Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances bill to limit Medicaid’s role in setting scope of practice
Summary
House Bill 110 would prevent Medicaid from effectively vetoing legislative or licensing-board decisions about provider scope of practice by withholding coverage; the Senate Health & Welfare Committee advanced the bill with a do-pass recommendation after the sponsor said the Department of Health and Welfare had no objections.
Sen. Seiderfeld presented House Bill 110 and told the committee the bill is intended to keep the Legislature and professional licensing boards responsible for setting scope-of-practice rules, rather than allowing Medicaid policies or actions to negate those decisions.
"This does not mean Medicaid has to cover new services, just that Medicaid is no longer in the position of vetoing legislative decisions through inaction in their own rules or policies," Seiderfeld said. The bill requires providers to enter into written Medicaid provider agreements and preserves the Legislature's authority to exclude services from Medicaid when appropriate.
Sen. Jane Blaylock made the motion to send HB 110 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The sponsor said the Department of Health and Welfare had reviewed the bill and raised no objections.
The bill's sponsor emphasized the measure is meant to ensure newly authorized providers are not blocked from participation in Medicaid solely because of Medicaid administrative action; it does not create an entitlement for Medicaid to pay for any service the Legislature authorizes.
