Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00955 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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	7	+	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 955
	8	+	January Session, 2021
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4		-	Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
5		-
6		-	Public Act No. 21-148
7	12
8	13
9		-	AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO PROVISIONS OF THE
10		-	GENERAL STATUTES AFFECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
11		-	SERVICES AND A STUDY OF PAYMENT PARITY FOR HUMAN
12		-	SERVICES PROVIDERS.
	14	+	AN ACT CONCERNING RE VISIONS TO OBSOLETE PROVISIONS OF
	15	+	THE GENERAL STATUTES AFFECTING THE DEPAR TMENT OF
	16	+	SOCIAL SERVICES.
13	17		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	18		Assembly convened:
15	19
16		-	Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 16a-41a of the general statutes is
17		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July
18		-	1, 2021):
19		-	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall submit to the joint
20		-	standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of
21		-	energy planning and activities, appropriations, and human services the
22		-	following on the implementation of the block grant program authorized
23		-	under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as
24		-	amended:
25		-	(1) Not later than August first, annually, a Connecticut energy
26		-	assistance program annual plan which establishes guidelines for the use
27		-	of funds authorized under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
28		-	Act of 1981, as amended, and includes the following:
29		-	(A) Criteria for determining which households are to receive
30		-	emergency [and weatherization] assistance; Substitute ~~Senate~~ Bill No. 955
	20	+	Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 16a-41a of the general statutes is 1
	21	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
	22	+	2021): 3
	23	+	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall submit to the joint 4
	24	+	standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of 5
	25	+	energy planning and activities, appropriations, and human services the 6
	26	+	following on the implementation of the block grant program authorized 7
	27	+	under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as 8
	28	+	amended: 9
	29	+	(1) Not later than August first, annually, a Connecticut energy 10
	30	+	assistance program annual plan which establishes guidelines for the use 11
	31	+	of funds authorized under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance 12
	32	+	Act of 1981, as amended, and includes the following: 13
	33	+	(A) Criteria for determining which households are to receive 14
	34	+	emergency [and weatherization] assistance; 15 Substitute Bill No. 955
31	35
32		-	Public Act No. 21-148 2 of 11
33	36
34		-	(B) A description of systems used to ensure referrals to other energy
35		-	assistance programs and the taking of simultaneous applications, as
36		-	required under section 16a-41;
37		-	(C) A description of outreach efforts;
38		-	(D) Estimates of the total number of households eligible for assistance
39		-	under the program and the number of households in which one or more
40		-	elderly or physically disabled individuals eligible for assistance reside;
41		-	(E) Design of a basic grant for eligible households that does not
42		-	discriminate against such households based on the type of energy used
43		-	for heating; and
44		-	(F) A payment plan for fuel deliveries beginning November 1, 2018,
45		-	that ensures a vendor of deliverable fuel who completes deliveries
46		-	authorized by a community action agency that contracts with the
47		-	commissioner to administer a fuel assistance program is paid by the
48		-	community action agency not later than thirty business days after the
49		-	date the community action agency receives an authorized fuel slip or
50		-	invoice for payment from the vendor;
51		-	(2) Not later than January thirtieth, annually, a report covering the
52		-	preceding months of the program year, including:
53		-	(A) In each community action agency geographic area, [and
54		-	Department of Social Services region,] the number of fuel assistance
55		-	applications filed, approved and denied, and the number of emergency
56		-	assistance requests made, approved and denied; [and the number of
57		-	households provided weatherization assistance;]
58		-	(B) In each such area, [and district,] the total amount of fuel [,] and
59		-	emergency [and weatherization] assistance, itemized by such type of
60		-	assistance, and total expenditures to date; Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
