Introduced By: Senators Roberts, Gibbs, Izzo and Lenihan
Date Introduced : February 8, 1999
WHEREAS, Rhode Island currently provides nursing home care to approximately 7500 persons annually through the state's Medical Assistance program; and
WHEREAS, Current principles of reimbursement under Medical Assistance do not directly reflect individual resident acuity needs or level of care; and
WHEREAS, Approximately half the states have adopted nursing home reimbursement systems that are adjusted to reflect individual resident needs, a so-called acuity-based or case mix system; and
WHEREAS, The federal Medicare program has initiated a prospective payment system for skilled nursing home care that incorporates an adjustment based on acuity; and
WHEREAS, Reports are that the acuity level of persons cared for by nursing homes has dramatically increased over the last several years; and
WHEREAS, Providing higher payments for individuals with higher care needs will provide an incentive for nursing homes to serve these high care residents and help ensure that resources are adequate to meet their needs and provide high quality care; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Rhode Island Department of Human Services develop a proposal for revising the principles of reimbursement for nursing homes under the Medical Assistance Program to incorporate an acuity adjustment; and be it further
RESOLVED, That in developing said case mix adjustment, the Department of Human Services shall seek input from the state's nursing homes providers and consumers and conduct a public hearing. The Department of Human Services shall report on its findings and recommendations for an acuity adjustment for nursing home payments to the Speaker of the House, the Majority Leader of the Senate and the Chairman of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council on or before June 30, 2000; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Human Services.
