Programs and services

Get help with nursing facility care, including how to choose a facility and compare quality ratings. Learn how to pay for care and plan a move back home with services. Find information on resident rights, complaints and reporting adult abuse.

Choosing a nursing facility

Choosing a nursing home for yourself or a loved one can be challenging. The following sources can be helpful as you consider your choices.

• Minnesota's Nursing Home Report Card has information to help you make your choice. The Report Card shows how nursing homes scored on seven quality measures and provides detailed information on nursing facilities.
• The federal government also has a Nursing Home Compare website that provides data on nursing facilities that accept Medicare and Medical Assistance as well as a checklist for choosing a nursing facility.
• Visiting a facility is a good way to see the environment. Discussing options with family members and facility staff is also helpful.
• The Minnesota Department of Health maintains a database of health facilities in the state.
• The Office of Health Facility Complaints at the Minnesota Department of Health maintains a database of resolved facility complaints.

Paying for nursing facility care

• Medical Assistance (MA) can help people who qualify pay for nursing facility care. Ask your county if you need to have a Long-Term Care Consultation before you apply for MA.
• Long-term care insurance and sometimes other health insurance policies also may help pay. If you have a policy, check with your insurance company to find out what coverage you may have.
• You can also pay for nursing facility care yourself. This is called "private pay." Private pay costs depend on a number of factors, including the individual's physical and mental condition and the level of care he or she needs, as well as the type of room the individual occupies in the facility.
• Medicare may pay for short nursing facility stays under limited circumstances. For example, Medicare may pay if you need to go to a nursing facility for short term care after you've had surgery. It is possible to qualify for Medicare and Medical Assistance coverage at the same time.
• Information on how nursing facility rates are determined can be found in this document published by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), which explains the case-mix rate system used in Minnesota (pdf).
• Information on daily semi-private room rates for many facilities can be found in Minnesota's online Nursing Home Report Card.  These rates are updated and posted regularly, but may not be the most recent rates being charged.  If you have questions about a specific facility’s rate or have a rate dispute, please email the Nursing Facility Policy Center.

Moving out of a nursing facility

Many people moving out of a nursing facility need services and supports when they move home or into another setting in the community. Other programs and services are available to help you live at home or in other community settings and to decide what you need and how best to get it.

• If Medical Assistance pays for your nursing home care, you'll need to have an assessment to determine your ongoing health care needs. Contact your local county worker or health plan care coordinator to get more information.
• If Medical Assistance does not pay for your care, you can get help through the Resource Coordination service offered by the Minnesota Aging Pathways at (800) 333-2433.

Filing a complaint against a nursing facility

Contact the Minnesota Department of Health-Office of Health Facility Complaints to file a complaint.

Call the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) at 844-880-1574 (toll free) if you suspect maltreatment of a vulnerable adult or if you are aware of an unexplained injury of a resident/patient/client of a licensed facility.

Reporting adult abuse

Resident rights for nursing facility residents

The Minnesota Department of Health webpage has PDF copies of state and federal bills of rights for people who get health care and other services. The PDFs cover many care and community settings.

View a combined statement of resident rights under both state and federal law.