Texas Senate Bill SB1819

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to the provision of a nursing facility quality-based payment incentives program and a program to increase direct care staff and wages under Medicaid.

Impact

The implications of SB 1819 are significant, as it seeks to provide a voluntary participation program for nursing facilities that wish to engage in the quality-based payment incentives. This structure not only allows facilities to receive increased funding based on established performance indices, such as quality of care and customer satisfaction, but also enforces that those facilities opting not to participate are not penalized with minimum funding requirements. Consequently, this may lead to a rise in the standard of care across facilities that choose to adopt these incentives.

Summary

Senate Bill 1819 introduces a program aimed at enhancing the quality of service in nursing facilities through a quality-based payment incentive structure. This legislation is intended to increase both the staff's numbers and their wages, ultimately aiming to improve the care provided in these facilities under Medicaid funding. Section 1 of the bill outlines the necessary amendments to the Human Resources Code, specifically focusing on ensuring that funding for these initiatives is properly allocated while maintaining the integrity of the base rate reimbursements.

Contention

Despite the potential benefits, there could be notable contention surrounding the implementation of this bill. Critics may express concern regarding the funding process and the dependency on appropriations to incentivize higher wages and better staffing. Additionally, any requirements for federal waivers or authorizations before full implementation could delay the program's benefits to nursing facilities. Stakeholders could debate the efficacy of these measures, considering existing challenges within the Medicaid framework in addressing care quality sufficiently.