Committee approves H.13 to set Medicaid payment methodology for home- and community-based providers

The House Health Committee on Monday approved draft 4.1 of H.13, a bill that directs the Secretary of Human Services to establish a methodology for determining Medicaid payment rates for providers of home- and community-based services rather than creating those details through rulemaking. The committee voted to approve the draft by roll call; no no votes were recorded.

Jennifer Carbridge of the Office of Legislative Counsel briefed the committee on the changes to H.13, saying the latest draft moves rate-setting mechanics out of rulemaking and places a statutory requirement that "the Secretary of Human Services establish a methodology" for determining payment rates. Carbridge said the methodology language lists specific requirements the agency must address, including a schedule for rate studies, a predictable timeline for redetermination of base rates, and a process for annual inflationary adjustments.

The bill requires the Agency of Human Services (AHS) to provide a report to the House Health Committee…