St. Paul, MN - Today, the Minnesota House passed the conference committee report on senate File 2934, the Human Services budget proposal. The bill, authored in the House by State Representative Mohamud Noor (DFL - Minneapolis), the Chair of the Human Services Finance Committee, provides support for our most vulnerable Minnesotans, significantly invests in caring professions, and doubles down on our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. The bill passed on a bipartisan vote of 71-61.
“Our budget makes great strides to not only care for our most vulnerable Minnesotans, but also the workers who care for them in turn,” said Rep. Noor. “Effectively caring for those who need it is a moral test that every budget should pass, and ours does so for our nursing homes, caregivers, and those in the grips of the opioid epidemic.”
DFLers built their Human Services budget around the increase in funding Minnesota’s nursing homes will receive. With an automatically adjusted reimbursement rate, these crucial facilities are forecasted to receive an additional $847 million over the next four years, the largest increase in nursing home funding in state history.
“The Human Services Budget makes historic investments in nursing homes, long-term care, and in Minnesota’s care workforce. Our budget makes significant investments in nursing homes — $847 million more than the last two-year budget,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “The people doing some of the most important work in our state to care for seniors and people with disabilities are paid the least. A system that doesn’t support the workers who care for our most vulnerable is not sustainable. Our budget takes much-needed steps to invest in this workforce.”
Wage increases make up a significant portion of the Human Services budget proposal, with more than $2 billion over the next four years dedicated to raising the rates in Community First Services and Supports, Elderly Waiver, the Disability Waiver Rate System, Home- and Community-Based Services, Intermediate Care Facilities, and others while funding workforce incentive and training opportunities.
“We can do more to invest in the people and facilities who care for our most vulnerable citizens, and that’s exactly what this Human Services budget does,” said House Majority Leader Jamie Long. “We are providing nursing homes with the largest amount of funding ever in state history. We are providing significant wage increases for Minnesotans who work in the caregiving profession – the individuals that care for senior citizens and people with disabilities. This is a budget that makes our state better for children, families, and seniors.”
The budget includes investments to ensure PCAs are reimbursed for driving clients, and increases the paid hours limit for parents and spouses providing services. To ensure quality care is available in all corners of the state, the budget dedicates $18.8 million to increasing the provider capacity of services in rural and underserved communities.
"Minnesotans know that our state is at its best when we come together to help care for one another," said Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL - Maple Grove), Vice Chair of the Human Services Committee. "This budget supports our most vulnerable residents and invests in those who help care for them to ensure that everyone can thrive in their community and receive the care and dignity they deserve."
The budget continues the critical work of combating opiate addiction in Minnesota by reducing disparities in how the state tackles this epidemic, investing over $25.2 million in safe recovery sites. The budget also proposes $2 million a year in ongoing funding for traditional healing.
Video of today’s floor debate can be found on the House Public Information YouTube page.
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