ST. PAUL – The Minnesota House of Representatives has approved a health and human services spending proposal that provides the greatest nursing home payment reform in a generation.
State Representative Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont) voted in favor of the plan.
"Our nursing homes are critical to the overall success of our communities, particularly in Greater Minnesota," Gunther said. "This legislation gives them necessary revenue in order to meet the needs of our senior citizens."
Gunther said our rural nursing homes have long lagged behind facilities in Minneapolis and St. Paul when it comes to funding, and the approved legislation finally addresses this funding inequity.
Gunther points to an analysis conducted by nonpartisan Minnesota House research staff that projects the annual change in Medicaid and estimated private revenue for the 2016 rate year for examples on how the legislation would positively impact local nursing homes:
• Blue Earth – St. Luke's Lutheran Care Center: $1.786 million
• Winnebago – Parker Oaks Communities Inc.: $366,000
• Jackson – Good Samaritan Society – Jackson: $777,000
• Fairmont – Mayo Clinic Health System – Fairmont: $921,000; Lakeview Methodist HCC: $1.636 million
• Truman – Truman Senior Living: $231,000
• Trimont – Trimont Health Care Center: $387,000
"This is just another way the House majority is trying to prioritize the needs of Greater Minnesota," Gunther said. "We recognize the importance of nursing homes and we recognize the need to provide them with equitable funding."