Davis Signs Bill Establishing New Reimbursement Method for Nursing Facilities
Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday signed legislation (AB 1075) that will change "dramatically" the way Medi-Cal reimburses nursing homes, giving the facilities "more flexibility," the Contra Costa Times reports. The bill, sponsored by Assembly member Kevin Shelley (D-San Francisco), will change the current flat-rate system to a "facility-specific system" that will be developed by the Department of Health Services by Aug. 1, 2004. That system will allow nursing homes to charge higher rates depending on "their unique characteristics and how sick the patient is." The bill originally would have boosted staff-to-patient ratios over the next three years, but that provision was dropped after Davis "objected to the cost" of the measure. Shelley said the bill "does improve" facilities' accountability because it changes the way care is measured from the average hours of care per patient over 24 hours to a staff-to-patient ratio, an "easier" way to assess care, the Times reports. Shelly added, "You can go on the floor (of a nursing home) and see if they have the number of personnel that is supposed to be there" (LaMar, Contra Costa Times, 10/12).
Davis also signed the following bills related to seniors' health care:
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AB 590: Sponsored by Assembly member Juan Vargas (D-San Diego), the bill encourages the Department of Mental Health to hire a mental health care provider with geriatric experience to oversee, monitor and provide advice to counties that provide Systems of Care services to the elderly (Office of the Governor release, 10/11).
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AB 828: Sponsored by Assembly member Rebecca Cohn (D-Saratoga), the bill would require the state to establish a unit to answer consumer questions about long term care facilities (Contra Costa Times, 10/12).
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AB 829: Also sponsored by Cohn, the bill would revise standards for adult day care centers in order to improve quality of care and the qualifications of center owners and operators.
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AB 1212: Sponsored by Shelley, the bill would correct technical errors and omissions to the 2000 Aging with Dignity Act (AB 1731) and clarify "vague" provisions to bring the law in accordance with new federal skilled nursing facility requirements (Office of the Governor release, 10/11).
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AB 1409: Sponsored by Assembly member Wilma Chan (D-Oakland), the measure would give the responsibility of regulating and licensing nursing home administrators to DHS instead of the Department of Consumer Affairs (Contra Costa Times, 10/12).
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SB 370: Sponsored by Sen. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), the bill codifies the Department of Aging's Senior Wellness Campaign and requires the department to establish a Program for Injury Prevention in the Home Environment.
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SB 587: Sponsored by Sen. Nell Soto (D-Pomona), the measure would codify hospital practices and state regulations dealing with patients' transfer and discharge from health facilities. Hospitals must include information for post-hospital care in their written discharge planning policy and also must provide oral or written information to patients about continuing care requirements after discharge (Office of the Governor release, 10/11).
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SB 639: Sponsored by Ortiz, the measure requires California to plan to improve services for people with Alzheimer's disease and other mental health conditions (Contra Costa Times, 10/12).
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SB 696: Sponsored by Sen. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough), the measure would create a voluntary drug discount program for Medicare beneficiaries to be devised and run by DHS and funded through drug manufacturer rebates.
Senior Center Survey VetoedDavis vetoed AB 20, sponsored by Assembly member Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), which would have required the Department of Aging to undertake a statewide survey and needs analysis to determine structural, fiscal and geographic need for senior centers by Dec. 31, 2002. In his veto message, Davis said that the bill includes funds that were not appropriated in the state budget. He added that the survey would create "an expectation of future funding for senior centers which may not be forthcoming due to the rapid decline in the economy" (Office of the Governor release, 10/11).