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62		-	Public Act No. 21-148 3 of 11
	41	+	(B) A description of systems used to ensure referrals to other energy 16
	42	+	assistance programs and the taking of simultaneous applications, as 17
	43	+	required under section 16a-41; 18
	44	+	(C) A description of outreach efforts; 19
	45	+	(D) Estimates of the total number of households eligible for assistance 20
	46	+	under the program and the number of households in which one or more 21
	47	+	elderly or physically disabled individuals eligible for assistance reside; 22
	48	+	(E) Design of a basic grant for eligible households that does not 23
	49	+	discriminate against such households based on the type of energy used 24
	50	+	for heating; and 25
	51	+	(F) A payment plan for fuel deliveries beginning November 1, 2018, 26
	52	+	that ensures a vendor of deliverable fuel who completes deliveries 27
	53	+	authorized by a community action agency that contracts with the 28
	54	+	commissioner to administer a fuel assistance program is paid by the 29
	55	+	community action agency not later than thirty business days after the 30
	56	+	date the community action agency receives an authorized fuel slip or 31
	57	+	invoice for payment from the vendor; 32
	58	+	(2) Not later than January thirtieth, annually, a report covering the 33
	59	+	preceding months of the program year, including: 34
	60	+	(A) In each community action agency geographic area, [and 35
	61	+	Department of Social Services region,] the number of fuel assistance 36
	62	+	applications filed, approved and denied, and the number of emergency 37
	63	+	assistance requests made, approved and denied; [and the number of 38
	64	+	households provided weatherization assistance;] 39
	65	+	(B) In each such area, [and district,] the total amount of fuel [,] and 40
	66	+	emergency [and weatherization] assistance, itemized by such type of 41
	67	+	assistance, and total expenditures to date; 42
	68	+	(C) For each state-wide office of each state agency administering the 43
	69	+	program [,] and each community action agency, [and each Department 44 Substitute Bill No. 955
63	70
64		-	(C) For each state-wide office of each state agency administering the
65		-	program [,] and each community action agency, [and each Department
66		-	of Social Services region,] administrative expenses under the program,
67		-	by line item, and an estimate of outreach expenditures; and
68		-	(D) A list of community action agencies that failed to make timely
69		-	payments to vendors of deliverable fuel in the Connecticut energy
70		-	assistance program and the steps taken by the commissioner to ensure
71		-	future timely payments by such agencies; and
72		-	(3) Not later than November first, annually, a report covering the
73		-	preceding twelve calendar months, including:
74		-	(A) In each community action agency geographic area, [and
75		-	Department of Social Services region,] (i) seasonal totals for the
76		-	categories of data submitted under subdivision (1) of this subsection, (ii)
77		-	the number of households receiving fuel assistance in which elderly or
78		-	physically disabled individuals reside, and (iii) the average combined
79		-	benefit level of fuel, emergency and renter assistance;
80		-	[(B) Types of weatherization assistance provided;
81		-	(C) Percentage of weatherization assistance provided to tenants;]
82		-	[(D)] (B) The number of homeowners and tenants whose heat or total
83		-	energy costs are not included in their rent receiving fuel and emergency
84		-	assistance under the program by benefit level;
85		-	[(E)] (C) The number of homeowners and tenants whose heat is
86		-	included in their rent and who are receiving assistance, by benefit level;
87		-	and
88		-	[(F)] (D) The number of households receiving assistance, by energy
89		-	type and total expenditures for each energy type.
90		-	Sec. 2. Subsection (d) of section 17b-8 of the general statutes is Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
91	71
92		-	Public Act No. 21-148 4 of 11
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93	75
94		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
95		-	2021):
96		-	(d) The commissioner shall include with any waiver application or
97		-	proposed amendment submitted to the federal government pursuant to
98		-	this section: (1) Any written comments received pursuant to subsection
99		-	(c) of this section; and (2) [a complete transcript of the joint standing
100		-	committee proceedings held pursuant to subsection (a) of this section,
101		-	including] any additional written comments submitted to the joint
102		-	standing committees at such proceedings. The joint standing
103		-	committees shall transmit any such materials to the commissioner for
104		-	inclusion with any such waiver application or proposed amendment.
