ST. PAUL – Nursing homes in House District 16A have begun receiving shares of the $300 million infusion in state funding Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, supported and the Legislature provided last May.
Urdahl said the 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.
“Nursing homes all around the state have been closing because they can’t afford to stay open,” Urdahl said. “It is the Legislature’s job to set the rates that nursing homes receive to hire and pay staff, care for residents, and cover their bills. It is good that we were able to provide additional funding this year to help them do their important work.”
Urdahl 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 new biennium.
“The initial budget proposal would have done a great disservice to our nursing homes, the people who provide essential care and the seniors who rely on their services,” Urdahl said. “While this issue became unnecessarily contentious, I’m proud House Republicans continued pressing this issue and prevented an injustice from occurring – especially at a time the state had a nearly $18 billion surplus.”
Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center ($421,809), Clara City Care Center ($417,793), Franklin Restorative Care Center ($385,661), Meeker Manor Rehab Center in Litchfield ($526,238), Luther Haven in Montevideo ($506,156), Olivia Restorative Care Center ($465,991), Renville Health Center ($405,743) and Hilltop Health Care Center in Watkins ($425,826) received the first half of those funding totals earlier this month, with the remaining portions due Aug. 1, 2024.
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