Bill Text: MN SF790 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Nursing facilities and elderly waiver rate increases
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-02-25 - Referred to Health, Human Services and Housing [SF790 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF790-Introduced.html
1.2relating to human services; providing nursing facility and elderly waiver rate
1.3increases;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.434, by adding a
1.4subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.434, is amended by adding a
1.7subdivision to read:
1.8 Subd. 19a. Nursing facility rate adjustments beginning October 1, 2013, and
1.9October 1, 2014. (a) For the rate years beginning October 1, 2013, and October 1, 2014,
1.10the commissioner shall make available to each nursing facility reimbursed under this
1.11section or any other section the following operating payment rate adjustments:
1.12(1) a two percent increase to address general cost increases and staffing needs:
1.13(i) a two percent increase on October 1, 2013, for each nursing facility that is
1.14a registered participant for the national program Advancing Excellence in America's
1.15Nursing Homes and sets two goals under that program's specified enrollment options; and
1.16(ii) nursing facilities are eligible for up to a two percent increase on October 1, 2014.
1.17Each facility shall report to the Department of Human Services in a manner prescribed
1.18by the commissioner on the progress toward the two goals set under item (i). A facility
1.19is eligible for a one percent rate increase for each goal that the facility has established a
1.20baseline, and demonstrated sustained improvement, up to a maximum two percent rate
1.21increase; and
1.22(2) a one percent increase to address workforce needs. Spending to address these
1.23needs shall be in addition to the amount identified in clause (1). For this increase, in
2.1addition to the staffing costs allowed under clause (1), funds can be spent on additional
2.2efforts to address workforce needs including the recruiting and training of employees.
2.3(b) Seventy-three percent of the money resulting from the rate adjustments under
2.4paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), must be used for increases in compensation-related
2.5costs for employees directly employed by the nursing facility on or after the effective
2.6date of the rate adjustment, except:
2.7(1) the administrator;
2.8(2) persons employed in the central office of a corporation that has an ownership
2.9interest in the nursing facility or exercises control over the nursing facility; and
2.10(3) persons paid by the nursing facility under a management contract.
2.11(c) The commissioner shall allow as compensation-related costs all costs for:
2.12(1) wages and salaries;
2.13(2) FICA taxes, Medicare taxes, state and federal unemployment taxes, and workers'
2.14compensation;
2.15(3) the employer's share of health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability
2.16insurance, long-term care insurance, uniform allowance, and pensions; and
2.17(4) other benefits provided and workforce needs including the recruiting and training
2.18of employees, subject to the approval of the commissioner.
2.19(d) Nursing facilities may apply for the portion of the rate adjustment under
2.20paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), that is subject to the requirements in paragraph
2.21(b). The application must be submitted to the commissioner within six months of the
2.22effective date of the rate adjustment, and the nursing facility must provide additional
2.23information required by the commissioner within nine months of the effective date of
2.24the rate adjustment. The commissioner must respond to all applications within three
2.25weeks of receipt. The commissioner may waive the deadlines in this paragraph under
2.26extraordinary circumstances, to be determined at the sole discretion of the commissioner.
2.27The application must contain:
2.28(1) an estimate of the amounts of money that must be used as specified in paragraph
2.29(b);
2.30(2) a detailed distribution plan specifying the allowable compensation-related and
2.31wage increases the nursing facility will implement to use the funds available in clause (1);
2.32(3) a description of how the nursing facility will notify eligible employees of
2.33the contents of the approved application, which must provide for giving each eligible
2.34employee a copy of the approved application, excluding the information required in clause
2.35(1), or posting a copy of the approved application, excluding the information required in
3.1clause (1), for a period of at least six weeks in an area of the nursing facility to which all
3.2eligible employees have access; and
3.3(4) instructions for employees who believe they have not received the
3.4compensation-related or wage increases specified in clause (2), as approved by the
3.5commissioner, and which must include a mailing address, e-mail address, and the
3.6telephone number that may be used by the employee to contact the commissioner or the
3.7commissioner's representative.