105		-	Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 17b-59a of the general statutes is
106		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
107		-	2021):
108		-	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the
109		-	executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, established under
110		-	section 19a-754a, shall (1) develop, throughout the Departments of
111		-	Developmental Services, Public Health, Correction, Children and
112		-	Families, Veterans Affairs and Mental Health and Addiction Services,
113		-	uniform management information, uniform statistical information,
114		-	uniform terminology for similar facilities, and uniform electronic health
115		-	information technology standards, [and uniform regulations for the
116		-	licensing of human services facilities,] (2) plan for increased
117		-	participation of the private sector in the delivery of human services, (3)
118		-	provide direction and coordination to federally funded programs in the
119		-	human services agencies and recommend uniform system
120		-	improvements and reallocation of physical resources and designation of
121		-	a single responsibility across human services agencies lines to facilitate
122		-	shared services and eliminate duplication.
123		-	Sec. 4. Section 17b-306a of the general statutes is repealed and the Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
	76	+	of Social Services region,] administrative expenses under the program, 45
	77	+	by line item, and an estimate of outreach expenditures; and 46
	78	+	(D) A list of community action agencies that failed to make timely 47
	79	+	payments to vendors of deliverable fuel in the Connecticut energy 48
	80	+	assistance program and the steps taken by the commissioner to ensure 49
	81	+	future timely payments by such agencies; and 50
	82	+	(3) Not later than November first, annually, a report covering the 51
	83	+	preceding twelve calendar months, including: 52
	84	+	(A) In each community action agency geographic area, [and 53
	85	+	Department of Social Services region,] (i) seasonal totals for the 54
	86	+	categories of data submitted under subdivision (1) of this subsection, (ii) 55
	87	+	the number of households receiving fuel assistance in which elderly or 56
	88	+	physically disabled individuals reside, and (iii) the average combined 57
	89	+	benefit level of fuel, emergency and renter assistance; 58
	90	+	[(B) Types of weatherization assistance provided; 59
	91	+	(C) Percentage of weatherization assistance provided to tenants;] 60
	92	+	[(D)] (B) The number of homeowners and tenants whose heat or total 61
	93	+	energy costs are not included in their rent receiving fuel and emergency 62
	94	+	assistance under the program by benefit level; 63
	95	+	[(E)] (C) The number of homeowners and tenants whose heat is 64
	96	+	included in their rent and who are receiving assistance, by benefit level; 65
	97	+	and 66
	98	+	[(F)] (D) The number of households receiving assistance, by energy 67
	99	+	type and total expenditures for each energy type. 68
	100	+	Sec. 2. Subsection (d) of section 17b-8 of the general statutes is 69
	101	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 70
	102	+	2021): 71
	103	+	(d) The commissioner shall include with any waiver application or 72 Substitute Bill No. 955
124	104
125		-	Public Act No. 21-148 5 of 11
126	105
127		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
128		-	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services, in collaboration with the
129		-	Commissioners of Public Health and Children and Families, shall
130		-	establish a child health quality improvement program for the purpose
131		-	of promoting the implementation of evidence-based strategies by
132		-	providers participating in the HUSKY Health program to improve the
133		-	delivery of and access to children's health services. Such strategies shall
134		-	focus on physical, dental and mental health services and shall include,
135		-	but need not be limited to: (1) Methods for early identification of
136		-	children with special health care needs; (2) integration of care
137		-	coordination and care planning into children's health services; (3)
138		-	implementation of standardized data collection to measure
139		-	performance improvement; and (4) implementation of family-centered
140		-	services in patient care, including, but not limited to, the development
141		-	of parent-provider partnerships. The Commissioner of Social Services
142		-	shall seek the participation of public and private entities that are
143		-	dedicated to improving the delivery of health services, including
144		-	medical, dental and mental health providers, academic professionals
145		-	with experience in health services research and performance
146		-	measurement and improvement, and any other entity deemed
147		-	appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Services, to promote such
148		-	strategies. The commissioner shall ensure that such strategies reflect
149		-	new developments and best practices in the field of children's health
150		-	services. As used in this section, "evidence-based strategies" means
151		-	policies, procedures and tools that are informed by research and
152		-	supported by empirical evidence, including, but not limited to, research
153		-	developed by organizations such as the American Academy of
154		-	Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National
155		-	Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the Institute of
156		-	Medicine.
