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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Dan Fabian (R)

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DFL BUDGET PUTS RURAL NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS AT RISK

Monday, April 22, 2013

REP. FABIAN: DFL BUDGET PUTS RURAL NURSING HOMES, HOSPITALS AT RISK

ST. PAUL—State Representative Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, today joined with over 30 other legislators urging Democrat majorities to re-evaluate their priorities and reverse $26 million in cuts to nursing homes that will put rural senior living centers at risk of shutting down.

Rep. Fabian explained that, even while proposing to increase over $3 billion in new taxes and fees on hardworking Minnesotans, House Democrats are proposing to cut Health and Human Services (HHS) by $150 million and taxing hospitals to make up the difference. This proposed tax increase will hit rural hospitals especially hard.

“I’ve talked with several nursing home and hospital administrators from our area, and they are very, very concerned about the policies in this HHS bill,” Rep. Fabian said. “Minneapolis and St. Paul Democrats are sending a clear message that nursing homes and hospitals in rural Minnesota are not a high priority. The new majority is willing to fund many new wasteful government programs, but refuses to prioritize funding for our most vulnerable citizens. This is simply wrong.”

Under the House DFL’s bill, Northwestern Minnesota hospitals are at risk of losing the following funding:

  • Kittson Memorial Healthcare Center in Hallock: - $74,221.41
  • LifeCare Memorial Center in Roseau: -$431,013.33
  • Sanford Medical Center in Thief River Falls: -$247,252.38
  • North Valley Health Center in Warren: -$41,476.17
  • LakeWood Health Center in Baudette: -$99,372.28

The aging advocacy group Minnesota Long-Term Care Imperative states that 47-percent of nursing homes in Northwestern Minnesota may be at risk of closing, and Rep. Fabian said the new HHS cuts could push them over the edge.

“Patients, residents, workers and rural communities are being threatened at a time when every other area of the budget is seeing proposed increases,” said Rep. Fabian. “This is totally irresponsible and unacceptable.”