Senator John Hoffman from Champlin will be the Health and Human Services Committee Chair for the 2023 legislative session. Use the template below to contact him about the needs of our skilled nursing facility. Contact information at this link: https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1205
Dear Senator John Hoffman,
Thank you for your time in reading and responding to the needs of Minnesota’s collapsing long term care facilities. My name is <<your name here>> and I am a <<your role here, i.e. community member, etc.>> who lives/works in the New Ulm area. Today, I would like to paint the picture for you of our stand-alone, non-profit, skilled nursing facility in New Ulm. Oak Hills Living Center operates 72 long-term skilled nursing beds, 22 short-term skilled nursing beds, 16 private pay assisted living studio apartments and 16 1-bedroom HUD apartments for low-income seniors.
While we know 80% of our residents resided in New Ulm, Hanska, Lafayette or Courtland, and 20% of residents resided in Winthrop, Fairfax, Morgan, Sleepy Eye, Gibbon or Essig, we also know the closures of the Redwood Falls, Fairfax and Winthrop nursing homes have put an additional strain on our facility. Our current waitlist for skilled beds is 101 females and 90 males. In addition, we have had to decline 240 admissions this year. We denied admissions from Abbott Northwestern 39 times, Mayo Mankato 44 times, Mayo Rochester 13 times, New Ulm Medical Center 43 times and Rivers Edge Hospital 11 times. Our denial reasons were most commonly staffing, unable to meet needs, i.e. memory care, bariatric. etc., and insurance not in network or denies skilled level of care.
The future of our facility is very uncertain right now, should our reimbursement structure and staffing constraints continue we anticipate the need to close within 18 months. Where will these residents go? Additional closures of rural facilities only continue to exacerbate the problem. We need long term solutions to funding, recruitment, retention, and a commonsense approach to the ever-increasing regulations.
Please make long-term care a priority. The amazing seniors who have built this State, from International Falls to Albert Lea deserve to be cared for in their twilight years. Without significant intervention NOW, the industry will collapse and make the struggle for our hospitals even greater.
Thank you for your time, I look forward to collaborating with you on this vital need.
Warm Regards,
<<Your Name Here>>