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| SPONSOR: | Robinson | DATE TYPED: | 2-24-01 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Staff Support for Nursing Facilities | SB | 227/aSPAC | ||||
| ANALYST: | Taylor | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY01 | FY02 | FY01 | FY02 | ||
| $ 4,000.0 | Recurring | General Fund | |||
| $ 10,942.0 | Recurring | Federal Funds | |||
Duplicates/Relates to Appropriation in The General Appropriation Act: None
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Human Services Department
Health Policy Commission
SUMMARY
Synopsis of SPAC Amendment
The Senate Public Affairs Committee amendment strikes the language saying that neither the department nor the facilities may retain any of the appropriation for administrative purposes. Replacement language then states the Human Services Department is responsible for ensuring the money is used for the intended purpose only, and the restriction on use for administrative purposes is retained. Money not used for the benefit of direct care providers is to be returned to the general fund. The amendments also define direct care providers to include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants assigned to direct resident care.
The amendment does not alter the fiscal implications of the bill.
Synopsis of Original Bill
Senate Bill 227 appropriates $4,000.0 from the general fund to the human services department for the purpose of providing funds for the recruitment, retention and salary enhancement of direct care providers in licensed nursing homes. The department and recipient facilities are restricted from using any of the appropriation for administrative purposes.
PERFORMANCE IMPLICATIONS
The Human Services Department did not suggest any performance measures. Possible measures that the agency might try to track include:
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $4,000.0 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2002 shall revert to the general fund.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
According to HSD, the general fund appropriation could leverage $10,942 in federal funds, assuming it could be matched with federal medicaid dollars. However, the department reports for this to happen, the bill language should be amended so the department has the legal authority to implement the appropriation in the medicaid program. Specifically, they say that the language should provide direction as to whether they should use the money for lump-sum payments to nursing homes or to increase the nursing home per-diem rate.
The HPC notes that inadequate pay at nursing homes is a national problem. President Clinton had proposed $1 billion to address the nursing home staffing problem.
BT/njw