Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00895 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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3	3	LCO No. 4635 1 of 3
4	4
5	5	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 895
6	6	January Session, 2019
7	7	LCO No. 4635
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9	9
10	10	Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES
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12	12
13	13	Introduced by:
14	14	(HS)
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19	19	AN ACT CONCERNING ME DICAID COVERAGE OF IN-HOME
20	20	COUNSELING PROVIDED BY A HOME HEALTH CAR E AGENCY.
21	21	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
22	22	Assembly convened:
23	23
24	24	Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 17b-242 of the general statutes is 1
25	25	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 2
26	26	1, 2019): 3
27	27	(a) The Department of Social Services shall determine the rates to be 4
28	28	paid to home health care agencies and homemaker-home health aide 5
29	29	agencies by the state or any town in the state for persons aided or 6
30	30	cared for by the state or any such town. [For the period from February 7
31	31	1, 1991, to January 31, 1992, inclusive, payment for each service to the 8
32	32	state shall be based upon the rate for such service as determined by the 9
33	33	Office of Health Care Access, except that for those providers whose 10
34	34	Medicaid rates for the year ending January 31, 1991, exceed the median 11
35	35	rate, no increase shall be allowed. For those providers whose rates for 12
36	36	the year ending January 31, 1991, are below the median rate, increases 13
37	37	shall not exceed the lower of the prior rate increased by the most 14
38	38	recent annual increase in the consumer price index for urban 15 Raised Bill No. 895
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40	40
41	41
42	42	LCO No. 4635 2 of 3
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44	44	consumers or the median rate. In no case shall any such rate exceed the 16
45	45	eightieth percentile of rates in effect January 31, 1991, nor shall any rate 17
46	46	exceed the charge to the general public for similar services. Rates 18
47	47	effective February 1, 1992, shall be based upon rates as determined by 19
48	48	the Office of Health Care Access, except that increases shall not exceed 20
49	49	the prior year's rate increased by the most recent annual increase in the 21
50	50	consumer price index for urban consumers and rates effective 22
51	51	February 1, 1992, shall remain in effect through June 30, 1993. Rates 23
52	52	effective July 1, 1993, shall be based upon rates as determined by the 24
53	53	Office of Health Care Access except if the Medicaid rates for any 25
54	54	service for the period ending June 30, 1993, exceed the median rate for 26
55	55	such service, the increase effective July 1, 1993, shall not exceed one 27
56	56	per cent. If the Medicaid rate for any service for the period ending June 28
57	57	30, 1993, is below the median rate, the increase effective July 1, 1993, 29
58	58	shall not exceed the lower of the prior rate increased by one and one-30
59	59	half times the most recent annual increase in the consumer price index 31
60	60	for urban consumers or the median rate plus one per cent.] The 32
61	61	Commissioner of Social Services shall establish a fee schedule for home 33
62	62	health services to be effective on and after July 1, 1994. The 34
63	63	commissioner may annually modify such fee schedule if such 35
64	64	modification is needed to ensure that the conversion to an 36
65	65	administrative services organization is cost neutral to home health care 37
66	66	agencies and homemaker-home health aide agencies in the aggregate 38
67	67	and ensures patient access. Utilization may be a factor in determining 39
68	68	cost neutrality. The commissioner shall increase the fee schedule for 40
69	69	home health services provided under the Connecticut home-care 41
70	70	program for the elderly established under section 17b-342, effective 42
71	71	July 1, 2000, by two per cent over the fee schedule for home health 43
72	72	services for the previous year. The commissioner may increase any fee 44
73	73	payable to a home health care agency or homemaker-home health aide 45
74	74	agency upon the application of such an agency evidencing 46
75	75	extraordinary costs related to (1) serving persons with AIDS; (2) high-47
76	76	risk maternal and child health care; (3) escort services; or (4) extended 48
77	77	hour services. In no case shall any rate or fee exceed the charge to the 49
78	78	general public for similar services. The commissioner shall include in 50 Raised Bill No. 895
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81	81
82	82	LCO No. 4635 3 of 3
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84	84	the fee schedule rates to be paid under the medical assistance program 51
85	85	for behavioral health counseling provided to a medical assistance 52
86	86	beneficiary in his or her home by a social worker employed by a home 53
87	87	health care agency who is licensed pursuant to chapter 383b. A home 54
88	88	health care agency or homemaker-home health aide agency which, due 55
89	89	to any material change in circumstances, is aggrieved by a rate 56
90	90	determined pursuant to this subsection may, within ten days of receipt 57
91	91	of written notice of such rate from the Commissioner of Social Services, 58
92	92	request in writing a hearing on all items of aggrievement. The 59
93	93	commissioner shall, upon the receipt of all documentation necessary to 60
94	94	evaluate the request, determine whether there has been such a change 61
95	95	in circumstances and shall conduct a hearing if appropriate. The 62
96	96	Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance 63
97	97	with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection. The 64
98	98	commissioner may implement policies and procedures to carry out the 65
99	99	provisions of this subsection while in the process of adopting 66
100	100	regulations, provided notice of intent to adopt the regulations is 67
101	101	[published in the Connecticut Law Journal not later than twenty days 68
102	102	after the date of] posted on the eRegulations System prior to the date 69
103	103	of adopting the regulations and implementing the policies and 70
104	104	procedures. Such policies and procedures shall be valid for not longer 71
105	105	than nine months. 72
106	106	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
107	107	sections:
108	108
109	109	Section 1 July 1, 2019 17b-242(a)
110	110
111	111	Statement of Purpose:
112	112	To provide Medicaid coverage for behavioral counseling provided to
113	113	Medicaid beneficiaries in their homes by licensed social workers
114	114	employed by home health care agencies.
115	115	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline,
116	116	except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is
117	117	not underlined.]
118	118