_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT APPROPRIATING MONEY TO ALLEVIATE THE IMPACT OF NURSING HOME CLOSURES; Providing for reimbursement of family expenses related to nursing home closures; providing grants for the reopening of closed nursing homes; providing a definition; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

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

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Alleviation of nursing home closure impacts -- payment for family expenses -- grants for reopening. (1) The department of public health and human services shall make payments as provided in this section to alleviate the impact of nursing home closures on Montana families and communities.

(2)        (a) An individual or a family member of an individual who was displaced due to the closure of a nursing home on or after July 1, 2021, and before [the effective date of this act] may apply to the department for reimbursement of up to $1,000 for moving expenses related to the closure.

(b)        A person applying for reimbursement shall submit documentation of the expenses as required by the department.

(3)        The department shall provide grants of up to $25,000 to assist in the reopening of nursing homes that were open on July 1, 2021, and that closed before [the effective date of this act]. Grants may be made to:

(a)        the operator of a nursing home that closed; or

(b)        a community-based or nonprofit organization seeking to reopen a facility that closed.

(4)        A grant recipient shall agree to make up to 40% of the facility's beds available to individuals eligible for the medical assistance program provided for in Title 53, chapter 6.

(5)        For the purposes of this section, "nursing home" means a facility that provides skilled nursing care as defined in 50-5-101 and that is certified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services to participate in the medicare or medicaid program.

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Appropriations. (1) There is appropriated $850,000 from the general fund to the department of public health and human services to make payments to individuals affected by nursing home closures as allowed under [section 1(2)].

(2)        There is appropriated $300,000 from the general fund to the department of public health and human services for grants to assist with the reopening of nursing homes as provided in [section 1(3)].

(3)        The legislature intends the appropriations provided for in this section to be one-time-only appropriations.

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