Thousands of nursing home workers would get raises under a multimillion dollar plan to shore up staffing in Minnesota’s elder-care facilities and maintain their quality of care.
The state’s Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board voted Monday to set minimum wages for nursing home workers at $22 per hour by 2026, on average, and $23.49 by 2027. The Legislature created the board last year and charged it to find the current midpoint in nursing home wages and set that as the floor — such that half the state’s nursing home workforce would get a boost.
Nursing home workers have demanded better pay so they can afford to stay in their jobs and continue to care for residents, said Nicole Blissenbach, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and a member of the standards board. “They’ve told us what they need to improve working conditions in this essential industry.”
Nursing home owners opposed the minimum wages unless they were offset by increases in state tax dollars. The board’s plan requires legislative approval to increase payment rates from the state’s Medical Assistance program for nursing home care — at a cost to Minnesota of $2.2 million in 2028 and $6.9 million in 2029. Minnesota law requires rate equalization for nursing homes, meaning that the increased rates would apply to private payers as well.
The state proposal comes as nursing homes also face new federal staffing requirements, including the presence of higher-cost registered nurses.
Three industry-selected members of the state board abstained Monday. Paula Rocheleau, chief executive of Partners Senior Living Options in Pierz, Minn., said her lack of a vote was based on the plan’s increase in mandated holidays, which would increase costs and staffing headaches.
“It does affect the bottom line and it could affect the operations [of nursing homes]
and resident care,” she said.
