SB 127 (2023)

Makes various legal changes related to public health. According to the bill analysis, this bill first re-routes fees paid by methadone providers to the special fund for administration of opioid treatment programs. This bill then alters the definition of personal care services provider for the purposes of reimbursement by the Department of Health and Human Services. Third, this bill removes the ability for the personal needs allowance of residents in residential care facilities to be used by the facilities for room and board. The Senate amended that part of the bill to more generally alter the payment structure to residential care facilities for features outside of room and board. Fourth, this bill eliminates the long term care facility reporting requirement to the Department of Health and Human Services regarding the Nursing Facility Quality Assessment (NFQA). This bill then removes the requirement for a beverage license if the facility is only offering bottled beverage direct to consumer and already holds a retail food license from the state health department or self-inspecting jurisdiction. This bill also removes payment of premiums from the MEAD (medicaid for employed adults with disabilities) program. Lastly, this bill would align public assistance benefits within this state with federal regulations. The Senate added two more provisions to this bill. First, the amended bill alters the reporting requirements of the state office of rural health. Second, the amended bill extends the commission to study the delivery of public health services through regional public health networks report date from 2023 to 2024.