SF 2046

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/24/2012 09:24am

A bill for an act
relating to human services; providing a nursing facility rate increase for health
information technology costs; appropriating money; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2010, section 256B.441, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 256B.441, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 63. new text end

new text begin Rate increase for health information technology costs. new text end

new text begin (a) For rate
years beginning October 1, 2012, October 1, 2013, and October 1, 2014, $6,000,000 is
appropriated from the general fund in each year to the commissioner for nursing facilities
for the purpose of electronic health record adoption and use, and meeting the requirements
of sections 62J.495 and 62J.497. The commissioner shall use money appropriated for
this purpose to provide nursing facilities rate adjustments beginning October 1, 2012,
and ending September 30, 2015.
new text end

new text begin (b) Allowable expenditures for the rate increase include hardware, software, project
management, consultant fees, collaborative efforts, staff training and support, new staff,
and related building improvements.
new text end

new text begin (c) To receive an increase for one or more rate years, nursing facilities that have
spent money or anticipate the need to spend money on technology for (1) electronic
health record adoption and use, or (2) health information exchange may submit to the
commissioner by July 15 prior to the respective rate year, on a form provided by the
commissioner, the actual costs of a completed technology investment or the estimated
costs of a planned technology investment.
new text end

new text begin (d) The annual request made by a nursing facility may not exceed a facility cost of
$75,000, not to include costs reported as part of a moratorium exception project under
section 144A.073, a threshold project under section 256B.434, subdivision 4f, or an
incentive-based payment under section 256B.434, subdivision 4, paragraph (d).
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner shall calculate a rate adjustment equal to the allowable costs
of the project divided by the resident days reported in the most recent available statistical
and cost report.
new text end

new text begin (f) If the annual costs from all projects exceed the annual appropriation for this
purpose, the commissioner shall allocate the money appropriated on a pro rata basis
to the qualifying facilities by reducing the rate adjustment determined for each facility
by an equal percentage.
new text end

new text begin (g) Facilities that used estimated costs when requesting the rate adjustment shall
report to the commissioner within 90 days of completing a project, but no later than
February 1, 2016, on the use of this money on a form provided by the commissioner. If
the nursing facility fails to provide the report, the commissioner shall recoup the money
paid to the facility for this purpose. If the facility reports expenditures allowable under
this subdivision that are less than the amount received in the facility's annualized rate
adjustment, the commissioner shall recoup the difference.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ELDERLY WAIVER; HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin $1,000,000 is appropriated from the general fund in fiscal year 2013 to the
commissioner of health for the purpose of providing grants to organizations that are
providers in the elderly waiver program of customized living or 24-hour customized
living for the purpose of electronic health record adoption and use, and meeting the
requirements of Minnesota Statutes, sections 62J.495 and 62J.497. Organizations seeking
a grant award under this section shall request funding on the forms and according to the
timelines established by the commissioner of health. The commissioner of health shall
grant up to $50,000 per eligible responding organization. The grant award shall be based
on the amount requested times the percent of Medicaid revenue paid to the responding
organization in 2011.
new text end