SB189 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Section 40-26B-26 to allow the Alabama Medicaid Agency to revise nursing facility reimbursement rate ceilings during a fiscal year upon discovery of material errors or when necessary due to public health emergencies, new laws, or catastrophic events affecting multiple facilities.

• Increases current asset value calculations for nursing facilities by 41.03% based on June 30, 2020 rebasing, effective for cost reporting periods beginning July 1, 2020, with rate increases effective October 1, 2020.

• Establishes a quality incentive program with a minimum annual fund of $5,000,000 paid in lump sum by February 1, with scoring based on five CMS MDS Quality Measures and three customer satisfaction survey categories, with facilities earning points through improvement or ranking at or above national averages.

• Authorizes creation of a special reimbursement model for dedicated ventilator units in nursing facilities meeting specific physical plant and staffing requirements.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.