CS for CS for CS for SB 1254 - Health Care Services

• Removes rulemaking authority from the Agency for Health Care Administration for numerous health care regulations, including disposal of fetal remains, nursing home standards, home health agencies, hospice care, and organ procurement organizations.

• Changes "shall adopt rules" to "may adopt rules" across multiple health care provider regulations, making rule adoption discretionary rather than mandatory for the agency.

• Exempts home health agencies that are not Medicare or Medicaid certified and do not provide skilled nursing care from accreditation documentation requirements.

• Modifies home health agency reporting requirements from quarterly to semi-annual (March 31 and September 30) and increases the threshold for nurse compensation reporting from $25,000 to $50,000.

• Adds limitations on Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers requiring they serve only medically or technologically dependent children and restricting attendance to 12 hours within a 24-hour period.

• Expands Medicaid managed care exemptions to include children under 21 authorized to reside in group homes licensed under chapter 393.