SF2876 Bill Summary

• Amends contingent appropriation requirements to exempt rate increases specified in article 11, sections 12 and 19 from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approval, expiring June 30, 2024.

• Grants Commissioner of Health temporary emergency authority to issue individual or blanket waivers for hospital construction moratoriums, nursing home bed moratoriums, and licensing fees through June 30, 2022, with notice requirements within 48 hours to legislators and ombudsmen.

• Authorizes Commissioner of Human Services to reinstate six COVID-19 program waivers (CV03, CV04, CV11, CV23, CV53, CV89) through June 30, 2022, with CV03 and CV04 extended through June 30, 2023, affecting signatures, third-party verification, foster care visits, background studies, personal care oversight, and long-term services documentation.

• Permits child care assistance payments to providers for temporary COVID-19 closures through June 26, 2022, limited to 8 weeks per provider, and temporarily suspends child care center staff distribution requirements through June 30, 2022.

• Establishes a temporary emergency staffing pool funded with $1,029,000 for congregate care facilities experiencing staffing crises, available until June 30, 2022, serving 24 types of facilities including nursing homes, shelters, and substance use disorder treatment programs.