BILL REQ. #:  S-1323.1 

Read first time 02/08/2005.   Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

     AN ACT Relating to the nursing facility medicaid program trust account; adding a new section to chapter 74.46 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 82.71 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 74.46 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The nursing facility medicaid program trust account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All funds collected from the tax in RCW 82.71.020 shall be deposited into this account. Only the director or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. Expenditures from this account shall be used exclusively to increase medicaid reimbursement rates to the nursing care facilities paid as of December 31, 2004.
     (2) Funds may not be used to replace existing state expenditures paid to nursing care facilities for providing services pursuant to the medicaid program.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 82.71 RCW to read as follows:
     The fee collected under RCW 82.71.020 shall be deposited in the nursing facility medicaid program trust account created in section 1 of this act.