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| SPONSOR: | Garcia | DATE TYPED: | 02/21/99 | HB | |||
| SHORT TITLE: | Disabled and Elderly Services | SB | 33/aSPAC | ||||
| ANALYST: | Burris | ||||||
| Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||||
| FY99 | FY2000 | FY99 | FY2000 | ||
| $ 4,400.0 | Rec | GF | |||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
| Subsequent
Years Impact |
Recurring
or Non-Rec |
Fund
Affected | ||
| FY99 | FY2000 | |||
| $ 13,200.0 | Recurring | FF | ||
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)
Relates to HB2 and SB2; SB24 DD and Disabled & Elderly Medicaid Waiver Eligibility.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Health Policy Commission
Governor's Committee on Concerns of the Handicapped
Human Services Department
Department of Health analysis not available
SUMMARY
Synopsis of SPAC Amendment
The Senate Public Affairs Committee amended Senate Bill 33 to strike the language referring to approximately 1,000 individuals being served by the appropriation. The amendment also changes the appropriation to the Department of Health rather than the Human Services Department.
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Bill 33 appropriates $4.4 million from the general fund to the Human Services Department to serve 1,000 persons eligible for the Medicaid Disabled and Elderly (D&E) Waiver program.
Significant Issues
The federal matching funds for the D&E program are approximately three to one. Thus, the state will receive approximately $13.2 million in federal matching funds.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Because the average cost of serving patients in nursing homes averages $35.0 per year compared to the $15.0 per year to serve them through the D&E program, this appropriation will likely result in Medicaid program savings in years to come.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The general fund appropriations for the D&E program are typically appropriated to the Department of Health. Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 2 recommendations for FY2000 appropriate the general fund portion to the Department of Health. In order to maintain uniformity, the appropriation should be directed to the Department of Health.
OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
There is a long-standing waiting list for D&E program services. The D&E program is preferable to most patients because it allows them to remain at home and receive community-based services rather than enter a nursing home. It also allows patients more input into the type and quality of services they receive.
RLB/njw