157		-	(b) Not later than July 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, the Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
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159		-	Public Act No. 21-148 6 of 11
	110	+	proposed amendment submitted to the federal government pursuant to 73
	111	+	this section: (1) Any written comments received pursuant to subsection 74
	112	+	(c) of this section; and (2) [a complete transcript of the joint standing 75
	113	+	committee proceedings held pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, 76
	114	+	including] any additional written comments submitted to the joint 77
	115	+	standing committees at such proceedings. The joint standing 78
	116	+	committees shall transmit any such materials to the commissioner for 79
	117	+	inclusion with any such waiver application or proposed amendment. 80
	118	+	Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 17b-59a of the general statutes is 81
	119	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 82
	120	+	2021): 83
	121	+	(b) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the 84
	122	+	executive director of the Office of Health Strategy, established under 85
	123	+	section 19a-754a, shall (1) develop, throughout the Departments of 86
	124	+	Developmental Services, Public Health, Correction, Children and 87
	125	+	Families, Veterans Affairs and Mental Health and Addiction Services, 88
	126	+	uniform management information, uniform statistical information, 89
	127	+	uniform terminology for similar facilities, and uniform electronic health 90
	128	+	information technology standards, [and uniform regulations for the 91
	129	+	licensing of human services facilities,] (2) plan for increased 92
	130	+	participation of the private sector in the delivery of human services, (3) 93
	131	+	provide direction and coordination to federally funded programs in the 94
	132	+	human services agencies and recommend uniform system 95
	133	+	improvements and reallocation of physical resources and designation of 96
	134	+	a single responsibility across human services agencies lines to facilitate 97
	135	+	shared services and eliminate duplication. 98
	136	+	Sec. 4. Section 17b-306a of the general statutes is repealed and the 99
	137	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 100
	138	+	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services, in collaboration with the 101
	139	+	Commissioners of Public Health and Children and Families, shall 102
	140	+	establish a child health quality improvement program for the purpose 103
	141	+	of promoting the implementation of evidence-based strategies by 104 Substitute Bill No. 955
160	142
161		-	Commissioner of Social Services shall report, in accordance with section
162		-	11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having
163		-	cognizance of matters relating to human services, public health and
164		-	appropriations, and to the Council on Medical Assistance Program
165		-	Oversight on (1) the implementation of any strategies developed
166		-	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (2) the efficacy of such
167		-	strategies in improving the delivery of and access to health services for
168		-	children enrolled in the HUSKY Health program.
169		-	[(c) The Commissioner of Social Services, in collaboration with the
170		-	Council on Medical Assistance Program Oversight, shall, subject to
171		-	available appropriations, prepare, annually, a report concerning health
172		-	care choices under HUSKY A. Such report shall include, but not be
173		-	limited to, a comparison of the performance of each managed care
174		-	organization, the primary care case management program and other
175		-	member service delivery choices. The commissioner shall provide a
176		-	copy of each report to all HUSKY A members.]
