Committee approves omnibus human services bill without debate

Despite prior misgivings voiced by legislators over parts of the omnibus human services policy bill, it was approved with minimal discussion Thursday.

The House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee approved HF729, sponsored by Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Mpls), via a voice vote and sent it to the House Ways and Means Committee in less than an hour with no debate.

In addition to a delete-all amendment, the committee approved nine other amendments.

“This bill updates provider oversight in public programs, strengthens safeguards around public funds and makes it clear that quality care, transparency, accountability and responsibility must go hand in hand,” Noor said.

The bill covers a range of issues, including releasing the unredacted Optum report, which passed on the House Floor earlier this month, codifying the repeal of the housing stabilization service program and updating requirements for medical assistance prepayment review.

Direct Care and Treatment's Health Systems CEO Marshall Smith said the bill would “have a positive impact on patient care.”

A majority of written testimony supports the inclusion of HF3375, sponsored by Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake), that would modify unit-based services with programming limits under the disability waiver rate system.

Supporters specifically lauded language that would eliminate a three-consecutive-hour limit on services from Individualized Home Supports with Training that limits the number of service hours an individual receiving home care can receive during the day. “These changes are meaningful and necessary because they allow services to be delivered in a way that better matches a person’s actual needs, goals, and routines,” wrote John Reule, service administrator for Mary T. Inc.  

Omnibus bill package

The following are bills that have been incorporated, either in part or in whole, into the omnibus human services policy bill. They would:

• HF3378 (Schomacker): Require the Department of Human Services to release the unredacted initial Optum report and prohibit dissemination and publication of data;
• HF3379 (Schomacker): Repeal housing stabilization services;
• HF3423 (Schomacker): Require the Department of Human Services to update rules to correct an incorrect federal citation;
• HF3520 (Gillman): Modify intensive residential treatment services and intensive non-residential rehabilitative mental health services requirements and clarify that certain room and board services are eligible for behavioral health fund payment;
• HF3526 (Schomacker): Establish a special projects grant program using funds from fines collected related to home care licensing surveys and investigations and modify criteria for appointment to the home care and assisted living advisory council;
• HF3738 (Bierman): Modify the due date of the pediatric hospital-to-home pilot program report;
• HF4068 (Noor): Recodify medical assistance sanctions and monetary recovery provisions and clarify the Department of Human Services’ authority to impose sanctions against individuals or entities that receive payments from medical assistance or provide goods or services for which a medical assistance payment is made;
• HF4354 (Frederick): Direct Care and Treatment policy bill; and
• HF4491 (Schomacker): Establish requirements for medical assistance prepayment review.