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Advocate! Connect with Your Lawmakers at Upcoming Lobby Days in St. Paul and on the Hill
On February 10, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
Want to take your advocacy to the next level? We encourage you to consider attending one – or more – of the upcoming advocacy days at the State and Federal levels.
Federal Legislation Aims to Create Caregiver Fund and Establish Workforce Grants
On February 10, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
HR 6530 was introduced in the US House of Representatives directly at Argentum’s request and includes two primary components. If passed, the legislation would create a $10 billion caregiver sustainability fund similar to the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and establish $1.25 billion in federal grants for workforce development that would provide four-year grants of up to $1 million per entity.
ICYMI: Contact your lawmaker; ask them to support caregivers
On February 10, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran
This week at Institute, we’ve asked thousands of senior services professionals to contact their lawmakers and ask them to support caregivers with the wages they deserve. If you missed our call to action at Institute, we invite you to join us today!
At the Capitol: Historic Session Kicks-Off with $7.7 Billion Surplus
On February 3, 2022 by Matt Steele
On Monday, lawmakers gathered back in Saint Paul to begin the 2022 legislative session with a projected $7.7 billion surplus top of mind for most at the Capitol. About four months before adjournment on May 23, LeadingAge Minnesota and our partner in the Long-Term Care Imperative are seeking support from the state to pay caregivers the wages they deserve and ensure access to care in all the places seniors call home.
Advocating for Workforce Solutions: Engage Your Community
On January 20, 2022 by Matt Steele
The Minnesota Legislature will convene for the 2022 session on Jan. 31, and a strong grassroots network is an essential part of our strategy to drive action. We've created a tool to help you engage members of your community to add voices that can help us share the importance of increasing wages for caregivers and ensuring access to care for seniors.
JOIN US: Virtual Advocacy Day at the Capitol on April 5
On January 13, 2022 by Matt Steele
Join us on April 5 for a day of virtual advocacy at the Capitol featuring expert training from our public affairs team, opportunities to meet with your legislator, and times to share with colleagues from around the state about your successes and challenges in serving seniors.
Skilled Nursing Providers: Take Action Before the Senate Passes the Build Back Better Act!
On December 16, 2021 by Matt Steele
The Build Back Better Act (BBB) currently being debated in the Senate requires nursing homes to have a registered nurse on staff 24 hours a day.
Critical LTC Investment in Moving in Congress
On November 11, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Congress is currently working on the Build Back Better Act, the second part of President Biden's infrastructure improvement effort. The BBB is a $1.75 trillion proposal to enhance and improve "social" infrastructure, including services to older adults. It is currently being finalized in the House. Then it will head to the Senate and, once both houses agree, to the President. The current version of the bill includes the following investments in programs for older adults-
At the Capitol: Senate Holds Hearing on Vaccine Mandate and Long-Term Care Workforce Crisis
On November 11, 2021 by Matt Steele
The Senate Human Services Reform Finance and Policy Committee met on Wednesday, Nov. 10 to discuss the recently-released rules surrounding the federal vaccine mandate for long-term care workers and the broader workforce emergency occurring in the long-term care sector.
At the Capitol and Across the State: Lawmakers Visit LeadingAge Sites Throughout Minnesota
On October 28, 2021 by Matt Steele
Since early August, several LeadingAge Minnesota members across the state have invited federal and state lawmakers from both political parties into their communities to raise awareness around the growing workforce crisis in long-term care.
Hero Pay Conversations Reach Impasse
On October 28, 2021 by Matt Steele
The Frontline Worker Pay Work Group met for the final time yesterday. Unfortunately, the legislators could not find a consensus on a proposal for Hero Pay bonus distribution. After meeting over a dozen times, lawmakers sent a DFL-supported report, known as the majority proposal, and a Republican report, known as the minority proposal, to be reviewed by the legislature if a special session were to be called by Gov. Walz, an increasingly unlikely scenario.
MDH and DHS Seek SNF Assistance with Hospital Decompression
On October 21, 2021 by Kari Thurlow
The Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Health (MDH) are working with hospitals and long-term care providers to quickly identify 4-5 skilled nursing facilities that can stand up "hospital decompression sites" that would allow for increased movement between acute and post-acute settings.
Workgroup at an Impasse on Frontline Worker Bonuses; Prospects for Special Session Grow Dim
On October 21, 2021 by Kari Thurlow
The Frontline Worker Pay Work Group met yesterday—more than a month past its designated deadline for reaching an agreement—and announced that there was still no agreement for distributing the $250 million designated by the legislature for frontline worker bonuses.
Press Release: Long-Term Care Imperative Applauds Health Care Decompression Strike Teams
On October 15, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
SAINT PAUL, MN (Oct. 15, 2021) - Minnesota is experiencing a crisis in caregiving, and it is affecting the entire health care continuum. We applaud efforts to address health care backups through strike teams. Strike teams are very much needed to provide temporary relief and respite to exhausted caregivers. But it will not solve one of the root causes of the problem: staffing shortages in long-term care.
Workforce Solutions Can’t Wait! Contact State Lawmakers Today
On October 14, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
Minnesota’s assisted living settings and nursing homes are facing an unprecedented workforce crisis, and LeadingAge Minnesota members across the state are contacting their lawmakers to ask for support now.
At the Capitol: Minnesota Lawmakers Reveal First Public Proposals on Hero Pay
On October 7, 2021 by Matt Steele
A select working group began hosting hearings about allocating the money set aside during the 2021 special session for Hero Pay bonuses for frontline workers in late July. Several different groups are vying for a piece of the $250 million fund, and this week, the working group released two separate proposals drawn upon party lines.
Workforce Data Illustrates Huge Challenges Faced by Members
On October 7, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Due to the vast scale of workforce challenges faced by providers, the Long-Term Care Imperative recently conducted a workforce survey of care center and assisted living providers to measure the scope of the problems and to influence policymakers in support of a much-needed response.
At the Capitol: Senate Hearing on Elderly Waiver and Vaccine Requirements
On September 30, 2021 by Matt Steele
The Senate Human Services Reform and Finance Committee recently met to address a wide array of topics that included Elderly Waiver implementation and vaccine requirements in various long-term care settings.
At the Capitol: New Minnesota Senate Leadership and Special Session
On September 15, 2021 by Matt Steele
This week, lawmakers have yet to call a special session to allocate the $250 million set aside for Hero Pay bonuses, and new Senate majority and minority leaders have been elected. Here is what you need to know about what is happening at the Capitol this week:
At the Capitol: Minnesota Lawmakers Working Overtime on Hero Pay Bonus Package
On September 8, 2021 by Matt Steele
Thursday, Sept. 2 marked the final working group meeting for Hero Pay. Since July, lawmakers have been meeting to finalize how the $250 million allocated to reward frontline workers will be distributed. In their final meeting, co-chairs Senator Housley and Majority Leader Winkler indicated that progress is being made. However, they have yet to reach a consensus and will continue the conversation beyond their self-imposed deadline of Sept. 7.