177		-	Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 17b-349 of the general statutes is
178		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
179		-	2021):
180		-	(a) The rates paid by the state to community health centers [and
181		-	freestanding medical clinics] participating in the Medicaid program
182		-	may be adjusted annually on the basis of the cost reports submitted to
183		-	the Commissioner of Social Services. [, except that rates effective July 1,
184		-	1989, shall remain in effect through June 30, 1990.] The Department of
185		-	Social Services may develop an alternative payment methodology to
186		-	replace the encounter-based reimbursement system. Such methodology
187		-	shall be approved by the joint standing committees of the General
188		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and
189		-	appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Until such
190		-	methodology is implemented, the Department of Social Services shall
191		-	distribute supplemental funding, within available appropriations, to Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
192	143
193		-	Public Act No. 21-148 7 of 11
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195		-	federally qualified health centers based on cost, volume and quality
196		-	measures as determined by the Commissioner of Social Services. (1)
197		-	Beginning with the one-year rate period commencing on October 1,
198		-	2012, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Social Services may
199		-	add to a community health center's rates, if applicable, a capital cost rate
200		-	adjustment that is equivalent to the center's actual or projected year-to-
201		-	year increase in total allowable depreciation and interest expenses
202		-	associated with major capital projects divided by the projected service
203		-	visit volume. For the purposes of this subsection, "capital costs" means
204		-	expenditures for land or building purchases, fixed assets, movable
205		-	equipment, capitalized financing fees and capitalized construction
206		-	period interest and "major capital projects" means projects with costs
207		-	exceeding two million dollars. The commissioner may revise such
208		-	capital cost rate adjustment retroactively based on actual allowable
209		-	depreciation and interest expenses or actual service visit volume for the
210		-	rate period. (2) The commissioner shall establish separate capital cost
211		-	rate adjustments for each Medicaid service provided by a center. (3) The
212		-	commissioner shall not grant a capital cost rate adjustment to a
213		-	community health center for any depreciation or interest expenses
214		-	associated with capital costs that were disapproved by the federal
215		-	Department of Health and Human Services or another federal or state
216		-	government agency with capital expenditure approval authority related
217		-	to health care services. (4) The commissioner may allow actual debt
218		-	service in lieu of allowable depreciation and interest expenses
219		-	associated with capital items funded with a debt obligation, provided
220		-	debt service amounts are deemed reasonable in consideration of the
221		-	interest rate and other loan terms. (5) The commissioner shall
222		-	implement policies and procedures necessary to carry out the
223		-	provisions of this subsection while in the process of adopting such
224		-	policies and procedures in regulation form, provided notice of intent to
225		-	adopt such regulations is [published in the Connecticut Law Journal not
226		-	later than twenty days after implementation] posted on the
227		-	eRegulations System prior to adopting the policies and procedures. Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
	148	+	providers participating in the HUSKY Health program to improve the 105
	149	+	delivery of and access to children's health services. Such strategies shall 106
	150	+	focus on physical, dental and mental health services and shall include, 107
	151	+	but need not be limited to: (1) Methods for early identification of 108
	152	+	children with special health care needs; (2) integration of care 109
	153	+	coordination and care planning into children's health services; (3) 110
	154	+	implementation of standardized data collection to measure 111
	155	+	performance improvement; and (4) implementation of family-centered 112
	156	+	services in patient care, including, but not limited to, the development 113
	157	+	of parent-provider partnerships. The Commissioner of Social Services 114
	158	+	shall seek the participation of public and private entities that are 115
	159	+	dedicated to improving the delivery of health services, including 116
	160	+	medical, dental and mental health providers, academic professionals 117
	161	+	with experience in health services research and performance 118
	162	+	measurement and improvement, and any other entity deemed 119
	163	+	appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Services, to promote such 120
	164	+	strategies. The commissioner shall ensure that such strategies reflect 121
	165	+	new developments and best practices in the field of children's health 122
	166	+	services. As used in this section, "evidence-based strategies" means 123
	167	+	policies, procedures and tools that are informed by research and 124
	168	+	supported by empirical evidence, including, but not limited to, research 125
	169	+	developed by organizations such as the American Academy of 126
	170	+	Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the National 127
	171	+	Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the Institute of 128
	172	+	Medicine. 129
	173	+	(b) Not later than July 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, the 130
	174	+	Commissioner of Social Services shall report, in accordance with section 131
	175	+	11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having 132
	176	+	cognizance of matters relating to human services, public health and 133
	177	+	appropriations, and to the Council on Medical Assistance Program 134
	178	+	Oversight on (1) the implementation of any strategies developed 135
	179	+	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and (2) the efficacy of such 136
	180	+	strategies in improving the delivery of and access to health services for 137
	181	+	children enrolled in the HUSKY Health program. 138 Substitute Bill No. 955
228	182
229		-	Public Act No. 21-148 8 of 11
230	183
231		-	Such policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final
232		-	regulations are effective.
