Lawmakers sound alarm over nursing home cuts

Local lawmakers are sounding the alarm over nursing home cuts expected to be made as part of the Senate Human Services budget passed last week. 
In Dodge County, Fairview Care Center is expected to lose $484,634 over the course of four years, while Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield is expected to lose out on $823,381 in revenue over the same time period.
In Steele County alone, the cuts could mean over $2 million in less revenue from the State for the facilities. 
“The Democrats’ proposed nursing home cuts are completely unacceptable,” state Sen. Jon Jasinski, a Republican lawmaker who represents Steele County said. “Two years ago, Republicans fought and fought for a rescue package to save these facilities that were in a full-on crisis, but many are still stretched thin. Now Democrats want to use them to fix the $6 billion deficit they created with their unsustainable, reckless spending? I don’t know how we can look a nurse, a resident, or their family in the eye and say this is the right decision.”
Without any changes to the budget bill, Koda Living Community in Owatonna would lose $777,986 in funding, while Prairie Manor Care Center in Blooming Prairie would lose $1.327 million according to documents provided by a Senate spokesperson. 
“We have more and more Minnesotans who need long-term care. The costs of providing long-term care are going up,” state Sen. Carla Nelson, a Republican lawmaker who represents Dodge and parts of Olmsted County said during a senate floor speech. “The costs of energy, the cost for staff. Some of those we have necessitated right here on this Senate floor by some of the policies that we have passed, that have made it even more expensive to care for our loved ones, my constituents, who are in long-term care facilities.” 
“And yet the bill before us today is asking, is seeking, will cut over $8 million from those who need it most,” Nelson said. 
Once the House passes its own version of the bill, a so-called conference committee will be formed to work out a final bill to be voted on by both chambers before it's sent to Gov. Tim Walz to sign into law or not.