ST. PAUL – Nursing homes in House District 6A have begun receiving shares of the $300 million infusion in state funding Rep. Ben Davis, R-Mission Township, supported and the Legislature provided last May.
Davis said the increased funding is a step toward stabilizing Minnesota’s struggling long-term care industry, with nursing homes closing across the state and others on the financial brink. Families are waiting months and looking up to four hours away to find a safe place for loved ones, he said, indicating a worker shortage has left around 25 percent of nursing home caregiver jobs vacant.
“Our nursing homes have been facing a variety of challenges that have made it difficult, if not impossible, to keep their doors open and provide their valuable services,” Davis said. “House Republicans identified increased nursing home funding as a priority last session and it is good we were able to deliver additional support.”
Davis said he is pleased House Republicans successfully negotiated increased funding for nursing homes after Gov. Tim Walz and House Democrats dedicated just $3.9 million to new nursing home funding in their original budget proposals for the 2023-24 biennium.
“House Democrats issued a preliminary budget which consumed the state’s $17.5 billion surplus and increased state spending by 40 percent, but shorted seniors and the long-term care industry,” Davis said. “House Republicans pushed for more nursing home funding all session long and, while I’m pleased we secured more nursing home funding just before adjournment, it is unfortunate the majority caused delays by making this political, using the wellbeing of our seniors as leverage against unrelated issues.”
Crosby’s Cuyuna Regional Medical Center ($441,892), Grand Village in Grand Rapids ($682,882) and The Emerald at Grand Rapids ($598,536) received the first half of those funding totals earlier this month, with the remaining portions due Aug. 1, 2024.
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