SF544

Purpose

• This bill relates to human services and changes how certain nursing facility property rate increases are treated. It removes the sunset on these increases and sets new, facility-specific increases, with a future transition to a property payment rate.

Main Provisions

• Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 256B.434, subdivision 4k.
• Sunset removal for property rate increases:
  • A rate increase under this subdivision ends when the facility’s property rate transitions to a property payment rate under section 256R26, subdivision 8, or on May 31, 2026, whichever occurs first.
• Facility-specific property rate increases (effective January 1, 2025, unless noted otherwise):
  • St. Paul facility located at 1415 Almond Avenue, Ramsey County: increase by 1,065.
  • Duluth facility located at 3111 Church Place, St. Louis County: increase by 2,081.
  • Chatfield facility located at 1102 Liberty Street SE, Fillmore County: increase by 2,135.
  • Fergus Falls facility located at 1131 South Mabelle Avenue, Ottertail County: increase by 3,856 from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025.
• Section 1: This is the amendment to the cited statute, implementing these changes.

Effective Dates and Scope

• January 1, 2025: Increases for the St. Paul, Duluth, and Chatfield facilities take effect.
• January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025: Fergus Falls facility increase applies for that window.
• Sunset/transition trigger: The increases end on either the date the facility transitions to a property payment rate under 256R26, subdivision 8, or May 31, 2026, whichever comes first.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Removes the existing sunset for certain nursing facility property rate increases.
• Establishes new, facility-specific property rate increases for four nursing facilities.
• Ties the duration of the increases to a future transition to a property payment rate or a fixed date, whichever occurs earlier.

Facilities and Locations Affected

• St. Paul: 1415 Almond Avenue, Ramsey County.
• Duluth: 3111 Church Place, St. Louis County.
• Chatfield: 1102 Liberty Street SE, Fillmore County.
• Fergus Falls: 1131 South Mabelle Avenue, Ottertail County.

Rationale (implied)

• The bill aims to provide targeted funding adjustments to specific nursing facilities and to formalize a sunset-less approach, with a transition plan tied to existing property payment rate mechanisms.

Relevant Terms - property rate increase, property rate, property payment rate, transition, sunset, 256B.434, subdivision 4k, 256R26, subsection 8, May 31, 2026, nursing facility, St. Paul, Duluth, Chatfield, Fergus Falls, Ramsey County, St. Louis County, Fillmore County, Ottertail County, 1415 Almond Avenue, 3111 Church Place, 1102 Liberty Street SE, 1131 South Mabelle Avenue