Legislative Update: Hearing Held on HHA Licensing Survey Frequency, Caregiver Support Programs, and Katie Beckett Report
Hearings were held on several bills of interest to home care agencies on January 14. One of the Association’s priority bills, HB 1170 would allow licensed home health providers to skip an annual survey after two consecutive deficiency-free surveys when there has been no change in administrator. Sponsored by Reps. Millham and Harding at the Association’s request, the bill basically adds home health agencies to an existing provision available only to residential care facilities. At the hearing, the Association supported adding adult medical day care centers to the eligible facilities, and lowering the threshold to qualify for the skip-a-year provision. The bill was also supported by DHHS.
HB 1226, relative to caregiver support services for the elderly, received a more critical review by the committee. While both the committee and all those testifying endorsed support for caregivers, questions were raised about future cost implications. Caregiver services for seniors are currently supported by federal funds, but if those funds decline or disappear, would this bill require the state to fund the caregiver services? A subcommittee of HHSEA members will consider the bill further and make a recommendation to the full committee.
Finally, HB 1437, a bill calling for a report on the Katie Beckett program, was actually a plea for DHHS to apply for a Medicaid waiver to create another in-home support program for “medically fragile and chronically ill” children. One waiver program was instituted in the late 1990’s for children with developmental disabilities, allowing families to receive a budget and direct their child’s care, including using funds to pay family caregivers. Such a waiver would open this option to many children presently served through the Katie Beckett program.
Another priority bill, HB 1355, relative to certain Medicaid appropriations, will be heard on January 20; and HB 1228, relative to criminal record checks by health facilities, is scheduled for January 28.