News

As we start a fresh year, we are pleased to share exciting updates from the LeadingAge Minnesota team.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has reported an error in NETStudy 2.0 affecting the system’s ability to generate and update Universal Enrollment Identification numbers (UEIDs) for recently submitted applications. The UEID is the individual-specific tracking number issued by the fingerprint vendor IDEMIA and is required to complete fingerprinting.

As communities across Minnesota respond to increased immigration enforcement activity and related events, many organizations are navigating heightened concern, questions, and uncertainty. To support members, LeadingAge Minnesota is sharing communication templates designed to help organizations respond thoughtfully and compassionately.

The 2024 Minnesota Legislature directed DHS to implement Minn. Stat. §256S.191, which allows people age 65 and older to access to budget exceptions when they discharge from a hospital with high care needs.

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.

The National Association of Long-Term Care Boards (NAB) has launched the 2025-26 Professional Practice Analysis (PPA) survey. A PPA, sometimes referred to as a Job Analysis, is the practice of gathering and analyzing details about a particular job, such as responsibilities, day-to-day duties, qualifications, etc.

Members who provide HUD subsidized housing may have received a letter dated November 25, 2025 from HUD Secretary E. Scott Turner addressing the current administration’s guidance related to criminal background screenings for prospective tenants.

The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act has been reintroduced – A federal bill that proposes to recapture up to 40,000 previously authorized but unused immigrant visas—25,000 for nurses and 15,000 for physicians.

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to announce our Tenth Annual Silent Auction which will take place as part of the 2026 Institute. All proceeds from the Silent Auction go to the Gayle Kvenvold Commitment to Caregivers Fund to benefit dedicated caregivers throughout Minnesota.

The Workplace Violence Prevention Playbook is the ninth in a series of workforce technology solution playbooks designed to assist you in identifying technology solutions to help address the workforce crisis.

Workforce challenges continue to be a defining issue for aging services providers—and this year’s Institute theme, Change Makers, highlights solutions that are reshaping the future.

Applications for the 2026 Leadership Academy are open through March 9. Leadership Academy is one of our flagship leadership programs with over 500 alumni.

There’s still time to register for LeadingAge Minnesota’s January virtual district meeting, happening 1–3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15 — just one week from today.

In 2024, Vista Prairie Communities expanded the use of the Minnesota Resident Quality of Life and Family Satisfaction Surveys to three of their assisted living communities in Wisconsin and Iowa in partnership with Vital Research.