Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

LOCAL NURSING HOMES, BELTRAMI COUNTY TO BENEFIT UNDER HOUSE HEALTH FINANCE PROPOSAL

One of the top priorities for the Minnesota House this year was to find a way to bring funding equity to Greater Minnesota nursing homes. Similar facilities in the Metro Area receive higher reimbursements rates, which is truly senseless when you consider that care centers – regardless of their location in the state – are performing critical

services for our elderly residents.

Recently the House approved a health and human services finance proposal that addresses our current nursing home funding woes. Under this plan, northwestern Minnesota care centers in our district would each receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in new revenue.

The legislation not only provides a major investment in nursing homes, but it also establishes a sustainable reimbursement system and encourages our workforce to consider a career in long term care.

If the proposal becomes law, here is the annual change in Medicaid and estimated private revenue for the 2016 rate year for care centers in our communities:

Blackduck – Good Samaritan Center – Blackduck: $278,000

Clearbrook – Good Samaritan Society – Clearbrook: $518,000

Bagley – Cornerstone Nursing & Rehab Center: $233,000

Baudette – Lakewood Care Center: $648,000

Park Rapids – Heritage Living Center: $733,000

Bemidji – Havenwood Care Center: $1.05 million

Our nursing homes are critical to the success of our rural communities. For far too long they have struggled financially, and with this bill we are showing how much we value the attention they give to our aging population.

Senior citizens deserve the best possible care. If we can convince the Senate and the governor to approve this legislation and prioritize our nursing homes, I'm confident our care centers can put this new revenue to good use.

The omnibus health finance bill also includes funding for my legislation that would establish a comprehensive community mental health center in Beltrami County. The proposal would create eight to ten crisis beds in Bemidji for those needing help, and would provide a three day program dealing with various stages of inpatient and outpatient care and housing.

It's expected that over time, a mental health hub could save Beltrami county millions of dollars in jail and emergency room expenses, and would better meet the needs of the individual facing a crisis as well as law enforcement.

 

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