SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5214
AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE,
FEBRUARY 7, 1991
Brief Description: Revising provisions for nursing facilities.
SPONSORS:Senators West and L. Kreidler; by request of Dept. of Social & Health Services.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG‑TERM CARE
Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.
Signed by Senators West, Chairman; L. Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Niemi, and Wojahn.
Staff: Don Sloma (786‑7414)
Hearing Dates:February 6, 1991; February 7, 1991
BACKGROUND:
IN 1987 Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA). The act eliminated the Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) designation in the Medicaid program. As a result, all nursing homes must meet skilled Nursing Facility (NF) requirements to receive Medicaid funding. Until the change some NFs were classed as ICFs. The change will require ICFs to include 24-hour per day Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) coverage with at least two 16-hour shifts of Registered Nurse (RN) coverage. Currently ICFs must have one shift of LPN coverage.
In addition, OBRA changed federal nursing home admission and utilization review requirements. Nursing homes must complete a standardized assessment called the Minimum Data Set (MDS). The MDS is completed for each resident upon admission and updated annually.
SUMMARY:
State statutory references to ICFs are eliminated placing all such facilities under state and federal skilled nursing facility requirements.
Current state statutes requiring 30 and 60 day nursing home placement reviews are deleted. DSHS is required to develop a comprehensive plan for nursing home utilization review.
Appropriation: none
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: available
TESTIMONY FOR:
This legislation is needed to conform state law to federal requirements.
TESTIMONY AGAINST: None
TESTIFIED: Cathy Wiggins, Department of Social and Health Services (pro)