The article below is a top story from this week's ACTION newsletter—Care Providers of Minnesota's weekly newsletter for members. The newsletter focuses on current legislative issues, regulations, long-term care trends, and other Association news. Each Thursday evening, it is delivered to your inbox. To sign up for ACTION, contact Lisa Foss Olson (952-851-2483). To learn more about membership, visit our Become a Member page.
Historic investment in care for older adults during 2023 Legislative Session
By Toby Pearson | May 26, 2023 | All members
After months of tireless advocacy by seniors, their families, and their caregivers, the Minnesota Legislature responded by striking a deal at the last hour to make a historic investment in long-term care that help ensure access to care for Minnesota seniors and support caregivers with the wages they deserve. Special gratitude is extended to the House and Senate Republicans, who were persistent in their efforts to support Minnesota’s nursing facilities.
In sum, the state will invest nearly $1 billion in services for older adults at a critical time over the next four years, as the state’s population continues to grow older. Minnesota is home to over one million people aged 65 and older. The aging services sector that serves them has been hard-hit by high inflation, workforce concerns, and pandemic-related expenses. After sounding the alarm for the past several years, lawmakers responded with strong support to help ensure older adults have access to the right care at the right time close to home. Included in this session’s investment for seniors is:
- $412 million for Elderly Waiver, the program used to serve low-income seniors in assisted living, adult day, and other home and community-based services
- $80 million of one-time money to workforce incentive grants for caregivers who work in long-term care
- $100 million of one-time money for a loan program for financially distressed nursing facilities
- $265,000 for a rate study on the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), an innovative program that holds the promise of better integration of healthcare and social service needs for seniors
- $5 million for Live Well at Home Grants to help seniors receive the care they need in their own homes
- $300 million for much-needed nursing facility funding in the form of one-time grants ($176 million), temporary rate enhancements ($51.5 million), and workforce incentives ($75 million)
The collaboration between the sector’s leaders, seniors, families, caregivers, and government officials has resulted in a monumental step forward for the long-term care sector and the older adults who receive care in senior services settings.
Toby Pearson | Vice President of Advocacy | tpearson@careproviders.org | 952-851-2480