House passes reimbursement boost to Episcopal Homes

Additional dollars could be coming to a senior housing and care service facility in St. Paul.

Passed 123-0 by the House Thursday, HF2920/SF2762* would increase the skilled nursing facility property rate paid by Medical Assistance to Episcopal Homes by $7.55 through the existing moratorium exemption appropriations.

Unanimously passed by the Senate May 1, the bill now goes to the governor. Rep. Deb Kiel (R-Crookston) and Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) are the sponsors.

“A number of years ago, Episcopal Homes completed renovation to better serve the elders in the St. Paul Midway area,” Kiel said. “Unfortunately, this renovation put them at the property rate maximum. Having reached the maximum and with the current rules the state property rate system does not fully recognize the cost and debt associated with maintaining and improving an older building.”