233		-	Sec. 6. Subsection (n) of section 38a-479aa of the general statutes is
234		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
235		-	2021):
236		-	(n) The requirements of subsections (h) and (i) of this section shall not
237		-	apply to a consortium of federally qualified health centers funded by
238		-	the state, providing services only to recipients of programs
239		-	administered by the Department of Social Services. [The Commissioner
240		-	of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54,
241		-	to establish criteria to certify any such federally qualified health center,
242		-	including, but not limited to, minimum reserve fund requirements.]
243		-	Sec. 7. Section 17b-608 of the general statutes is repealed and the
244		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021):
245		-	For the purposes of [sections 17b-609 and 17b-610] section 17b-609,
246		-	"persons with disabilities" means persons having disabilities which (1)
247		-	are attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of
248		-	mental and physical impairments; (2) are likely to continue indefinitely;
249		-	(3) result in functional limitations in one or more of the following areas
250		-	of major life activity: Self care, receptive and expressive language,
251		-	learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living or
252		-	economic self-sufficiency; and (4) reflect the person's need for a
253		-	combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic care,
254		-	treatment or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration
255		-	and individually planned and coordinated.
256		-	Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 17b-617 of the general statutes is
257		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from
258		-	passage):
259		-	(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
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261		-	Public Act No. 21-148 9 of 11
	188	+	[(c) The Commissioner of Social Services, in collaboration with the 139
	189	+	Council on Medical Assistance Program Oversight, shall, subject to 140
	190	+	available appropriations, prepare, annually, a report concerning health 141
	191	+	care choices under HUSKY A. Such report shall include, but not be 142
	192	+	limited to, a comparison of the performance of each managed care 143
	193	+	organization, the primary care case management program and other 144
	194	+	member service delivery choices. The commissioner shall provide a 145
	195	+	copy of each report to all HUSKY A members.] 146
	196	+	Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 17b-349 of the general statutes is 147
	197	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 148
	198	+	2021): 149
	199	+	(a) The rates paid by the state to community health centers [and 150
	200	+	freestanding medical clinics] participating in the Medicaid program 151
	201	+	may be adjusted annually on the basis of the cost reports submitted to 152
	202	+	the Commissioner of Social Services. [, except that rates effective July 1, 153
	203	+	1989, shall remain in effect through June 30, 1990.] The Department of 154
	204	+	Social Services may develop an alternative payment methodology to 155
	205	+	replace the encounter-based reimbursement system. Such methodology 156
	206	+	shall be approved by the joint standing committees of the General 157
	207	+	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and 158
	208	+	appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Until such 159
	209	+	methodology is implemented, the Department of Social Services shall 160
	210	+	distribute supplemental funding, within available appropriations, to 161
	211	+	federally qualified health centers based on cost, volume and quality 162
	212	+	measures as determined by the Commissioner of Social Services. (1) 163
	213	+	Beginning with the one-year rate period commencing on October 1, 164
	214	+	2012, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Social Services may 165
	215	+	add to a community health center's rates, if applicable, a capital cost rate 166
	216	+	adjustment that is equivalent to the center's actual or projected year-to-167
	217	+	year increase in total allowable depreciation and interest expenses 168
	218	+	associated with major capital projects divided by the projected service 169
	219	+	visit volume. For the purposes of this subsection, "capital costs" means 170
	220	+	expenditures for land or building purchases, fixed assets, movable 171 Substitute Bill No. 955
262	221
263		-	appropriations, establish and operate a state-funded pilot program to
264		-	allow not more than one hundred persons with disabilities (1) who are
265		-	age eighteen to sixty-four, inclusive, (2) who are inappropriately
266		-	institutionalized or at risk of inappropriate institutionalization, [and] (3)
267		-	whose assets do not exceed the asset limits of the state-funded home
268		-	care program for the elderly, established pursuant to subsection (i) of
269		-	section 17b-342, and (4) who are not eligible for medical assistance
270		-	under section 17b-261 or a Medicaid waiver pursuant to 42 USC 1396n,
271		-	to be eligible to receive the same services that are provided under the
272		-	state-funded home care program for the elderly. At the discretion of the
273		-	Commissioner of Social Services, such persons may also be eligible to
274		-	receive services that are necessary to meet needs attributable to
275		-	disabilities in order to allow such persons to avoid institutionalization.
