MBR Clears Conference Committee, Awaits Governor’s Signature
This week, the Ohio General Assembly was very busy putting the finishing touches on a number of legislative enactments, although some key bills will have to wait until a later date for final action. Among the completed measures was House Bill 487, the Mid-Biennium Budget Review (MBR). A House-Senate conference committee reconciled the two chambers’ versions of the bill late Tuesday, and both houses passed the committee’s product on Wednesday. The conference committee left intact the language that would provide for $30 million in quality payments to skilled nursing facilities by July 31, 2012. Also retained were the other provisions relevant to long-term care, including the social worker language, the repeal of the Public Health Council, the certificate of need clean-up, and the license transfer for certain ICFs/IDD. The committee added to the ICF language a small clarification that was worked out by OCDD and the Department of Developmental Disabilities. Now, the MBR moves on to Governor John Kasich for signature. Because the legislation contains appropriation items, the Governor can exercise his authority to veto specific provisions. Governor Kasich has stated his opposition to the SNF quality payment language, and the administration asked the legislature to remove it, but the payments are still in the bill. We remain hopeful that the Governor will let them stand.