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Community-provider groups urge state funding or flexibility for accreditation costs; bill would provide grants to offset expenses
Summary
Senate Bill 2192 would appropriate funds for accreditation grants to community providers. Providers told the committee accreditation can cost $25,000–$40,000 or more and that recent changes require accrediting bodies to evaluate entire organizations; they asked the committee to either make accreditation optional or restore state reimbursement.
Community provider representatives told the Senate Human Services Committee that mandated accreditation for organizations serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities imposes substantial financial and administrative burdens and asked that the state either reimburse accreditation costs or make accreditation optional.
Angela Denias, executive director of the North Dakota Association of Community Providers, said accreditation used to be state-funded and that the requirement remains onerous. "If the committee chooses to retain mandatory accreditation, we ask that the state fully fund the cost," she said, and suggested limiting accreditation to DD services if the state resumes reimbursement. Providers including Community Options, Poppies Promise and the Vocational Training Center described accreditation costs in the range of $25,000 to $40,000 depending on organization size and warned that some accrediting bodies now require evaluation of the entire organization (including unrelated services), raising costs further.
Several providers supported an appropriation to offset the accreditation burden or asked that accreditation be optional. The Department of Health and Human Services told the committee that additional details are needed, including whether funding should be limited to DD-service elements or include other provider activities and asked for time to provide fiscal analysis and clarify which accrediting entities are approved for the department's rule. Committee members asked the department to report back on approved accrediting organizations and on the program costs and scope of any state-funded reimbursement.
No committee vote was taken on SB 2192 during the session; members asked the department to provide further fiscal detail and options.
