Bill Summaries: H914 SUPPORT OUR DIRECT CARE WORKFORCE.

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  • Summary date: May 10 2021 - View Summary

    Directs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Health Benefits (DHB), to provide a rate increase to six identified Medicaid providers for services related to the provision of direct care to Medicaid beneficiaries, including personal care service providers, home health providers, and behavioral health residential facilities. Effective October 1, 2021, upon approval of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

    Mandates that providers use at least 80% of funding resulting from the rate increase to increase the wages paid to its direct care employees, in addition to the rate of pay each employee was receiving as of September 30, 2021.

    Upon implementation of this rate increase, directs DHB to adjust the per-member, per- month capitation amount paid to LME/MCOs and to prepaid health plans (PHPs), including amounts sufficient to implement the same rate increase for providers paid by the LME/MCO or PHP as paid to providers under the Medicaid fee-for-service program. Requires all LME/MCOs and PHPs to implement the rate increase. Subjects all providers receiving a rate increase to the requirements of the act regardless if paid by an LME/MCO, PHP, or DHB.

    Requires all providers receiving the rate increase to attest and provide verification that at least 80% of the funding resulting from the rate increase is being used to increase the wages paid to its direct care employees. Requires recording documentation of the use with DHB, LME/MCOs, and PHPs authorized to require verifiable methods of accounting. 

    Appropriates $160 million in recurring funds from the General Fund to DHB for each year of the 2021-23 biennium to provide a State match for a specified amount of federal funds for each fiscal year. Appropriates the federal funds to be used for costs associated with the act's implementation. Effective July 1, 2021. 

    Authorizes DHB to recoup funds related to the rate increase received by a provider if DHB determines that the provider did not use at least 80% of the funding that results from that rate increase to increase the wages paid to its direct care employees.