ST. PAUL — Care facilities in House District 20A would receive substantial funding increases through a Health and Human Services omnibus bill (H.F. 1638) the Minnesota House passed early Wednesday morning.
"I am pleased the House passed this package to help us meet growing demands for long-term care," Vogel said. "I have been very involved in this process, from meeting with local industry experts to touring facilities in our district and testifying in the House as an advocate for care providers."
The House's HHS bill implements a statewide reimbursement system that will result in a funding increase for nursing homes, particularly in Greater Minnesota, totaling more than $138 million. In addition, the bill includes $90 million for a one-time, 5-percent cost-of-living adjustment for home and community-based care workers.
According to non-partisan House Research, nursing home facilities in District 20A will receive substantial increases in 2016 under the House Republican proposal, including:
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Central Health Care, LeCenter: $312,595 increase
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Central Valley Health Center, LeSueur: $1.2 million increaes
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Lutheran Home, Belle Plaine: $1 million increase
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Mala Strana Health Care Center, New Prague: $1.1 million increase
"Local care providers deserve huge credit for being engaged in the legislative process," Vogel said. "Disparities in reimbursement payments from the state have put facilities in regions such as ours at a disadvantage and this legislation would help shrink the gaps to ensure people who rely on care receive it."
The bill passed the House 72-60. It now advances to a conference committee, which will work to resolve differences between respective House and Senate HHS proposals in preparation for final passage.
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