Connecticut House Bill HB05424

Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/19
• Refer: 1/16/19

Caption

An Act Concerning Equitable Reimbursement For Nursing Home Services.

Impact

If passed, HB05424 would amend section 17b-340d of the general statutes, fundamentally changing how nursing home services are funded through Medicaid. The bill proposes a more structured reimbursement approach founded on a standard resident assessment instrument and a performance-based payment adjustment. This could significantly enhance the ability of nursing facilities to provide adequate care for residents, addressing concerns about current funding inadequacies that have led to operational challenges and compromised care quality in some facilities.

Summary

House Bill 05424, titled 'An Act Concerning Equitable Reimbursement For Nursing Home Services', aims to reform the current Medicaid reimbursement system for nursing home services in the state. The proposed legislation seeks to implement a new reimbursement model that considers various factors such as the level of care required for residents with acute health conditions, specialized care needs, and geographic disparities in operational costs. The overall objective is to align Medicaid reimbursements with the actual costs incurred by nursing homes in providing care to residents with diverse health needs.

Contention

While the bill has the potential to improve care standards in nursing homes, there may be contention regarding the introduction of the pay-for-performance model, which could create incentives for facilities to focus on certain metrics over holistic resident care. Additionally, debates may arise concerning the potential regional disparities in reimbursement rates and how they might affect the viability of smaller or less profitable nursing homes. Stakeholders, including caregivers, healthcare providers, and policymakers, will need to navigate these complexities to ensure the equitable distribution of resources.