HF 4109

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to human services; stating findings related 
  1.3             to the financial condition of nursing facilities; 
  1.4             requiring the commissioners of human services and 
  1.5             health and the legislature to consider the financial 
  1.6             crisis facing nursing facilities when developing and 
  1.7             acting on proposals related to long-term care services 
  1.8             and nursing facility reimbursement; amending Minnesota 
  1.9             Statutes 1998, section 256B.41, by adding a 
  1.10            subdivision. 
  1.11  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.12     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 256B.41, is 
  1.13  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.14     Subd. 4.  [POLICIES TO ADDRESS THE NURSING FACILITY 
  1.15  FINANCIAL CRISIS.] (a) The legislature finds that nursing 
  1.16  facility services are an integral part of the continuum of 
  1.17  long-term care services available to the frail and elderly 
  1.18  throughout the state.  The public policy of the state for the 
  1.19  provision of nursing facility services includes:  (1) 
  1.20  maintaining reasonable access to nursing facility services 
  1.21  throughout the state, (2) promoting the provision of quality 
  1.22  care through adequate reimbursement, and (3) establishing 
  1.23  programs that will result in capital improvements to existing 
  1.24  nursing facilities and the development of alternative service 
  1.25  choices for seniors.  The legislature further finds that an 
  1.26  estimated $100,000,000 per year in state funding is needed in 
  1.27  addition to the current level of funding to allow nursing 
  1.28  facilities to recruit and retain qualified staff, offset 
  2.1   financial losses, adjust for declining levels of occupancy, and 
  2.2   ensure the continued provision of quality care. 
  2.3      (b) The commissioners of human services and health shall 
  2.4   recognize and take steps to address the financial crisis facing 
  2.5   nursing facility providers when developing and proposing policy 
  2.6   and legislation related to long-term care services and nursing 
  2.7   facility rates.  The legislature, in reviewing and acting on 
  2.8   legislative proposals related to long-term care services and 
  2.9   nursing facility rates, shall consider the extent to which these 
  2.10  proposals address the financial crisis facing nursing facilities.