The bill is designed to enhance the reimbursement process for nursing facilities, particularly focusing on direct-care costs for residents eligible for Medicaid. A notable provision is the proposed increase in daily rates by 20% for single occupancy rooms that include private bathrooms, which would directly affect the financial health of nursing facilities. Additionally, the bill mandates that a significant portion of any rate increase be allocated specifically to boost compensation for direct-care workers, ensuring that funds are used to improve staff wages and support the workforce in these facilities, which is crucial for patient care.
Summary
House Bill H7615 addresses the reform of payment rates to nursing facilities within the context of medical assistance in Rhode Island. The bill stipulates that the state must provide reasonable and adequate rates to nursing facilities that are licensed and certified to participate in Medicaid programs. It aims to replace the existing cost-based methodology for Medicaid payments with a new price-based methodology that factors in the acuity of patients and occupancy rates, thus reforming how these services are compensated by Medicaid. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services is tasked with implementing these changes.
Contention
There may be points of contention regarding how these reforms impact facility operations, particularly surrounding the implementation of the new price-based methodology. Critics may express concerns that while the intention is to improve care quality through better compensation for workers, in practice, these reforms could create budgetary pressures on smaller nursing facilities unable to adapt swiftly to the new reimbursement structure. Furthermore, accountability measures, such as audits and certifications for compliance with wage increases, could pose an administrative burden for facilities which could further complicate their operational capacities.
Amends Article 9 of the state budget and various provisions relative to hospital licensing fees, would redefine base year for purposes of calculating disproportionate share payments for fiscal years.