276		-	Sec. 9. Subsection (c) of section 17b-59g of the general statutes is
277		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from
278		-	passage):
279		-	(c) Any entity established or incorporated pursuant to subsection (b)
280		-	of this section shall have its powers vested in and exercised by a board
281		-	of directors. The board of directors shall be comprised of the following
282		-	members who shall each serve for a term of two years:
283		-	(1) One member who shall have expertise as an advocate for
284		-	consumers of health care, appointed by the Governor;
285		-	(2) One member who shall have expertise as a clinical medical doctor,
286		-	appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate;
287		-	(3) One member who shall have expertise in the area of hospital
288		-	administration, appointed by the speaker of the House of
289		-	Representatives;
290		-	(4) One member who shall have expertise in the area of corporate law
291		-	or finance, appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
292	222
293		-	Public Act No. 21-148 10 of 11
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295		-	(5) One member who shall have expertise in group health insurance
296		-	coverage, appointed by the minority leader of the House of
297		-	Representatives;
298		-	(6) The Chief Information Officer and the Secretary of the Office of
299		-	Policy and Management, or their designees, who shall serve as ex-
300		-	officio, voting members of the board; [and]
301		-	(7) The health information technology officer, designated in
302		-	accordance with section 19a-754a, who shall serve as chairperson of the
303		-	board; [.] and
304		-	(8) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's
305		-	designee, who shall serve as an ex-officio, voting member of the board.
306		-	Sec. 10. Subsection (l) of section 17b-179 of the general statutes is
307		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
308		-	2021):
309		-	(l) The Office of Child Support Services shall arrange to provide a
310		-	single centralized automated system for the reporting of collections on
311		-	all accounts established for the collection of all IV-D support orders.
312		-	Such reporting shall be made available to the Family Support Magistrate
313		-	Division and to all state agencies which have a cooperative agreement
314		-	with the IV-D agency. Such automated system shall include a state case
315		-	registry which complies with federal law and regulations. The state case
316		-	registry shall contain information on each support order established or
317		-	modified in this state. [The Office of Child Support Services, utilizing
318		-	information contained in the state case registry, shall establish, maintain
319		-	and periodically update a list of all delinquent child support obligors.
320		-	The list shall, at a minimum, contain the name, residential address and
321		-	amount of the delinquent child support owed by a child support
322		-	obligor, exclusive of any amount of child support owed for which an
323		-	appeal is pending. The Office of Child Support Services shall publish on Substitute Senate Bill No. 955
	227	+	equipment, capitalized financing fees and capitalized construction 172
	228	+	period interest and "major capital projects" means projects with costs 173
	229	+	exceeding two million dollars. The commissioner may revise such 174
	230	+	capital cost rate adjustment retroactively based on actual allowable 175
	231	+	depreciation and interest expenses or actual service visit volume for the 176
	232	+	rate period. (2) The commissioner shall establish separate capital cost 177
	233	+	rate adjustments for each Medicaid service provided by a center. (3) The 178
	234	+	commissioner shall not grant a capital cost rate adjustment to a 179
	235	+	community health center for any depreciation or interest expenses 180
	236	+	associated with capital costs that were disapproved by the federal 181
	237	+	Department of Health and Human Services or another federal or state 182
	238	+	government agency with capital expenditure approval authority related 183
	239	+	to health care services. (4) The commissioner may allow actual debt 184
	240	+	service in lieu of allowable depreciation and interest expenses 185
	241	+	associated with capital items funded with a debt obligation, provided 186
	242	+	debt service amounts are deemed reasonable in consideration of the 187
	243	+	interest rate and other loan terms. (5) The commissioner shall 188
	244	+	implement policies and procedures necessary to carry out the 189
	245	+	provisions of this subsection while in the process of adopting such 190
	246	+	policies and procedures in regulation form, provided notice of intent to 191
	247	+	adopt such regulations is [published in the Connecticut Law Journal not 192
