California Senate Bill SB646 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 646AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 1, 2013 INTRODUCED BY Senator Nielsen FEBRUARY 22, 2013 An act  to add Section 14105.195 to the Welfare and Institutions Code,  relating to Medi-Cal  , and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately  . LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 646, as amended, Nielsen. Medi-Cal  : reimbursement: distinct part nursing facilities  .  Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions. Existing law requires, except as otherwise provided, Medi-Cal provider payments to be reduced by 1% or 5%, and provider payments for specified non-Medi-Cal programs to be reduced by 1%, for dates of service on and after March 1, 2009, and until June 1, 2011. Existing law requires, except as otherwise provided, Medi-Cal provider payments and payments for specified non-Medi-Cal programs to be reduced by 10% for dates of service on and after June 1, 2011.   This bill would instead require that this payment reduction not apply to specified skilled nursing facilities that are a distinct part of a general acute care hospital for dates of service on or after June 1, 2011.   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.   Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, which is administered by the State Department of Health Care Services, under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid Program provisions.   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to Medi-Cal.  Vote:  majority   2/3  . Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Section 14105.195 is added to the   Welfare and Institutions Code   , to read:   14105.195. (a) Notwithstanding Sections 14105.191 and 14105.192, reimbursement for services provided by skilled nursing facilities that are distinct parts of general acute care hospitals shall be determined, for dates of service on or after June 1, 2011, without application of the reductions set forth in Sections 14105.191 and 14105.192. (b) The director shall do all of the following in the event that he or she is prevented from implementing subdivision (a) for any dates of service on or after June 1, 2011: (1) Implement subdivision (a) to the maximum extent permitted by law and for the maximum time period for which the director obtains necessary federal approval. (2) Increase payments to facilities described in subdivision (a) for services provided on or after June 1, 2011, or on or after the first date of service permitted by law and for which federal financial participation is available, until the date the total amount of Medi-Cal payments to those facilities for services provided on or after June 1, 2011, is not less than the payments the facilities would have received if the reductions in Sections 14105.191 and 14105.192 had not been imposed for dates of service on or after June 1, 2011. The director shall increase payments under this paragraph for the shortest period of time possible. (c) The director shall promptly seek all necessary federal approvals to implement this section. (d) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement this section by means of provider bulletins or notices, policy letters, or other similar instructions, without taking regulatory action. (e) This section shall only apply to a skilled nursing facility at a rural community hospital in a health care personnel shortage area, or in an area that serves medically underserved areas or populations, and the facility is a sole community provider. To qualify for this section, the skilled nursing facility shall have 10 percent or more of its patients enrolled in Medi-Cal and not have a county or University of California hospital within a 15 mile radius.   SEC. 2.   This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:   In order to ensure and maintain access to medically necessary care for the patients and residents needing skilled nursing services at the earliest possible time, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.   SECTION 1.   It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation relating to Medi-Cal.