Menu
2023 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1400 (Member Request)

View Budget Item
View Budget Item amendments

Chief Patron: Brewer
Reimbursement for Federally Qualified Health Centers

Item 304 #19h

Item 304 #19h

First Year - FY2023 Second Year - FY2024
Health and Human Resources
Department of Medical Assistance Services FY2023 $0 FY2024 $4,500,000 GF
FY2023 $0 FY2024 $4,500,000 NGF

Language
Page 355, line 40, strike "$22,919,178,986" and insert "$22,928,178,986".

Page 384, after line 31, insert:

"YYYY. Out of this appropriation, $4,500,000 from the general fund and $4,500,000 from nongeneral funds the second year shall be provided, effective July 1, 2023, for the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to compensate Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for underpayments for services rendered in fiscal years 2018 and 2019. DMAS, working with the Virginia Community Health Care Association and its member FQHCs, shall determine the verifiable amount of under reimbursement since 2001 and report the amount to the Governor, and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by August 1, 2023, for inclusion in the 2024-26 biennial budget. Furthermore, DMAS shall establish a change in scope process in order to comply with the Federal “change in scope” requirements by utilizing a three-year re-basing methodology."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $4,500,000 from the general fund and $4,500,000 from the nongeneral fund the second year shall be provided to compensate Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for underpayments for services rendered in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 and requires the Department of Medicaid Assistance Services (DMAS) to determine the verifiable amount of “under reimbursement” since 2001 and report to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by August 1, 2023. The amendment requires DMAS to negotiate a reasonable amount of reimbursement for previous “under reimbursements’ for inclusion in the Governor’s biennial budget for 2024-26, and to set up a change in scope process so that reimbursement rates are re-based every three years going forward. Federal law requires each State Health Plan to include a “Change in Scope” process as part of determining reimbursements to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for treatment of patients covered by Medicaid. Virginia has included the “Change in Scope” in its plans submitted to the federal government, but has never actually implemented a process for FQHCs to request changes. This has resulted in FQHCs receiving lower reimbursements each year than would have otherwise been the case, limiting their ability to provide services and cover costs.)