Des Moines, Iowa – Senate Democrats are calling for a state minimum wage just for direct care workers in nursing homes. By July of next year, all nursing home direct care workers would have to be paid 15 dollars an hour and Senate Democrats propose that it rachet up to 20 dollars an hour by the middle of 2030. Senator Claire Celsi of Des Moines says staffing shortages are a huge issue in the nursing home industry and it’s led to tragic circumstances for some residents.
According to state data, the average pay for direct care workers in nursing homes was 13 dollars an hour in 2022. Republicans in the Iowa House say they’re concerned agencies supplying temporary employees to nursing homes are exploiting recently boosted state funding for nursing home care. Celsi and the 15 other Democrats in the Iowa Senate are also calling for an increase in the allowance nursing home residents get if their care is covered by Medicaid. It’s called the Medicaid personal needs reimbursement rate, to cover things like hair cuts, clothing and toiletries.
Senate Democrats say they support raising the state’s Medicaid reimbursement rate for nursing home care to cover these expenses as well as the hike in the minimum wage for direct care workers. It’s unlikely these proposals will be considered by Republican-led committees in the senate, but the proposals could be introduced during Senate debate of bills that outline state spending.
