Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00957 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
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4	4	LCO No. 3655 1 of 3
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6	6	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 957
7	7	January Session, 2021
8	8	LCO No. 3655
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11	11	Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES
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14	14	Introduced by:
15	15	(HS)
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20	20	AN ACT EXPANDING ACC ESS TO IN-HOME COUNSELING.
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25	25	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
26	26	2021): 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 home health aide agencies by the 5
29	29	state or any town in the state for persons aided or cared for by the state 6
30	30	or any such town. [For the period from February 1, 1991, to January 31, 7
31	31	1992, inclusive, payment for each service to the state shall be based upon 8
32	32	the rate for such service as determined by the Office of Health Care 9
33	33	Access, except that for those providers whose Medicaid rates for the 10
34	34	year ending January 31, 1991, exceed the median rate, no increase shall 11
35	35	be allowed. For those providers whose rates for the year ending January 12
36	36	31, 1991, are below the median rate, increases shall not exceed the lower 13
37	37	of the prior rate increased by the most recent annual increase in the 14
38	38	consumer price index for urban consumers or the median rate. In no 15
39	39	case shall any such rate exceed the eightieth percentile of rates in effect 16 Raised Bill No. 957
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43	43	LCO No. 3655 2 of 3
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45	45	January 31, 1991, nor shall any rate exceed the charge to the general 17
46	46	public for similar services. Rates effective February 1, 1992, shall be 18
47	47	based upon rates as determined by the Office of Health Care Access, 19
48	48	except that increases shall not exceed the prior year's rate increased by 20
49	49	the most recent annual increase in the consumer price index for urban 21
50	50	consumers and rates effective February 1, 1992, shall remain in effect 22
51	51	through June 30, 1993. Rates effective July 1, 1993, shall be based upon 23
52	52	rates as determined by the Office of Health Care Access except if the 24
53	53	Medicaid rates for any service for the period ending June 30, 1993, 25
54	54	exceed the median rate for such service, the increase effective July 1, 26
55	55	1993, shall not exceed one per cent. If the Medicaid rate for any service 27
56	56	for the period ending June 30, 1993, is below the median rate, the 28
57	57	increase effective July 1, 1993, shall not exceed the lower of the prior rate 29
58	58	increased by one and one-half times the most recent annual increase in 30
59	59	the consumer price index for urban consumers or the median rate plus 31
60	60	one per cent.] The Commissioner of Social Services shall establish a fee 32
61	61	schedule for home health services to be effective on and after July 1, 33
62	62	1994. The commissioner may annually modify such fee schedule if such 34
63	63	modification is needed to ensure that the conversion to an 35
64	64	administrative services organization is cost neutral to home health care 36
65	65	agencies and home health aide agencies in the aggregate and ensures 37
66	66	patient access. Utilization may be a factor in determining cost neutrality. 38
67	67	The commissioner shall increase the fee schedule for home health 39
68	68	services provided under the Connecticut home-care program for the 40
69	69	elderly established under section 17b-342, effective July 1, 2000, by two 41
70	70	per cent over the fee schedule for home health services for the previous 42
71	71	year. The commissioner may increase any fee payable to a home health 43
72	72	care agency or home health aide agency upon the application of such an 44
73	73	agency evidencing extraordinary costs related to (1) serving persons 45
74	74	with AIDS; (2) high-risk maternal and child health care; (3) escort 46
75	75	services; or (4) extended hour services. In no case shall any rate or fee 47
76	76	exceed the charge to the general public for similar services. The 48
77	77	commissioner shall include in the fee schedule a rate to be paid for in-49
78	78	home behavioral health counseling, assessment and support services 50
79	79	provided by a social worker licensed pursuant to chapter 383b who is 51 Raised Bill No. 957
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83	83	LCO No. 3655 3 of 3
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85	85	employed by a home health care agency. A home health care agency or 52
86	86	home health aide agency which, due to any material change in 53
87	87	circumstances, is aggrieved by a rate determined pursuant to this 54
88	88	subsection may, within ten days of receipt of written notice of such rate 55
89	89	from the Commissioner of Social Services, request in writing a hearing 56
90	90	on all items of aggrievement. The commissioner shall, upon the receipt 57
91	91	of all documentation necessary to evaluate the request, determine 58
92	92	whether there has been such a change in circumstances and shall 59
93	93	conduct a hearing if appropriate. The Commissioner of Social Services 60
94	94	shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the 61
95	95	provisions of this subsection. The commissioner may implement 62
96	96	policies and procedures to carry out the provisions of this subsection 63
97	97	while in the process of adopting regulations, provided notice of intent 64
98	98	to adopt the regulations is [published in the Connecticut Law Journal] 65
99	99	posted on the eRegulations System not later than twenty days after the 66
100	100	date of implementing the policies and procedures. Such policies and 67
101	101	procedures shall be valid for not longer than nine months. 68
102	102	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
103	103	sections:
104	104
105	105	Section 1 July 1, 2021 17b-242(a)
106	106
107	107	Statement of Purpose:
108	108	To expand access to in-home behavioral health counseling provided by
109	109	social workers employed by home health care agencies by providing
110	110	Medicaid reimbursement for such counseling.
111	111	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
112	112	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
113	113	underlined.]
114	114