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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2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