HB 1608-FN-A – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
22Mar2006… 1214h
2006 SESSION
01/03
HOUSE BILL 1608-FN-A
AN ACT making appropriations to reimburse certain health and human services providers for the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage.
SPONSORS: Rep. Wallner, Merr 12; Rep. Nordgren, Graf 9; Sen. Green, Dist 6; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15
AMENDED ANALYSIS
The bill makes appropriations to the department of health and human services for the purposes of reimbursing certain health and human services providers for the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22Mar2006… 1214h
06-2711
01/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six
AN ACT making appropriations to reimburse certain health and human services providers for the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Appropriation. The sum of $2,413,575 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, for the purpose of providing a one-time one percent increase in rates paid to certain providers in fiscal year 2006 to offset the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage. The commissioner of the department of health and human services shall provide the increase to the providers upon the effective date of this act. The sums appropriated in this section represent the state general fund share of such costs, and the department shall obtain matching funds from federal and other non-state sources where appropriate to ensure that the full cost of the one percent increase is sufficiently funded. The appropriation contained in this section shall be distributed as follows:
Office of Medicaid and Business Policy
PAU Description Appropriation
05-01-02-01-04 Medical Transportation $6,050
Division of Public Health Services
PAU Description Appropriation
05-01-05-01-01 Governor’s Commission $23,000
05-01-05-01-01 Smart Moves Program $1,000
05-01-05-03-01 Community Programs $17,940
05-01-05-03-03 Contracts $1,004
05-01-05-03-04 Technical Assistance $1,200
05-01-05-03-04 Primary Care $1,500
05-01-05-03-06 State STD Clinical Services $3,697
05-01-05-03-07 Comprehensive Health $21,000
05-01-05-03-07 Domestic Violence $921
05-01-05-03-07 Maternal & Child Services $11,585
05-01-05-03-18 Grants $2,222
Division for Children, Youth, and Families
PAU Description Appropriation
05-01-06-07-01 Residential Providers $151,118
05-01-06-07-01 Foster Care, Adoption, & Foster Homes $92,462
05-01-06-08-02 Child Care $257,134
Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services
PAU Description Appropriation
05-01-08-03-01 Home Delivered Meals & Transportation $21,062
05-01-08-03-02 Social Services Block Grant $23,265
05-01-08-03-05 Congregate Housing Contracts $6,980
05-01-08-03-06 Adult Residential Day Care $2,578
05-01-08-04-01 Nursing Services $466,439
05-01-08-04-01 Home Nursing Services $73,758
05-01-08-04-01 Other Nursing Homes $10,061
05-01-08-04-01 Mid Level Care $10,009
Bureau of Behavioral Health
PAU Description Appropriation
05-01-09-04-01 Community Mental Health Centers $412,078
05-01-09-04-08 Emergency Shelters $30,772
Bureau of Developmental Services
PAU Description Appropriation
05-01-10-01 Developmental Services $764,740
This appropriation is in addition to any other funds appropriated to the department of health and human services. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
2 Rate Increase; Federal Funds. The department of health and human services shall provide a one-time one percent increase in rates paid to certain health and human services providers in fiscal year 2006 who do not receive the increase contained in section 1 of this act, but only to the extent the increase can be funded entirely from federal funds.
3 Additional Appropriation. The sum of $150,000 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services for the biennium ending June 30, 2007 for the purpose of providing additional funds to certain health and human services providers to offset the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage. The amounts appropriated in this section shall be distributed at the discretion of the commissioner, and may be distributed to providers who also receive the rate increase provided for in section 1 of this act. The commissioner shall seek to distribute these funds in a manner which will provide the highest level of relief to providers determined by the commissioner to be most affected by the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage. In determining the distribution of the funds, the commissioner shall be guided by the provider’s percentage of increased energy costs as compared to the provider’s total budget. The commissioner shall report to the fiscal committee of the general court within 30 days of the effective date of this act on the distribution of such funds. This appropriation is in addition to any other funds appropriated to the department of health and human services. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
LBAO
06-2711
Amended 4/18/06
HB 1608 FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT making appropriations to reimburse certain health and human services providers for the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Health and Human Services states this bill, as amended by the House, (Amendment #2006-1214h), will increase state and county expenditures and state revenue by an indeterminable amount in FY 2006 and FY 2007. This bill will have no fiscal impact on county and local revenue or local expenditures.
This bill appropriates $2,563,575 to the Department of Health and Human Services from the state general fund for the biennium ending June 30, 2007 for the purposes of this act.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) states Section 1 of this bill appropriates $2,413,575 in state general funds for the biennium ending June 20, 2007. The appropriation is to provide a one-time one percent increase in rates paid to certain providers in FY 2006 in order to offset the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage. The sums appropriated represent the estimated state general fund share of such costs, and DHHS is directed to obtain matching funds from federal and other non-state sources where appropriate. DHHS states applicable federal and county matching funds would be accepted through the Fiscal Committee and Governor and Council if this bill is enacted, but are unable to determine the amount of such matching funds at this time.
Section 2 of this bill directs DHHS to provide a one-time one percent rate increase for FY 2006 to providers who did not receive a rate increase in Section 1 of this bill but only to the extent the rate increases can be paid entirely with federal funds. The Department does not believe there are any federal funds available for this specific purpose.
Section 3 of this bill appropriates $150,000 in state general funds for the purpose of providing additional funds to providers to offset the increased cost of utilities, heating, and mileage. The Commissioner may make the distributions at his discretion and shall report to the Fiscal Committee on the distribution of these funds. Applicable federal and county matching funds will be accepted through the Fiscal Committee and the Governor and Council if this bill is enacted. The Department is unable to determine the adequacy of this appropriation or the demand for these supplemental funds at this time.
The Department states the distribution of the funds appropriated in this bill would result in additional work for both Department staff and providers whereas numerous contracts would have to be amended with Governor and Council approval in order to distribute the funds. With respect to the Medicaid Program, the Department states its Divisions would need to retroactively increase rates and have providers re-bill for previously billed services for the increased amount so that increased paid claims will be properly recorded to each provider’s paid claims file and in each client’s paid claims file. A similar situation would occur in the Division for Children, Youth, and Families and the Division for Juvenile Justice Services in order to take advantage of federal and county matching funds. The Department is unable to determine the exact fiscal impact at this time.