HB0503eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0503 Engrossed LRB096 05782 DRJ 15857 b

AN ACT concerning public aid.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Public Aid Code is amended by changing Section 5-5.5 as follows:

(305 ILCS 5/5-5.5) (from Ch. 23, par. 5-5.5)

Sec. 5-5.5. Elements of Payment Rate.

(a) The The Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall develop a prospective method for determining payment rates for skilled nursing and intermediate care services in nursing facilities composed of the following cost elements:

(1) Standard Services, with the cost of this component being determined by taking into account the actual costs to the facilities of these services subject to cost ceilings to be defined in the Department's rules.

(2) Resident Services, with the cost of this component being determined by taking into account the actual costs, needs and utilization of these services, as derived from an assessment of the resident needs in the nursing facilities. The Department shall adopt rules governing reimbursement for resident services as listed in Section 5-1.1. Surveys or assessments of resident needs under this Section shall include a review by the facility of the results of such assessments and a discussion of issues in dispute with authorized survey staff, unless the facility elects not to participate in such a review process. Surveys or assessments of resident needs under this Section may be conducted semi-annually and payment rates relating to resident services may be changed on a semi-annual basis. The Illinois Department shall initiate a project, either on a pilot basis or Statewide, to reimburse the cost of resident services based on a methodology which utilizes an assessment of resident needs to determine the level of reimbursement. This methodology shall be different from the payment criteria for resident services utilized by the Illinois Department on July 1, 1981. On March 1, 1982, and each year thereafter, until such time when the Illinois Department adopts the methodology used in such project for use statewide, the Illinois Department shall report to the General Assembly on the implementation and progress of such project. The report shall include:

(A) A statement of the Illinois Department's goals and objectives for such project;

(B) A description of such project, including the number and type of nursing facilities involved in the project;

(C) A description of the methodology used in such project;

(D) A description of the Illinois Department's application of the methodology;

(E) A statement on the methodology's effect on the quality of care given to residents in the sample nursing facilities; and

(F) A statement on the cost of the methodology used in such project and a comparison of this cost with the cost of the current payment criteria.

(3) Ancillary Services, with the payment rate being developed for each individual type of service. Payment shall be made only when authorized under procedures developed by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

(4) Nurse's Aide Training, with the cost of this component being determined by taking into account the actual cost to the facilities of such training.

(5) Real Estate Taxes, with the cost of this component being determined by taking into account the figures contained in the most currently available cost reports (with no imposition of maximums) updated to the midpoint of the current rate year for long term care services rendered between July 1, 1984 and June 30, 1985, and with the cost of this component being determined by taking into account the actual 1983 taxes for which the nursing homes were assessed (with no imposition of maximums) updated to the midpoint of the current rate year for long term care services rendered between July 1, 1985 and June 30, 1986.

(b) In developing a prospective method for determining payment rates for skilled nursing and intermediate care services in nursing facilities, the Department of Healthcare and Family Services shall consider the following cost elements:

(1) Reasonable capital cost determined by utilizing incurred interest rate and the current value of the investment, including land, utilizing composite rates, or by utilizing such other reasonable cost related methods determined by the Department. However, beginning with the rate reimbursement period effective July 1, 1987, the Department shall be prohibited from establishing, including, and implementing any depreciation factor in calculating the capital cost element.

(2) Profit, with the actual amount being produced and accruing to the providers in the form of a return on their total investment, on the basis of their ability to economically and efficiently deliver a type of service. The method of payment may assure the opportunity for a profit, but shall not guarantee or establish a specific amount as a cost.

(c) The Illinois Department may implement the amendatory changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of 1991 through the use of emergency rules in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. For purposes of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, the adoption of rules to implement the amendatory changes to this Section made by this amendatory Act of 1991 shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the public interest, safety and welfare.

(d) No later than January 1, 2001, the Department of Public Aid shall file with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, a proposed rule, or a proposed amendment to an existing rule, regarding payment for appropriate services, including assessment, care planning, discharge planning, and treatment provided by nursing facilities to residents who have a serious mental illness.

(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)