ST. PAUL, MN– House and Senate members from both parties announced a bipartisan, bicameral Long Term Care Caucus and discuss their 2013 legislative agenda. They were joined by representatives from the Long-Term Care Imperative and SEIU Health Care Minnesota, UFCW, United Steelworkers, AFSCME Council 5, and the AARP to talk about the critical need for policymakers to prioritize funding for seniors and caregivers in the budget.
This working group recently introduced legislation to increase funding to nursing homes and senior home care services. This bill is also supported by the Long-Term Care Imperative and several senior and labor organizations. “Today, we are proposing a bill that would take a significant step toward addressing the chronic underfunding of senior care services by providing up to a 5% increase to nursing homes and Elderly Waiver providers for each year of the biennium,” said Senator Eken (DFL-Twin Valley).
Nursing home rates have been frozen for the past four years and the Elderly Waiver program has been cut by double digits over that same timeframe. “After years of deep cuts, I look forward to working with colleagues from both parties to truly support our seniors and their caregivers this year,” said chief bill author Representative Fritz (DFL-Faribault). “Caregivers and Care facilities are desperately under-funded. It is up to us to invest in these services so that these facilities and workers have the resources they need to get the job done. As a state, we need to be prepared for the impending age wave.”
“Aging is not a partisan issue, and the best way to meet the needs of our seniors is to invest now and make senior care a real priority,” concluded Representative Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake). “Minnesota’s nursing homes and assisted living settings support over 112,000 jobs in Minnesota and infuse $6.7 billion into Minnesota’s economy each year,” added Senator Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont). “An investment in senior care is an investment in a growth sector of Minnesota’s economy.”
The working group will collaborate with the Governor and Legislative leaders to support funding for nursing homes and the Elderly Waiver program.
Rep. Fritz can be reached by phone at (651) 296-8237 or by email at rep.patti.fritz@house.mn.
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