Veto Session Update
The Kansas legislature returned this week for “veto session” which is the time reserved at the end of session for any necessary veto overrides and budget clean-up items. Governor Kelly gave them more than enough to work with on the veto end. This week has been full of veto overrides attempts, both successful and not. Most importantly for us, legislators have used this time to negotiate even better budget support for long term care and Kansas health care providers in general.
Updated Funding Amounts for Aging Services
After further negotiation, the House and Senate agreed on a new Omnibus Budget bill, contained in CCR for SB 25. Updated funding for our programs is highlighted below. The legislature added another $18.7 million to accurately fund a nursing home rebase under 2022 cost reports.
- $34 M in State General Funds ($86 M All Funds) to fully fund a nursing facility cost rebase, with an inflation factor through 12/31/23. The full rebase amount is based on calendar year 2019, 2020 and 2021 cost data, however, the data for calendar year 2022 is an estimate.
- $2.5 million SGF to support PACE expansion into Johnson County in SFY 2024.
- $1.2 million for Medicaid coverage of dentures.
- $24.6 M in State General Funds ($61.6 M All Funds) to fund a Medicaid payment add-on to distribute per Medicaid resident based on the percentage of Medicaid residents as reported on a facility’s annual cost report.
- $13 million, including $5.2 million SGF, to provide a 10% reimbursement rate increase for providers of Home and Community Based Services Frail Elderly waiver services for FY 2024.
- $3 million, including $1.3 million SGF, to increase PACE reimbursement rates by 5% for FY 2024.
- $1.5 million SGF to increase funding for senior nutrition programs.
- Budget proviso language requesting an interim committee in FY 24 to take a holistic look at the nursing facility reimbursement rate system, including cost center caps and an acuity-based add-on.
Bills Signed by Governor
- HB 2292 Establishing tax credit and grant program to support health care apprenticeship programs.
- HB 2125 (Formerly HB 2408) Exempting certain services provided in an adult care home from board of cosmetology and barbering oversight.
Bills Still in Limbo
- SB 174 (formerly HB 2023) Creating the crime of interference with the conduct of a health care facility.