3.8(e) For the October 1, 2013, rate increases, the commissioner shall ensure that cost
3.9increases in distribution plans under paragraph (d), clause (2), that may be included in
3.10approved applications, comply with the following requirements:
3.11(1) a portion of the costs resulting from tenure-related wage or salary increases
3.12may be considered to be allowable wage increases, according to formulas that the
3.13commissioner shall provide, where employee retention is above the average statewide
3.14rate of retention of direct care employees;
3.15(2) the annualized amount of increases in costs for the employer's share of health
3.16and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and workers' compensation
3.17shall be allowable compensation-related increases if they are effective on or after April
3.181, 2013, and prior to April 1, 2014; and
3.19(3) for nursing facilities in which employees are represented by an exclusive
3.20bargaining representative, the commissioner shall approve the application only upon
3.21receipt of a letter of acceptance of the distribution plan, in regard to members of the
3.22bargaining unit, signed by the exclusive bargaining agent and dated after May 25, 2013.
3.23Upon receipt of the letter of acceptance, the commissioner shall deem all requirements of
3.24this provision as having been met in regard to the members of the bargaining unit.
3.25(f) For the October 1, 2014, rate increases, the commissioner shall ensure that cost
3.26increases in distribution plans under paragraph (d), clause (2), that may be included in
3.27approved applications, comply with the following requirements:
3.28(1) costs to be incurred during the applicable rate year resulting from wage and
3.29salary increases effective after October 1, 2013, and prior to the first day of the nursing
3.30facility's payroll period that includes October 1, 2014, shall be allowed if they were not
3.31used in the prior year's application;
3.32(2) a portion of the costs resulting from tenure-related wage or salary increases
3.33may be considered to be allowable wage increases, according to formulas that the
3.34commissioner shall provide, where employee retention is above the average statewide
3.35rate of retention of direct care employees;
4.1(3) the annualized amount of increases in costs for the employer's share of health
4.2and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and workers' compensation
4.3shall be allowable compensation-related increases if they are effective on or after April
4.41, 2014, and prior to April 1, 2015; and
4.5(4) for nursing facilities in which employees are represented by an exclusive
4.6bargaining representative, the commissioner shall approve the application only upon
4.7receipt of a letter of acceptance of the distribution plan, in regard to members of the
4.8bargaining unit, signed by the exclusive bargaining agent and dated after May 25, 2014.
4.9Upon receipt of the letter of acceptance, the commissioner shall deem all requirements of
4.10this provision as having been met in regard to the members of the bargaining unit.
4.11(g) The commissioner shall review applications received under paragraphs (e)
4.12and (f) and shall provide the portion of the rate adjustment under paragraph (b) if the
4.13requirements of this statute have been met.
4.14(h) The increases in this subdivision shall be applied as a total percentage for all
4.15three items above to operating rates effective September 30, 2013, and September 30,
4.162014, except that they shall not increase any performance-based incentive payments under
4.17section 256B.434, subdivision 4, paragraph (d), awarded prior to October 1, 2013. For any
4.18employees represented by a collective bargaining unit, an agreement negotiated between the
4.19bargaining unit and the employer satisfies the requirement for a plan under paragraph (d).
4.20 Sec. 2. RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR OCTOBER 1, 2013, AND OCTOBER 1,
4.212014, FOR THE ELDERLY WAIVER PROGRAM.
4.22(a) Effective October 1, 2013, and October 1, 2014, the elderly waiver rates,
4.23including all components and limits, shall be increased by the following:
4.24(1) a two percent increase to address general cost increases and staffing needs;
4.25(2) a two percent increase for implementing a new quality improvement program.
4.26The quality improvement program shall be designed to improve recipient outcomes and
4.27shall be detailed on a report to be completed by September 30 of each year and shall be
4.28provided to the commissioner upon request; and
4.29(3) a one percent increase to address workforce needs. Spending to address these
4.30needs shall be in addition to the amount identified in clause (1). In addition to the staffing
4.31costs allowed under clause (1), these funds may be spent on additional efforts to address
4.32workforce needs including recruiting and training of employees.
4.33(b) A managed care plan receiving state payments for the services in this section
4.34must include these increases in their payments to providers on a prospective basis,
4.35effective on January 1 following the effective date of the rate increase.
5.1(c) Providers that receive a rate increase under this section shall use 73
5.2percent of the additional revenue from paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (3), to increase
5.3compensation-related costs for employees directly employed by the program on or after
5.4the effective date of the rate adjustments, except:
5.5(1) the administrator;
5.6(2) persons employed in the central office of a corporation or entity that has an
5.7ownership interest in the provider or exercises control over the provider; and
5.8(3) persons paid by the provider under a management contract.