	248	+	later than twenty days after implementation] posted on the 193
	249	+	eRegulations System prior to adopting the policies and procedures. 194
	250	+	Such policies and procedures shall be valid until the time final 195
	251	+	regulations are effective. 196
	252	+	Sec. 6. Subsection (n) of section 38a-479aa of the general statutes is 197
	253	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 198
	254	+	2021): 199
	255	+	(n) The requirements of subsections (h) and (i) of this section shall not 200
	256	+	apply to a consortium of federally qualified health centers funded by 201
	257	+	the state, providing services only to recipients of programs 202
	258	+	administered by the Department of Social Services. [The Commissioner 203
	259	+	of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, 204 Substitute Bill No. 955
324	260
325		-	Public Act No. 21-148 11 of 11
326	261
327		-	the Department of Social Services' Internet web site, the names,
328		-	residential addresses and amounts of delinquent child support owed by
329		-	the one hundred individuals having the highest delinquent child
330		-	support obligations. For purposes of this subsection, "delinquent child
331		-	support obligor" means an obligor who (1) owes overdue child support,
332		-	accruing after the entry of a court order, in an amount which exceeds
333		-	ninety days of periodic payments on a current child support or
334		-	arrearage payment order, or (2) has failed to make court ordered
335		-	medical or dental insurance coverage available within ninety days of the
336		-	issuance of a court order or fails to maintain such coverage pursuant to
337		-	a court order for a period of ninety days.]
338		-	Sec. 11. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Social Services,
339		-	in collaboration with the Commissioners of Mental Health and
340		-	Addiction Services and Housing, shall study whether state-contracted
341		-	providers of human services receive disparate payment rates under
342		-	programs the commissioners administer in different regions of the state.
343		-	The commissioners shall report, in accordance with the provisions of
344		-	section 11-4a of the general statutes, on their rate study and any
345		-	resulting recommendations for rate adjustments not later than
346		-	November 1, 2021, to the joint standing committees of the General
347		-	Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and
348		-	the budgets of state agencies, housing, human services and public
349		-	health. For purposes of this section, "human services" includes, but is
350		-	not limited to: (1) Physical and behavioral health services, and (2)
351		-	housing and shelter services provided to homeless persons.
352		-	Sec. 12. Sections 17b-184, 17b-274a and 17b-610 of the general statutes
353		-	are repealed. (Effective July 1, 2021)
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	266	+	to establish criteria to certify any such federally qualified health center, 205
	267	+	including, but not limited to, minimum reserve fund requirements.] 206
	268	+	Sec. 7. Section 17b-608 of the general statutes is repealed and the 207
	269	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 208
	270	+	For the purposes of [sections 17b-609 and 17b-610] section 17b-609, 209
	271	+	"persons with disabilities" means persons having disabilities which (1) 210
	272	+	are attributable to a mental or physical impairment or a combination of 211
	273	+	mental and physical impairments; (2) are likely to continue indefinitely; 212
	274	+	(3) result in functional limitations in one or more of the following areas 213
	275	+	of major life activity: Self care, receptive and expressive language, 214
	276	+	learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living or 215
	277	+	economic self-sufficiency; and (4) reflect the person's need for a 216
	278	+	combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary or generic care, 217
	279	+	treatment or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration 218
	280	+	and individually planned and coordinated. 219
	281	+	Sec. 8. Sections 17b-184, 17b-274a and 17b-610 of the general statutes 220
	282	+	are repealed. (Effective July 1, 2021) 221
	283	+	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
	284	+	sections:
	285	+
	286	+	Section 1 July 1, 2021 16a-41a(a)
	287	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2021 17b-8(d)
	288	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2021 17b-59a(b)
	289	+	Sec. 4 July 1, 2021 17b-306a
	290	+	Sec. 5 July 1, 2021 17b-349(a)
	291	+	Sec. 6 July 1, 2021 38a-479aa(n)
	292	+	Sec. 7 July 1, 2021 17b-608
	293	+	Sec. 8 July 1, 2021 Repealer section
	294	+
	295	+	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
	296	+	The title of the bill was changed.
	297	+
	298	+	HS Joint Favorable Subst.
354	299