The first and only “code bill” to reach the Governor’s desk this fiscal year is H.B. 59 (Moul, R-Adams), the Human Services Code bill. Although the Governor has until October 28 to sign the bill into law, he previously stated that he will use his veto power due to a controversial Medicaid work requirement provision. In order to receive benefits, non-disabled, non-pregnant or non-elderly Medicaid eligible adults would be required to obtain reasonable employment or job search requirements.
Although the bill is part of the budget process, the impact of a veto is yet to be determined. Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) said that “there’s not a lot of budget implementation language in it…we’ve been down this road a few times, so I don’t know if it will have a major impact, but we’ll see”.
Highlights:
- Institutes a three-year limit on Act 534 benefits for employment-related injuries.
- Requires DHS to issue an RFI in order to evaluate the efficiency of programs designed to identify/prevent fraud, waste and abuse in the MA, SNAP and TANF programs.
- Requires DHS to issue an RFP for an entity to coordinate managed care in a selected Medical Assistance Managed Care Organization region under a one-year pilot program.
- Directs DHS to pursue a federal waiver to allow for coverage of services provided in an Institute of Mental Disease for a substance abuse disorder after 15 days.
- Makes changes to the nursing home assessment to align payments with the Community Health Choices rates setting.
- Requires a federal waiver in order to modify the fee for service/capitated program impacted prior to any supplemental funding request.
- Includes a work search requirement for Medicaid eligible adults but requires federal waiver approval to do so.
- Requires the state to develop an electronic asset verification program.
- Allows for a study of services provided in ambulatory surgical facilities and ambulatory surgical centers in FY 2017-18 before and new assessment is established.