House of Representatives

SB 1302

nursing care institutions; incentive grants

Sponsors: Senator Gerard; Representative Binder: Senator Hartly, et al.

DP	Committee on Health
DP	Committee on Appropriations
DPA	Caucus and COW
X	As Transmitted To The Governor

SB 1302 allocates $1.5 million dollars from the tobacco tax monies to the Department of Health Services for a nursing care institution incentive grant program.

History

Presently, there are 165 nursing care institutions licensed by the Department of Health Services (DHS). Statute requires DHS to issue each licensed institution a quality rating based on the results of a licensure survey, (ARS § 36-425.02). The quality rating scores of excellent, standard, or substandard are based on an institution’s compliance with standards prescribed in the Arizona Administrative Code, (AAC R9-11-106).

Current law allows the DHS director to use the quality rating scores in determining the length of time an institution’s license is valid, not exceeding three years. According to DHS, 16 of the 165 licensed institutions meet all requirements set forth in SB 1302 to be eligible for an incentive grant. SB 1302 establishes incentive grants for institutions that receive an excellent rating for two consecutive years and have not been placed on a provisional license in the 12 months prior to the awarding of the grants.

Provisions

· Requires AHCCCS to transfer the available amount of $1.5 million in FY 2001-02 from the medically needy account to DHS and designates the monies be used to award quality rating financial incentive grants to nursing care institutions (institution).

· Stipulates an institution must receive a quality rating of excellent on its annual licensure survey for two consecutive years in order to be eligible for an incentive grant.

· Requires eligible institutions to not have had a violation determined by DHS to have potential for widespread harm.

· Specifies grant monies be used for direct care nonadministrative staff in order to improve the resident care quality.

· Establishes a formula for the grant formula and caps each grant at $100,000.

· Prohibits DHS from awarding grants to an institution that was placed on a provisional license in the 12 months prior to the award of the grant or that has ceased operation before the grant distribution date.

· States that if an institution transfers ownership, DHS shall award the grant to the licensee at the time of the award.

· Exempt transferred monies from lapsing of appropriations.

· Defines census day.

· Requires DHS to report to the Health Committees of Reference on the new criteria and rating system for nursing care institution licensure surveys by November 1, 2001.

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· 45th Legislature

· First Regular Session 2 May 8, 2001

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