MN SF2204

Creates critical access nursing facility designation that the commissioner of human services, in consultation with the commissioner of health, may grant on a competitive basis to nursing facilities in isolated areas.

Requires proposal requests from nursing facilities every two years with designation criteria designed to preserve access to nursing facility services in isolated areas, rebalance long-term care, and improve quality.

Provides five financial and operational benefits to designated facilities including partial rebasing of operating payment rates, enhanced leave day payments, waiver eligibility to jointly employ a director of nursing, reduced minimum thresholds for certain requirements, and application of quality-based rate limits.

Limits designation period to two years, after which benefits are removed, though facilities may reapply for continued designation.

Appropriates $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2013 from the general fund to the commissioner of human services for critical access nursing facility purposes, with this appropriation ongoing and added to the base.