Amend the bill by inserting after section 1 the following:
‘Sec. 2. 22 MRSA c. 106 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 106
PRIOR APPROVAL OF PROJECTS
As used in this chapter, "health care facility" or "facility" means a hospital, psychiatric hospital, nursing facility, intermediate care facility for persons with intellectual disabilities, end-stage renal disease facility, rehabilitation facility, residential care facility, ambulatory surgical facility, independent radiological service center, independent cardiac catheterization center or cancer treatment center.
A health care facility may not enter into any agreement for the financing of a project that requires funding from or will increase costs to the MaineCare program under chapter 855 without first obtaining prior approval from the department in conformance with this chapter.
Amend the bill by adding after section 18 the following:
‘Sec. 19. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF (FORMERLY DHS)
Nursing Facilities 0148
Initiative: Provides funding for additional costs to MaineCare as a result of new nursing facility projects.
| GENERAL FUND |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
|
All Other
|
$630,936 |
$1,293,163 |
|
 |
|
| GENERAL FUND TOTAL |
$630,936 |
$1,293,163 |
| FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
|
All Other
|
$1,020,946 |
$2,070,069 |
|
|
|
| FEDERAL EXPENDITURES FUND TOTAL |
$1,020,946 |
$2,070,069 |
’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. This amendment establishes a prior approval process for health care facility projects that will require funding from or will increase costs to the MaineCare program. "Health care facility" is defined as a hospital, psychiatric hospital, nursing facility, intermediate care facility for persons with intellectual disabilities, end-stage renal disease facility, rehabilitation facility, residential care facility, ambulatory surgical facility, independent radiological service center, independent cardiac catheterization center or cancer treatment center. The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to take into consideration the qualifications and experience of an applicant for prior approval, the economic feasibility of the proposed project, the public need for the project and compliance with standards for budget neutrality with respect to the MaineCare program. The prior approval process must include an opportunity for public comment and may include public information meetings, public hearings and notification, as specified by rule. Unused and reserved beds in a facility are exempt from the prior approval process. A fund is established to receive unused funding previously used for a facility bed funded under the MaineCare program and to assign that funding for use for new beds in underserved areas or for underserved populations. The department is authorized to adopt routine technical rules, except that rules regarding fees are major substantive rules.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)