News

We often receive questions related to occupancy of secure dementia care units in licensed assisted living with dementia care facilities.

This October, the MN Dual-Training Pipeline program is hosting community conversations around the state for employers to come together and share their workforce challenges and successes, network with business leaders, and learn about the MN Dual-Training Pipeline program.

On Sept 24, the MN Geriatrics ECHO is hosting a session featuring our newest resource, CaringCareersStartHere.com, along with LeadingAge’s Director of Workforce, Anna Mowry.

The Home and Community Based services (HCBS) workforce incentive grant program being implemented by DHS is using a two-step process to determine how much funding each provider will receive.

DHS recently sent an email to all the nursing homes that received 2023 Workforce Incentive Grant (WIG) funds. Roughly one year, ago DHS issued WIG payments to nursing homes. 

In partnership with the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office, LeadingAge Minnesota is hosting a webinar on resident voting on Thursday, September 12 from noon to 1:00 p.m. This webinar is free to all LeadingAge MN members.

The Department of Labor and Industry is reminding employers that Minnesota’s minimum-wage rate will be adjusted for inflation on Jan. 1, 2025, to $11.13 an hour for all employers in the state.

As part of our advocacy efforts, and in response to our direct requests of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to provide routine reconsideration data to providers, the agency has provided its second quarter 2024 calendar year assisted living and home care licensures reconsideration data to us.

On Wednesday, Aug. 14, the Legislative Taskforce on Aging met to hear a proposal for a new cabinet-level Department on Aging.

During the 2024 legislative session, the Minnesota Board on Aging removed the assisted living long-term care options counseling/verification code requirement for persons considering moving into an assisted living facility.

Aug. 1 represents the effective date for several new Minnesota laws that do not have budget impact.

Based on action by the 2023 Legislature, DHS is about to distribute the second round of lump sum payments to nursing homes. Those payments will be processed on July 30 and will complete the payments under this program.

Grants are still available through the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative to purchase technology devices. Eligible devices must enable communication between facility residents and their loved ones and/or healthcare providers. 

During its recently completed session, the Minnesota legislature provided additional funding equal to $576,000 state share for the upcoming state fiscal year for the Critical Access Nursing Facility (CANF) Program. These funds will be used to provide a rate add-on through June 30, 2025, for any additional nursing homes approved through an application process.

MDH’s Food, Pools and Lodging Services Section (MDH-FPL) may have been provided erroneous information from locally delegated food inspection agencies causing erroneous invoices from MDH-FPL to be sent to assisted living licensees. The invoice requests the licensee to pay the Statewide Hospitality Fee (SHF) by July 1, 2024, or face administrative action.

As a benefit for LeadingAge Minnesota members, our Grant Grid, highlights over 30 grants, scholarships, workforce development programs, and more funding opportunities for Minnesota aging service providers.

A very helpful tool in determining building and fire code requirements for licensed settings in Minnesota is the Quick Reference Guide to Care Facilities (mn.gov).

On May 28 the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) published notice in the State Register it had created health care transaction reporting guidance for Minnesota Statutes chapter 145D.

In response to the changes in occupancy classification for Assisted Living facilities over the past few years, which may trigger changes to fire safety and building code requirements, the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has developed two information sheets that may be helpful to providers or developers of Assisted Living.

Last night, the members of the Minnesota legislature adopted the Human Services Finance Omnibus Conference Committee Report, Senate File 5335. While the final report includes support for a handful of Nursing Homes in Minnesota, it takes major steps backwards in our shared goal of improving access to care for seniors in Minnesota and paying our caregivers a livable wage.