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House Continues Work on MBR |
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House Continues Work
on MBR
This week, the House
of Representatives held additional hearings on House Bill 487, Governor Kasich’s
Mid-Biennium Review (MBR). Yesterday, the House Finance and Appropriations
Committee held a full committee hearing, following a number of sessions in
subcommittees and other House committees. Chairman Ron Amstutz (R-Wooster) has
requested all amendments by committee members be submitted to him by today.
OHCA continues to work with members of the committee on rate relief for skilled
nursing facilities. OHCA also is seeking to reduce the amounts of fines that
can be triggered by cost report audit findings. In testimony this week,
LeadingAge Ohio expressed support for the “critical access facility” provision
in the MBR and asked the legislature to fund an extension of the stop loss
provision for SNFs into Fiscal Year 2013 and an increase in PASSPORT rates. The
critical access provision grants 5% rate increases to seven facilities located
in impoverished areas at a cost of $1.8 million. Another group called Aligning
Resources with Payment Policy, consisting of providers affected by the stop
loss, also advocated for extending the provision. The legislature now begins a
two-week spring break, with final House action on the MBR expected in late
April. Chairman Amstutz suggested at the conclusion of yesterday’s hearing that
the MBR, which already lost key tax provisions proposed by the Governor, may be
subdivided further.
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