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House rejects nursing‑care facility assessment amendment amid fiscal dispute; vote to reconsider scheduled
Summary
The House defeated Senate Bill 94 (nursing care facility assessment amendment) 35‑37 on the floor after debated concerns about the assessment being a form of 'sick tax.' Sponsors said the assessment funds Medicaid matching and improved nursing home reimbursements. Members later voted to reconsider and circle the bill for amendment work.
Senate Bill 94, which would eliminate the annual adjustment to the nursing‑care facility assessment and hold the per‑patient‑day assessment at $1.83, failed on the House floor after a contentious debate about taxation and Medicaid funding.
Representative Carlson, speaking in favor, said the assessment funds the state match for Medicaid reimbursements and that keeping the rate at $1.83 had industry support. “That has allowed us to have a higher reimbursement rate for our nursing homes, which is desperately needed,” Carlson said.
Representative Dayton called the proposal another form of a "sick tax" and opposed making the assessment permanent without broader consideration. As the vote approached, the Speaker called a call of the house; the vote was locked and later lifted after members organized. When the tally was announced, SB94 had 35 yes and 37 no votes and failed.
Later on the floor Representative Allen moved to reconsider the action on SB94; the motion passed and members indicated they would circle the bill and work on amendments to make it acceptable. Sponsors said they planned to pursue negotiated amendments to address concerns raised during debate.
Next steps: SB94 will be revisited with proposed amendments and further negotiation with stakeholders and possibly the Senate before another House vote.
