Signed by Governor Tom Corbett

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that amends the Public Welfare Code, including but not limited to further providing for medical assistance payments and funding for hospitals and nursing homes.

Highlights:

• Requires nonpublic nursing facilities to meet all of the following criteria in order to qualify for “medical assistance day one incentive” payments (Sec. 1):
• The nursing facility must have an overall occupancy rate of at least 85 percent;
• The nursing facility must have a medical assistance occupancy rate of at least 65 percent; and
• The nursing facility must be a nonpublic nursing facility for a full quarter prior to the applicable quarterly reporting due dates of October 31, January 31, April 30, and July 31.

• Requires the Department of Public Welfare to determine which nonpublic nursing facilities qualify for public medical assistance payments (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $8 million for the nonpublic nursing facility “medical assistance day one incentive” payments for fiscal year 2013-2014 (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that for fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, the amount used for the medical assistance payments for hospitals and medical facilities may not exceed the aggregate amount of the Quality Care Assessment Account funds collected for the year, less $150 million (Sec. 12.3).

• Requires the department to establish a task force of representatives from public and private youth social service agencies for the Office of Children, Youth and Families for the purpose of developing a methodology to determine reimbursement for the costs of purchased services from providers and other services (Sec. 4).

• Defines “provider” as an entity licensed or certified to provide 24 hour out-of-home community-based or institutional care and supervision of a child, with the care and supervision being paid for or provided by a county using federal or state funds (Sec. 4).

• Amends the Human Services Block Grant Pilot Program to give priority to counties that have a history of participation in the block grant over counties that have not previously applied for it (Sec. 22).

• Specifies that the selection department in the Human Services Block Grant Pilot Program must consider diversity in representation of counties, indicated by, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 22):
• The county’s geographic location;
• The county’s total population;
• The county’s forms of government;
• The county’s possible involvement in a local collaborative arrangement; and
• The county’s human services administrative structure.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and adopt additional amendments to a bill that amends the Public Welfare Code, including but not limited to further providing for medical assistance payments and funding for hospitals and nursing homes.

Highlights:

• Requires nonpublic nursing facilities to meet all of the following criteria in order to qualify for “medical assistance day one incentive” payments (Sec. 1):
• The nursing facility must have an overall occupancy rate of at least 85 percent;
• The nursing facility must have a medical assistance occupancy rate of at least 65 percent; and
• The nursing facility must be a nonpublic nursing facility for a full quarter prior to the applicable quarterly reporting due dates of October 31, January 31, April 30, and July 31.

• Requires the Department of Public Welfare to determine which nonpublic nursing facilities qualify for public medical assistance payments (Sec. 1).

• Appropriates $8 million for the nonpublic nursing facility “medical assistance day one incentive” payments for fiscal year 2013-2014 (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that for fiscal years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, the amount used for the medical assistance payments for hospitals and medical facilities may not exceed the aggregate amount of the Quality Care Assessment Account funds collected for the year, less $150 million (Sec. 12.3).

• Requires the department to establish a task force of representatives from public and private youth social service agencies for the Office of Children, Youth and Families for the purpose of developing a methodology to determine reimbursement for the costs of purchased services from providers and other services (Sec. 4).

• Defines “provider” as an entity licensed or certified to provide 24 hour out-of-home community-based or institutional care and supervision of a child, with the care and supervision being paid for or provided by a county using federal or state funds (Sec. 4).

• Amends the Human Services Block Grant Pilot Program to give priority to counties that have a history of participation in the block grant over counties that have not previously applied for it (Sec. 22).

• Specifies that the selection department in the Human Services Block Grant Pilot Program must consider diversity in representation of counties, indicated by, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 22):
• The county’s geographic location;
• The county’s total population;
• The county’s forms of government;
• The county’s possible involvement in a local collaborative arrangement; and
• The county’s human services administrative structure.

Full Bill Text