Proposed Nursing Home Cuts by the Numbers
by Senator Jason Rarick
As April begins, legislative deadlines are approaching. The closer we get to those deadlines, the more we have to consider our budget priorities. As I’ve discussed in previous columns, we’ve seen the Governor’s proposals and some of the cuts he has suggested, and now we’ve seen both the Senate Democrats’ and House’s budget proposals. In recent weeks, agencies have been coming to testify in Senate committees, mostly in favor of Governor Walz’s budget proposals and discussing what cuts they think are necessary. One specific area I’ve taken issue with is the potential cuts to the Human Services budget, specifically in the area of nursing home funding.
A few short years ago, our nursing homes were in dire straits. Between staffing issues and a lack of funding, they needed help. Senate Republicans went to bat for these folks, and we secured a $300 million rescue package meant to address their immediate concerns. It wasn’t a long-term solution, but it was agreed upon knowing that we’d have to re-visit the issue in the future. That deal meant that every nursing home in the state received around $1.1 million on average, and they were given flexibility to use that funding where they needed it the most. For many, it was the difference between keeping their doors open and closing their facilities forever.
After that historic agreement, all of that progress is being abandoned. Governor Walz is proposing steep cuts that will hit every single district in our state, and they will affect facilities, staff, care for our loved ones, and families of those in the facilities. In fact, a number of cuts will hit our area directly, and local nursing homes and facilities will lose millions through four-year funding decreases:
- Augustana Mercy Health in Moose Lake – $1,772,077
- Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton – $2,329,310
- Sandstone Health Care in Sandstone – $1,196,988
- Clare Living Community in Mora – $2,141,073
- The Estates at Rush City – $566,309
These numbers are staggering, and these cuts undo the good work we got done back in 2023. These proposed cuts would be devastating for our seniors and would create added stress for families who have loved ones in these facilities. If facilities are forced to close their doors, we have to also consider the effect this will have on housing options – it will further limit choices for those looking to house loved ones as they enter their later years. This is already an incredibly difficult path for families to consider, and these cuts will make a tough situation even more difficult for many. These cuts are alarming on all fronts.
I do not believe this is the way we should be addressing our budget woes. Democrats have taken a $19 billion surplus and reduced our state to a projected $6 billion deficit. Minnesotans expect us to take care of our seniors, so in my opinion, these cuts are a non-starter. I’d much rather see us considering ways to eliminate waste and fraud that have been rampant in our state and state agencies before we even entertain the proposal of cutting critical services that so many rely on. Make no mistake, this is only one cut, but there will be many similar cuts to critical services in all areas of our budget.
As I’ve said before, our government grew by 40% in the last biennium, but Minnesotans certainly did not see 40% increases in their pocketbooks or banking accounts. If we’re going to be looking at needed cuts, we have to look at agencies’ budgets, rather than the services Minnesotans deserve and rely on. In my mind, this is unacceptable and not the way Minnesotans expect us to set a viable budget.