is holding a quarterly webinar for assisted living licensees and interested stakeholders to educate on regulatory trends and provide updates.

Formerly known as Group Residential Housing (GRH), Housing Support is a state-funded program that helps cover basic living expenses, primarily rent and raw food, for eligible individuals. Each year, the state recalculates the rate using a standardized formula tied to federal and state benchmarks that estimate the minimum income necessary for a person to live safely and independently in the community.

The 2026 Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Nursing Facility Performance-Based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) Round 20 Request for Proposals (RFP) information is now available.

To strengthen program integrity and address concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid programs, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has designated 13 provider categories as “high-risk,” including Adult Day services. As a result, Adult Day providers must complete an off-cycle revalidation by May 31, 2026 in order to remain enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP).

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), Aging and Adult Services Division (AASD), and Disability Services Division (DSD) have announced a new Request for Proposal for the Customized Living Quality Improvement (CLQI) Grant Program.

To help more learners succeed in CNA training, OnTrack Nursing Assistant now offers translated learner materials in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong — designed to strengthen comprehension and confidence.

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.

DHS this week provided updates regarding claims processing related to their November announcement of the State contracting with Optum, a third-party vendor, to conduct prepayment reviews of the 14 high-risk Medicaid services named in the executive order issued by Governor Walz.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has announced the upcoming launch of the Assisted Living Competitive Grant Program, established under new legislation effective Jan. 1, 2026 (see Minnesota Statutes, section 144G.31). This program supports projects and initiatives that improve resident quality of care and outcomes in assisted living settings licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144G, or organizations with experience in assisted living operations, compliance, resident needs, or best practices.

Some members are navigating increased questions related to immigration enforcement activity reported in communities across the state—including both metro and greater Minnesota communities with higher concentrations of immigrant populations. While LeadingAge Minnesota is currently not aware of any senior living or long-term care facilities with reported ICE raids, we also know that some employers are seeing related activity—document requests or staff concerns stemming from encounters outside of work—and are seeking ways to respond proactively and compassionately.  

In assisted living settings, unlicensed staff are often the first to respond to resident situations. LeadingAge Minnesota developed member supports to assist in clarifying practical expectations for incident response, reinforcing the use of the airway, breathing, circulation (ABCs), and providing education and tools that help organizations make decisions about when, and whether, to move a resident after a fall.

The Low-Income Rental Classification (LIRC) program provides a reduced property tax class rate for qualifying rental housing and can lower property tax obligations.

In November, voters in Duluth, Minnesota approved a Right to Repair ballot initiative, granting tenants a right to repair certain defects in residential rental units when applicable requirements are met.

The MN Department of Revenue has recently reorganized their website content and added more training resources to help customers navigate the CRP system.

Federal enforcement activities in Minnesota have intensified following national directives expanding expedited removal and activating multi-agency Homeland Security task forces.

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