5.9Compensation-related costs include: wages and salaries; FICA taxes, Medicare taxes,
5.10state and federal unemployment taxes, and workers' compensation; and the employer's
5.11share of health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care
5.12insurance, uniform allowance, and pensions.
5.13(d) For public employees, the increase for wages and benefits for certain staff is
5.14available and pay rates must be increased only to the extent that they comply with laws
5.15governing public employees collective bargaining. Money received by a provider for pay
5.16increases under this section may be used only for increases implemented on or after the
5.17first day of the rate period in which the increase is available and must not be used for
5.18increases implemented prior to that date.
5.19(e) Providers that receive a rate adjustment under paragraph (a) that is subject to
5.20paragraph (c) shall provide to the commissioner, and those counties with whom they have
5.21a contract, within six months after the effective date of each rate adjustment, a letter, in
5.22a format specified by the commissioner, that provides assurances that the provider has
5.23developed and implemented a compensation plan and complied with paragraph (c). The
5.24provider shall keep on file, and produce for the commissioner or county upon request, its
5.25plan, which must specify:
5.26(1) an estimate of the amounts of money that must be used as specified in paragraph
5.27(c); and
5.28(2) a detailed distribution plan specifying the allowable compensation-related and
5.29wage increases the provider will implement to use the funds available in clause (1).
5.30(f) Within six months after the effective date of each rate adjustment, the provider
5.31shall post this plan, excluding the information required in paragraph (e), clause (1), for
5.32a period of at least six weeks in an area of the provider's operation to which all eligible
5.33employees have access and provide instructions for employees who believe they have
5.34not received the wage and other compensation-related increases specified in paragraph
5.35(e), clause (2). Instructions must include a mailing address, e-mail address, and the
5.36telephone number that may be used by the employee to contact the commissioner or the
6.1commissioner's representative. Providers shall also make assurances to the commissioner
6.2and counties with whom they have a contract that they have complied with the requirement
6.3in this paragraph.
6.4(g) The increases in this subdivision shall be applied as a total percentage for
6.5all three items above to the elderly waiver rates, including all components and limits,
6.6effective September 30, 2013, and September 30, 2014. For any employees represented by
6.7a collective bargaining unit, an agreement negotiated between the bargaining unit and the
6.8employer satisfies the requirement for a plan under paragraph (e).
1.3increases;amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.434, by adding a
1.4subdivision.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 256B.434, is amended by adding a
1.7subdivision to read:
1.8 Subd. 19a. Nursing facility rate adjustments beginning October 1, 2013, and
1.9October 1, 2014. (a) For the rate years beginning October 1, 2013, and October 1, 2014,
1.10the commissioner shall make available to each nursing facility reimbursed under this
1.11section or any other section the following operating payment rate adjustments:
1.12(1) a two percent increase to address general cost increases and staffing needs:
1.13(i) a two percent increase on October 1, 2013, for each nursing facility that is
1.14a registered participant for the national program Advancing Excellence in America's
1.15Nursing Homes and sets two goals under that program's specified enrollment options; and
1.16(ii) nursing facilities are eligible for up to a two percent increase on October 1, 2014.
1.17Each facility shall report to the Department of Human Services in a manner prescribed
1.18by the commissioner on the progress toward the two goals set under item (i). A facility
1.19is eligible for a one percent rate increase for each goal that the facility has established a
1.20baseline, and demonstrated sustained improvement, up to a maximum two percent rate
1.21increase; and
1.22(2) a one percent increase to address workforce needs. Spending to address these
1.23needs shall be in addition to the amount identified in clause (1). For this increase, in
2.1addition to the staffing costs allowed under clause (1), funds can be spent on additional
2.2efforts to address workforce needs including the recruiting and training of employees.
2.3(b) Seventy-three percent of the money resulting from the rate adjustments under
2.4paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), must be used for increases in compensation-related
2.5costs for employees directly employed by the nursing facility on or after the effective
2.6date of the rate adjustment, except:
2.7(1) the administrator;
2.8(2) persons employed in the central office of a corporation that has an ownership
2.9interest in the nursing facility or exercises control over the nursing facility; and
2.10(3) persons paid by the nursing facility under a management contract.
