Minnesota Nursing Home Wage Increases Delayed Again Due to Federal Review

Mon Apr 13 2026 01:23:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The implementation of new wage increases for nursing home workers in Minnesota is delayed again as the Trump administration resets the review process for the wage floor legislation. Executive Director Leah Solo expressed concerns about the bureaucratic hurdles faced by the workforce board.

Minnesota's efforts to establish a minimum wage for nursing home workers faces another setback, as the Trump administration has reset the federal review period for the wage floor legislation. With wage increases set at a minimum of $19 per hour in 2023 and $20.50 by 2027 for nursing facility staff, uncertainty looms for thousands of workers. Amidst ongoing lawsuits from the nursing home industry against the workforce board, the approval process from federal authorities remains stalled, highlighting the complexities of ensuring fair wages in essential care sectors.

The implementation of unprecedented minimum wages for nursing home workers in Minnesota has encountered further delays. Leah Solo, executive director of the state's Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, shared at a recent board meeting that the Trump administration has reset the clock on their 90-day review process, which is vital for the new wage law to take effect.

According to the new state law, nursing facility employees are required to earn a minimum wage of at least $19 an hour during the current year, with projections to increase to $20.50 an hour by 2027. Additional compensation is in place for workers holding nursing licenses.

I hate to bring bad news, said Solo, addressing the board members as they grappled with the implications of the extended review. This marks a significant administrative setback, as the wage floor was originally intended to go into effect January 1st of this year. The delay adds pressure on the workforce board, which is facing a lawsuit from nursing homes aimed at abolishing the board altogether.

Approval for the wage floor comes from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which will allocate $18 million to support Minnesota's Medicaid program in facilitating these salary increases. The state will contribute an additional $18 million toward this initiative.

Under federal Medicaid regulations, CMS has a standard of 90 days to examine such funding requests. However, as noted by Solo, the agency can request additional information from the state, effectively resetting the review period. This recent re-evaluation comes just shy of the deadline, which has led to frustration among advocates for nursing home staff and the workforce board.

Concerns about the wage adjustment are further complicated by ongoing litigations, including some nursing homes claiming the board's actions inflict irreversible damage to their operations. A federal court hearing to discuss an injunction against the workforce board is scheduled next month.

The delay in wage implementation underscores the challenges faced in balancing fair compensation for essential workers with the administrative hurdles inherent in federal and state Medicaid frameworks.

This situation highlights not just the bureaucratic complexity involved in setting wage floors but also the historical context—such measures trace back to the New Deal reforms championed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, a legacy currently being revived by labor unions across various states.