Bill > LD772

Introduced Session

This bill modifies the provision of law governing procedures for reinstating beds that have been voluntarily removed from a nursing facility. The bill expands the criteria governing which removed beds qualify as reserved beds that may be reinstated under this provision by removing language that limits reinstatement to beds that were removed prior to July 1, 2007 for a reason other than to create private rooms. The bill modifies the expedited review process to obtain certificate of need approval to reopen reserved beds. Applications that seek to reopen reserved beds must be approved if the projected incremental costs of reopening and operating the reserved beds are consistent with the facility's costs of operating its other beds. Applicants are not required to demonstrate that any increases in MaineCare costs are offset by other MaineCare savings. The costs of ongoing operation of both the reopened beds and the complement of facility beds at the time the reserved beds are reopened must be recognized as allowable costs and incorporated into the facility's MaineCare payment rates. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to include in its calculation of reimbursement for services provided by a nursing facility the cost incurred by the facility for a medical director. Current law only requires the department to include in its calculation an allowance for the cost of a medical director in a base year amount not to exceed $10,000 adjusted for cost of living.

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Joe Baldacci (D)*, 

Ought Not to Pass Pursuant To Joint Rule 310, Apr 8, 2025 (on 04/08/2025)

Official Document