ARRM’s legislative priorities are beginning to be formally introduced in the legislature. This last week, two of our bills were introduced and given bill numbers in the House:
- Alternative Overnight Supervision with Technology: HF 339
- ICF Rate Legislation: HF 568
We anticipate more bills being formally introduced this coming week in both the House and Senate and will be adding bill numbers to our formal legislative agenda soon.
Last Thursday, Governor Walz released information about his spending priorities in disability services. While we are waiting on more specific details to be released this coming week, the high-level summary included the following:
Stabilizing and Expanding the Long-Term Care Workforce
Higher rates and other system changes in the Governor and Lieutenant Governor's budget will stabilize and expand the long-term care workforce, making it easier for people with disabilities to find and hire direct support workers to meet essential daily needs. The One Minnesota Budget increases rates for services, increases inflationary updates for waiver disability providers, and raises hourly limits for parents and spouses who are paid to provide community-first and consumer-directed community supports. Additionally, two permanent grant programs will address Minnesota's long-term care workforce shortage by expanding the depth and diversity of the workforce while improving recruitment and retention. Ongoing funding will support provider capacity grants for rural and underserved communities and a new grant program focused on recruiting and retaining immigrants, refugees, and new Americans for vital long-term care positions.
Other legislation that impacts ARRM members continues to move through the legislative process. Specifically, ARRM continues to monitor the progress of the Paid Family Leave legislation (HF 2/SF 2). We will be working with members to determine the impact this legislation will have on your organization and continue to emphasize with legislators the need to increase reimbursement for providers when increasing required expenses. Stay tuned for more information and specific data requests in the coming weeks.
Please reach out with any questions!
--Sara Grafstrom