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State Representative Patti Fritz
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8237
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
Press/News Releases
NURSING HOME FUNDING TOP PRIORITY FOR HOUSE HEARING
ST. PAUL, MN – In response to the funding crisis that is threatening the financial well-being of nursing homes throughout the state, the House of Representatives Nursing Home Working Group has scheduled a hearing in August to evaluate the current nursing home payment system.
The hearing will be chaired by State Representative Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault), who serves as the Vice-Chair of the Health and Human Services Policy Committee and is a member of the working group.
"Over the past few years, our state's lack of commitment to adequately funding nursing homes has forced dozens of homes to close their doors, and as many as 40 more could close in the next year," said Fritz. "My hope is that this hearing will be the first step toward creating a more equitable and sustainable funding source that will reverse this disturbing trend."
The hearing is scheduled for Monday, August 13th, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. in Room 200 of the State Office Building in St. Paul.
Among those attending will be representatives from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Minnesota Health and Housing Association, CareProviders of Minnesota, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who represents nursing home employees, and the Seniors & Workers Coalition. The hearing is open to the public.
According to Fritz, the focus of this hearing will be to gather and share` information between the various agencies, departments and caregivers associated with long-term care. Following this initial hearing, the group will hold public meetings at various locations in Greater Minnesota to further consider how the system can be improved. The first public meeting will be held in Faribault in September.
Fritz said she is hopeful this collaborative process will lead to meaningful reform measures that can be taken up when the State Legislature reconvenes in 2008.
"Over the next decade, Minnesota's senior population is projected to outnumber the students enrolled in K-12 public schools," said Fritz. "As this population grows, so does the need for affordable and available long-term care.
It is critical that we act now to restore our state's commitment to our nursing homes and our loved ones who live there."
This session, the House passed legislation that would have provided a 6% funding increase for nursing homes, but the Governor vetoed it. The final compromise bill offers significantly less funding and falls well short of making up for the cuts over the last four years. It is expected that improved nursing home funding will be on the forefront of the 2008 Legislative agenda, according to Fritz.
For more information on the hearing scheduled for August 13th, contact Rep. Patti Fritz at (651) 296-8237, 551 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155 or via e-mail at rep.patti.fritz@house.mn. If you would like to attend the hearing, please contact Jennifer McNertney at (651) 296-3244.
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