2.11(c) The commissioner shall allow as compensation-related costs all costs for:
2.12(1) wages and salaries;
2.13(2) FICA taxes, Medicare taxes, state and federal unemployment taxes, and workers'
2.14compensation;
2.15(3) the employer's share of health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability
2.16insurance, long-term care insurance, uniform allowance, and pensions; and
2.17(4) other benefits provided and workforce needs including the recruiting and training
2.18of employees, subject to the approval of the commissioner.
2.19(d) Nursing facilities may apply for the portion of the rate adjustment under
2.20paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (2), that is subject to the requirements in paragraph
2.21(b). The application must be submitted to the commissioner within six months of the
2.22effective date of the rate adjustment, and the nursing facility must provide additional
2.23information required by the commissioner within nine months of the effective date of
2.24the rate adjustment. The commissioner must respond to all applications within three
2.25weeks of receipt. The commissioner may waive the deadlines in this paragraph under
2.26extraordinary circumstances, to be determined at the sole discretion of the commissioner.
2.27The application must contain:
2.28(1) an estimate of the amounts of money that must be used as specified in paragraph
2.29(b);
2.30(2) a detailed distribution plan specifying the allowable compensation-related and
2.31wage increases the nursing facility will implement to use the funds available in clause (1);
2.32(3) a description of how the nursing facility will notify eligible employees of
2.33the contents of the approved application, which must provide for giving each eligible
2.34employee a copy of the approved application, excluding the information required in clause
2.35(1), or posting a copy of the approved application, excluding the information required in
3.1clause (1), for a period of at least six weeks in an area of the nursing facility to which all
3.2eligible employees have access; and
3.3(4) instructions for employees who believe they have not received the
3.4compensation-related or wage increases specified in clause (2), as approved by the
3.5commissioner, and which must include a mailing address, e-mail address, and the
3.6telephone number that may be used by the employee to contact the commissioner or the
3.7commissioner's representative.
3.8(e) For the October 1, 2013, rate increases, the commissioner shall ensure that cost
3.9increases in distribution plans under paragraph (d), clause (2), that may be included in
3.10approved applications, comply with the following requirements:
3.11(1) a portion of the costs resulting from tenure-related wage or salary increases
3.12may be considered to be allowable wage increases, according to formulas that the
3.13commissioner shall provide, where employee retention is above the average statewide
3.14rate of retention of direct care employees;
3.15(2) the annualized amount of increases in costs for the employer's share of health
3.16and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and workers' compensation
3.17shall be allowable compensation-related increases if they are effective on or after April
3.181, 2013, and prior to April 1, 2014; and
3.19(3) for nursing facilities in which employees are represented by an exclusive
3.20bargaining representative, the commissioner shall approve the application only upon
3.21receipt of a letter of acceptance of the distribution plan, in regard to members of the
3.22bargaining unit, signed by the exclusive bargaining agent and dated after May 25, 2013.
3.23Upon receipt of the letter of acceptance, the commissioner shall deem all requirements of
3.24this provision as having been met in regard to the members of the bargaining unit.
3.25(f) For the October 1, 2014, rate increases, the commissioner shall ensure that cost
3.26increases in distribution plans under paragraph (d), clause (2), that may be included in
3.27approved applications, comply with the following requirements:
3.28(1) costs to be incurred during the applicable rate year resulting from wage and
3.29salary increases effective after October 1, 2013, and prior to the first day of the nursing
3.30facility's payroll period that includes October 1, 2014, shall be allowed if they were not
3.31used in the prior year's application;
3.32(2) a portion of the costs resulting from tenure-related wage or salary increases
3.33may be considered to be allowable wage increases, according to formulas that the
3.34commissioner shall provide, where employee retention is above the average statewide
3.35rate of retention of direct care employees;
4.1(3) the annualized amount of increases in costs for the employer's share of health
4.2and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and workers' compensation
4.3shall be allowable compensation-related increases if they are effective on or after April
4.41, 2014, and prior to April 1, 2015; and
4.5(4) for nursing facilities in which employees are represented by an exclusive
4.6bargaining representative, the commissioner shall approve the application only upon
4.7receipt of a letter of acceptance of the distribution plan, in regard to members of the
4.8bargaining unit, signed by the exclusive bargaining agent and dated after May 25, 2014.
4.9Upon receipt of the letter of acceptance, the commissioner shall deem all requirements of
4.10this provision as having been met in regard to the members of the bargaining unit.
4.11(g) The commissioner shall review applications received under paragraphs (e)
4.12and (f) and shall provide the portion of the rate adjustment under paragraph (b) if the
4.13requirements of this statute have been met.
