Senators gave second-round approval April 30 to a bill intended to improve utilization of a reimbursement fund for intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities, known as ICF\/MR.<\/p>\n
LB23, introduced by Kearney Sen. Galen Hadley, would change allocations of the state\u2019s ICF\/MR Reimbursement Protection Fund.<\/p>\n
The bill would require the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), beginning July 1, 2014, to use the ICF\/MR Reimbursement Protection Fund \u2013 including the matching federal participation funds \u2013 to enhance rates paid under Medicaid to ICF\/MR and for annual contributions to community-based programs for persons with developmental disabilities.<\/p>\n
Beginning July 1, 2014, the bill allows for the tax to end if federal participation funds become unavailable or if money in the ICF\/MR Reimbursement Protection Fund is appropriated, transferred or otherwise expended for any use other than permitted by law.<\/p>\n
The bill also incorporates LB343, originally introduced by Lincoln Sen. Colby Coash, which would replace the term \u201cmental retardation\u201d in state law with the term \u201cintellectual disability.\u201d<\/p>\n
As amended on general file, the bill would require, beginning in fiscal year 2014-15, that funds be remitted from the ICF\/MR Reimbursement Protection Fund as follows:
\n\u2022 the first $55,000 for administration of the fund;
\n\u2022 the amount needed to reimburse the cost of the tax to ICF\/MR;
\n\u2022 $312,000 for community-based services for persons with developmental disabilities; and
\n\u2022 the remaining proceeds of the tax amount available in the fund to enhance rates in non-state-operated ICF\/MR by increasing the annual inflation factor to the extent allowed by such proceeds and any funds appropriated by the Legislature.<\/p>\n
Hadley offered an amendment on select file to specify that $1 million would be remitted to the state\u2019s General Fund prior to distribution of the remaining proceeds to enhance rates to ICF\/MR not operated by the state.<\/p>\n
The amendment also would require DHHS to provide an annual report to the Legislature regarding the amounts collected from each tax and the amount of each disbursement from the fund.<\/p>\n
Following adoption of the Hadley amendment on a 33-0 vote, senators advanced the bill to final reading by voice vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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