Committee hears bill to raise home-care reimbursement, fund nursing preceptor grants; bill laid over

The House Human Services Finance Policy Committee reviewed Representative Knorr's House File 7‑29, a three‑part proposal to change how Minnesota pays for certain home‑care services, and laid the bill over for possible inclusion.

The bill, as described by testifiers, would (1) establish a separate reimbursement for a limited annual number of comprehensive home‑care evaluation visits, (2) adjust Medical Assistance reimbursement rates for a defined set of home‑care services, and (3) create a one‑time grant program focused on recruiting home‑care staff by compensating nurses who serve as preceptors for nursing students.

Kathy Messerly, executive director of the Minnesota Home Care Association, told the committee MHCA members provide “hands on care to more than 30,000 older Minnesotans and individuals with disabilities in their homes,” and argued that hospitals and long‑term care settings are not preferred for most people. Messerly said sections 1–7 would reimburse required,…