4.14(h) The increases in this subdivision shall be applied as a total percentage for all
4.15three items above to operating rates effective September 30, 2013, and September 30,
4.162014, except that they shall not increase any performance-based incentive payments under
4.17section 256B.434, subdivision 4, paragraph (d), awarded prior to October 1, 2013. For any
4.18employees represented by a collective bargaining unit, an agreement negotiated between the
4.19bargaining unit and the employer satisfies the requirement for a plan under paragraph (d).
4.20 Sec. 2. RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR OCTOBER 1, 2013, AND OCTOBER 1,
4.212014, FOR THE ELDERLY WAIVER PROGRAM.
4.22(a) Effective October 1, 2013, and October 1, 2014, the elderly waiver rates,
4.23including all components and limits, shall be increased by the following:
4.24(1) a two percent increase to address general cost increases and staffing needs;
4.25(2) a two percent increase for implementing a new quality improvement program.
4.26The quality improvement program shall be designed to improve recipient outcomes and
4.27shall be detailed on a report to be completed by September 30 of each year and shall be
4.28provided to the commissioner upon request; and
4.29(3) a one percent increase to address workforce needs. Spending to address these
4.30needs shall be in addition to the amount identified in clause (1). In addition to the staffing
4.31costs allowed under clause (1), these funds may be spent on additional efforts to address
4.32workforce needs including recruiting and training of employees.
4.33(b) A managed care plan receiving state payments for the services in this section
4.34must include these increases in their payments to providers on a prospective basis,
4.35effective on January 1 following the effective date of the rate increase.
5.1(c) Providers that receive a rate increase under this section shall use 73
5.2percent of the additional revenue from paragraph (a), clauses (1) and (3), to increase
5.3compensation-related costs for employees directly employed by the program on or after
5.4the effective date of the rate adjustments, except:
5.5(1) the administrator;
5.6(2) persons employed in the central office of a corporation or entity that has an
5.7ownership interest in the provider or exercises control over the provider; and
5.8(3) persons paid by the provider under a management contract.
5.9Compensation-related costs include: wages and salaries; FICA taxes, Medicare taxes,
5.10state and federal unemployment taxes, and workers' compensation; and the employer's
5.11share of health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, long-term care
5.12insurance, uniform allowance, and pensions.
5.13(d) For public employees, the increase for wages and benefits for certain staff is
5.14available and pay rates must be increased only to the extent that they comply with laws
5.15governing public employees collective bargaining. Money received by a provider for pay
5.16increases under this section may be used only for increases implemented on or after the
5.17first day of the rate period in which the increase is available and must not be used for
5.18increases implemented prior to that date.
5.19(e) Providers that receive a rate adjustment under paragraph (a) that is subject to
5.20paragraph (c) shall provide to the commissioner, and those counties with whom they have
5.21a contract, within six months after the effective date of each rate adjustment, a letter, in
5.22a format specified by the commissioner, that provides assurances that the provider has
5.23developed and implemented a compensation plan and complied with paragraph (c). The
5.24provider shall keep on file, and produce for the commissioner or county upon request, its
5.25plan, which must specify:
5.26(1) an estimate of the amounts of money that must be used as specified in paragraph
5.27(c); and
5.28(2) a detailed distribution plan specifying the allowable compensation-related and
5.29wage increases the provider will implement to use the funds available in clause (1).
5.30(f) Within six months after the effective date of each rate adjustment, the provider
5.31shall post this plan, excluding the information required in paragraph (e), clause (1), for
5.32a period of at least six weeks in an area of the provider's operation to which all eligible
5.33employees have access and provide instructions for employees who believe they have
5.34not received the wage and other compensation-related increases specified in paragraph
5.35(e), clause (2). Instructions must include a mailing address, e-mail address, and the
5.36telephone number that may be used by the employee to contact the commissioner or the
6.1commissioner's representative. Providers shall also make assurances to the commissioner
6.2and counties with whom they have a contract that they have complied with the requirement
6.3in this paragraph.
6.4(g) The increases in this subdivision shall be applied as a total percentage for
6.5all three items above to the elderly waiver rates, including all components and limits,
6.6effective September 30, 2013, and September 30, 2014. For any employees represented by
6.7a collective bargaining unit, an agreement negotiated between the bargaining unit and the
6.8employer satisfies the requirement for a plan under paragraph (e).
