1 Department of Health and Human Services; Medicaid Methodology Working Group Established.

I. The department of health and human services shall convene a working group for the study of nursing home rate Medicaid methodology consisting of the following:

(a) A member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(b) A member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;

(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee;

(d) A member of the New Hampshire Association of Counties, appointed by that organization;

(e) A member of the New Hampshire Health Care Association, appointed by that organization;

(f) A member of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by that organization; and

(g) A certified public accountant specializing in nursing home cost reporting, appointed by the governor.

II. The working group shall be convened by the commissioner of department of health and human services, or their designee, and shall be subject to RSA 91-A. The working group shall make recommendations concerning the nursing home reimbursement methodology, with a focus on the following considerations:

(a) Access to nursing home care and the existence of waiting lists;

(b) Barriers to hospital discharge to nursing homes;

(c) Whether the acuity or direct care needs of nursing home residents are properly captured by reimbursement;

(d) Capital reimbursement in light of aging nursing home infrastructure;

(e) The relationship between workforce needs of nursing homes and reimbursement;

(f) The overall solvency of the nursing home sector; and

(g) The fairest means of addressing changes of ownership within reimbursement in a manner that protects Medicaid program integrity.

III. No later than December 31, 2026, the commissioner of the department of health and human services, or their designee, shall submit to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the state library, and the county-state finance commission any proposed changes to state law or regulations the department, in consultation with the working group, believes is necessary if the department intends to modify the nursing home Medicaid rate methodology.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Department of Health and Human Services; Medicaid Methodology Working Group Established.

I. The department of health and human services shall convene a working group for the study of nursing home rate Medicaid methodology consisting of the following:

(a) A member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(b) A member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate;

(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee;

(d) A member of the New Hampshire Association of Counties, appointed by that organization;

(e) A member of the New Hampshire Health Care Association, appointed by that organization;

(f) A member of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, appointed by that organization; and

(g) A certified public accountant specializing in nursing home cost reporting, appointed by the governor.

II. The working group shall be convened by the commissioner of department of health and human services, or their designee, and shall be subject to RSA 91-A. The working group shall make recommendations concerning the nursing home reimbursement methodology, with a focus on the following considerations:

(a) Access to nursing home care and the existence of waiting lists;

(b) Barriers to hospital discharge to nursing homes;

(c) Whether the acuity or direct care needs of nursing home residents are properly captured by reimbursement;

(d) Capital reimbursement in light of aging nursing home infrastructure;

(e) The relationship between workforce needs of nursing homes and reimbursement;

(f) The overall solvency of the nursing home sector; and

(g) The fairest means of addressing changes of ownership within reimbursement in a manner that protects Medicaid program integrity.

III. No later than December 31, 2026, the commissioner of the department of health and human services, or their designee, shall submit to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, the state library, and the county-state finance commission any proposed changes to state law or regulations the department, in consultation with the working group, believes is necessary if the department intends to modify the nursing home Medicaid rate methodology.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.