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2020 Special Session I

Budget Amendments - HB5005 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Sickles
Modify CARES Act Disbursement for Nursing Facilities (language only)

Item 313 #3h

Item 313 #3h

Health and Human Resources
Department of Medical Assistance Services

Language

Page 145, after line 26, insert:

"MMMMM. The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) shall modify the disbursement methodology for the State's allocation of federal CARES Act funding to nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. Specifically, DMAS shall (i) define eligible costs for reimbursement from this funding as COVID-related costs incurred since March 12, 2020, or as far back as the CARES Act allows, (ii) recognize the full Congressionally-approved uses of the CARES Act direct provider relief received by nursing facilities, including  lost revenue, as legitimate obligations of those funds for purposes of administering the state allocation, and (iii) recognize the “obligation” of CARES Act direct provider relief funding as opposed to requiring an actual expenditure of the funds for purposes of administering the state allocation."



Explanation

(This amendment directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to modify the disbursement rules for the $20 million in state-allocated CARES Act funding for assisted living facilities and approximately $33 million in state-allocated CARES Act funding for nursing facilities to remove significant impediments to providers’ access to these funds. By limiting incurred costs to July 1, 2020 forward, significant unreimbursed COVID-costs from the inception of the crises for both assisted living and nursing facilities are being unnecessarily excluded from potential reimbursement. By essentially prohibiting the legitimate use of Congressionally-approved CARES Act direct provider relief for lost revenue, the disbursement methodology is requiring significant non-reimbursable COVID-related costs be accrued prior to accessing this much needed funding. Finally, due to the lack of guidance related to the CARES Act direct aid, funding may already be obligated but not spent; this would recognize that status for any “netting” in the state-allocation disbursement. In all cases, providers must justify (account for) funds received against COVID-related costs, and cannot pay for the same costs twice, therefore, these changes will not cause impropriety in the disbursement of the state-allocation.)