_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT Establishing requirements for nursing home rate adjustments and review; establishing reporting requirements; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Inflationary adjustments for nursing home rates. (1) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, medicaid reimbursement rates paid for nursing home services must be increased, at a minimum, by an inflation factor equal to the health care cost review skilled nursing facility total market basket index published by IHS global insight, or a comparable index if the IHS global insight index is no longer published.

(2)        For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027, and every 4 years thereafter, the department shall conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cost of providing nursing home services and determine whether rebasing the rates is necessary. The department shall report to the children, families, health, and human services interim committee and to the legislature in accordance with 5-11-210 on the results of the analysis.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 53, chapter 6, part 1, and the provisions of Title 53, chapter 6, part 1, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.