Nursing Home Debate

Interesing letters to the editor over the last couple of days in the Abert Lea Tribune First we have Miniorty leader Marty Seifert complaining about the Democrats not wanting to help Nursing homes.

Seifert says that over the past year there has been a lot of talk about how nursing homes and continuing! care facilities need more funding. It appears that talk fell on deaf ears from the Democrats in charge of the Minnesota House and Senate.... Marty also says" We should certainly be able to find some dollars in this fund for those who take care of our senior citizens and vulnerable residents."

So what's the Governors plans?
According to the Mankato Free Press

Pawlenty and the House Republican caucus have time and again vowed to protect nursing homes and services for the elderly from budget cuts, (but in the 2008) the governor’s plan calls for halting expected funding from nursing homes and long-term care services. It does this not by outright cuts — although this is debatable — but by delaying minimal increases in funding that were to take place this year. The governor’s plan delays a 2 percent rate increase for long-term care providers to July 1, 2009. That means starting July of this year, providers will have to change their plans, cut their budgets and services to keep their books in the same shape they would be had they received their expected funding....The bill also cuts another $8 million or so by delaying a new payment formula for a year for nursing homes.
in that delay, nursing facilities will lose between a 1.5 percent and 2.7 percent increase they were scheduled to receive this year

Rep Seifert goes on in his letter says tha "Nursing homes and long-care facilities were short-changed during the 2007 legislative session."

Yes Marty' but not by the Democrats!

In 2003 and 2004 their were no funding increases, While Governor Tim Pawlenty and Republicans controled the Minnesota House, then there was less than 2 percent increases in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Last year (2006)the House Democrats proposed a 3% increase in nursing home funding over each of the next 2 years. But the increase was vetoed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty,So Marty who is standing in the way? In fact according to Rep. Paul Thissen when the governor vetoed the final bill, he listed increased funding for nursing homes as one of the specific reasons for his veto. Mr Thissen also goes on to say that the House Democrats have propsed a 2% cost of living increase for 2009.
Here is Rep. Thissen letter to the Editor

Seifert fails to tell truth on nursing home funding

Marty Seifert is not telling the truth on where Democrats stand on the issue of nursing home funding. While I am reluctant to wade into partisan bickering over who is responsible for the money shortfalls facing some nursing homes in our state, I believe it is important for people to know the facts.Nursing home funding challenges did not happen over night. Over the past five years, when Rep. Seifert’s Republican caucus ran the House, funding for nursing homes stagnated. In fact, in 2004-05, the Legislature provided an increase of one-half of 1 percent. In 2006-07, funding was not restored.Last year, the Minnesota House of Representatives proposal increased nursing home funding by 3 percent over each of the next two years. A more than 6 percent increase over two years would have gone a long way to reversing the Republican reductions of the last five years. In addition, money in the original House bill was dedicated to increasing the funding for those nursing homes whose state payments were less than the costs of providing service. Providing more equity for small town nursing homes was at the heart of the proposal.Unfortunately, the House increase was chopped down by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.In fact, when the governor vetoed the final bill, he listed increased funding for nursing homes as one of the specific reasons for his veto.This year, House Democrats have proposed a 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment for every nursing home in the state for 2009. The contrast with the governor could not be clearer, since he recommended cutting funding for long-term-care facilities, and eliminating the rebasing that was passed last session.Adequate funding for our nursing homes is too important to play politics with. Instead of falsely accusing the Democrats of underfunding nursing homes,

Rep. Seifert It's time to quit playing games>