A hard-won consensus on elder care in Minnesota
A 2017
A year ago, a frustrated Star Tribune Editorial Board called on state officials and the elder care community to move forward anyway and tee up reforms for 2019. It is a credit to advocates and its providers that they pushed ahead, with state
But sticking points remained up through last weekend, with key disagreements on how to protect residents in the event of a housing or service termination, guard against “retaliation” if abuse or theft is reported and what interim safeguards to put in place until assisted-living facility licensure would take effect in 2021. The lack of consensus had the potential to hinder this year’s long-term care bills at the
Realizing that, care providers and consumer advocates sacrificed one of this spring’s first sunny weekends to gather in a windowless conference room at the
That work now allows consumer advocates and long-term care providers to send this unified message to legislators: Seize the momentum and pass the reforms this year. Fortunately, the measures have influential champions in both chambers. Rep.
The surest route to enactment is to have the reforms travel as stand-alone legislation instead of folding them into a sprawling omnibus bill that runs a veto risk as budget battles escalate. “Don’t bring seniors into the negotiations room,” Housley wisely said.
The reforms also need adequate funding. Implementing the new regulatory framework while continuing to strengthen agency oversight is a massive undertaking and will take resources. The amount proposed by Gov. Tim Walz’s budget -- around
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