Minnesota Nursing Home Minimum Wages Take Effect September 10 After Federal Approval
Minnesota's new minimum wages for nursing home workers received final federal approval and will take effect September 10, 2026, with rates ranging from $19 to $27 per hour depending on role. CNAs will earn $22.50, trained medication aides $23.50, LPNs $27, and all other nursing home workers $19, with an additional $1.50 increase across all categories on January 1, 2027. The state appropriated $37 million with matching federal funds to support the raises, which stem from a 2023 law creating a labor standards board. The nursing home industry has filed federal litigation seeking to dissolve the board, citing concerns about financial viability.
State Medicaid agencies must account for the wage increases in nursing facility rate-setting, and the federal approval means CMS has accepted Minnesota's cost allocation for federal matching funds — setting a potential model for other states considering similar labor standards boards.
Long-Term Care · LTSS · Finance
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