2004 Legislation
Print Friendly

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 25 – Skilled nursing fclty, reviews

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 25

View Bill Status

View Bill Text

View Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



Text to be added within a bill has been marked with Bold and
Underline. Text to be removed has been marked with
Strikethrough and Italic. How these codes are actually displayed will
vary based on the browser software you are using.

This sentence is marked with bold and underline to show added text.

This sentence is marked with strikethrough and italic, indicating
text to be removed.

Bill Status



HJM025....................................................by WAYS AND MEANS
SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES - Stating findings of the Legislature and urging
the Idaho delegation in the Congress of the United States to attempt to
secure a waiver or exemption from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) to allow an approved national accrediting body, at the
request of the skilled nursing facility, to conduct survey and
certification reviews for Medicare and Medicaid participation.
                                                                        
03/09    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/10    Rpt prt - to 2nd rdg
03/11    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/12    3rd rdg - ADOPTED - voice vote
    Floor Sponsor - Sali
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/15    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Health/Wel
03/17    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 10th Ord
03/18    10th Ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
    Floor Sponsor - Brandt
    Title apvd - to House
03/18    To enrol - Rpt enrol - Sp signed
03/19    Pres signed - To Secretary of State

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ]]]]              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ]]]]
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 Second Regular Session - 2004
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 25
                                                                        
                                BY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                   A JOINT MEMORIAL
  2    TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE OF IDAHO  IN  THE  CON-
  3        GRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
                                                                        
  4        We,  your Memorialists, the House of Representatives and the Senate of the
  5    State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session  of  the  Fifty-seventh
  6    Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
                                                                        
  7        WHEREAS,  many  skilled  nursing  facilities  in  the  state of Idaho have
  8    elected to participate in an independent national  accreditation  program  for
  9    long-term  care  and  additional  inspections  are  costly  and  unnecessarily
 10    duplicative; and
 11        WHEREAS,  an  independent  accreditation  process  is  designed  to assist
 12    skilled nursing facilities integrate quality improvement principles  in  their
 13    daily operations and improve resident health outcomes; and
 14        WHEREAS,  an independent survey process by recognized national accrediting
 15    organizations is designed to be consultative and not punitive; and
 16        WHEREAS, costs for the current nursing facility survey system are approxi-
 17    mately twice the cost of an independent accreditation process and it is in the
 18    best interests of the facilities, the Medicare  program  and  the  welfare  of
 19    individuals  receiving  care  under the program, and the United States federal
 20    government that unnecessary waste be eliminated whenever possible.
 21        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second  Regular  Ses-
 22    sion  of the Fifty-seventh Idaho Legislature, the House of Representatives and
 23    the Senate concurring therein, that we urge the Idaho delegation in  the  Con-
 24    gress of the United States to attempt to secure a waiver or exemption from the
 25    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to allow an approved national
 26    accrediting  body,  at the request of the skilled nursing facility, to conduct
 27    survey and certification reviews for Medicare and Medicaid  participation.  If
 28    the  nursing facility is unable to receive appropriate accreditation, the cur-
 29    rent survey and certification process will be utilized. The  nursing  facility
 30    requesting  accreditation will be responsible for payment of all costs associ-
 31    ated with the accreditation process and these costs prorated to  the  Medicare
 32    program for purposes of cost reimbursement.
 33        BE  IT  FURTHER  RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representa-
 34    tives be, and she is hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of  this
 35    Memorial  to  the  congressional delegation representing the State of Idaho in
 36    the Congress of the United States.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

                             RS 14254

This Memorial requests the Idaho s Congressional delegation to
attempt to secure a waiver from CMS to allow Idaho s Skilled Nursing
Facilities to choose "deemed status" under the Medicare and Medicaid
programs. "Deemed status" allows a Skilled Nursing Facility to choose
to undergo independent accrediting. If a facility is accredited by an
independent organization, the Department of Health and Welfare would
not have to perform licensure inspections.


                          FISCAL IMPACT

Not more than 20% of the Skilled Nursing Facilities in Idaho are
expected to qualify for or request accreditation, but that 20% would
reduce the costs of survey and certification activities for Idaho s
skilled nursing facilities by 20%. That will positively impact the
department s Medicaid budget. Tens of thousands of dollars could be
saved if the department is not required to inspect these exceptional,
accredited Skilled Nursing Facilities.



Contact
Name:   Keith Holloway, Western Health Care
Phone:  375-9958
                  
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE                            HJM 025