Unprecedented minimum wages for thousands of nursing home workers in Minnesota are delayed again.
Leah Solo, executive director of the state’s Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, announced at a board meeting that the Trump administration has reset its review timeline, delaying the wage floor due to a request for more information.
The current state law stipulates that nursing facility employees must earn at least $19 an hour this year and $20.50 in 2027. Licensed nursing staff would receive higher wages. “I hate to bring bad news,” Solo told the board, which is grappling with the implications of the federal government's decision.
This marks a significant bureaucratic delay, as the wage increase was originally set to take effect on January 1. The wage floor must gain approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which has indicated it will assist with $18 million to Minnesota's Medicaid program to support the wage increases. The state has also committed $18 million toward this effort.
Under federal Medicaid law, CMS generally has 90 days to evaluate funding requests. However, this period can reset if further information is requested. On day 89, CMS contacted the Minnesota Department of Human Services, restarting the review period.
As of the latest updates, the specific information required by CMS from Minnesota officials remains unclear, complicating the implementation of the wage increase. This situation follows previous delays caused by state officials who were behind in submitting necessary paperwork.
With Minnesota being the first state to focus on wage standards for the nursing home sector, the industry is pushing back against the workforce board, which is currently facing a lawsuit claiming it harms operators and business partners in the state. A federal court hearing regarding this lawsuit is scheduled for next month.
