House OKs human services policy bill aimed at fraud-fighting, continuity of care

Will the Senate agree to the House human services policy bill? Will a conference committee be needed to resolve differences?

We’ll likely find out soon enough.

There was no debate on the House Floor Monday before members passed HF729/SF476*, with a delete-all amendment to insert the House language. Following the 93-39 vote, the bill returns to the Senate for concurrence.

It was passed 39-28 by that body April 23. Sen. John Hoffman (DFL-Champlin) is the Senate sponsor.

Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Mpls) said the bill he sponsors strikes an important balance. “This bill addresses the gaps that exist in our policies while making sure people get the continuity of care they depend on the most.”

[MORE: Committee approves omnibus human services bill without debate]

With fraud top of mind for legislators this year the bill would:

• establish pre-payment review requirements for medical assistance claims and claims in any of the 14 Department of Human Services’ programs deemed “high risk”;
• institute an enrollment moratorium of up to two years for those high-risk programs;
• allow the department to withhold medical assistance payments for a 90-day period;
• formally terminate housing stabilization services;
• release the unredacted Optum report, which passed off the House Floor in March;
• recodify medical assistance sanctions and monetary recovery provisions; and
• clarify the department’s 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.

The bill would also clarify department authority to reduce vague language that allowed some enforcement measures to slip through the cracks, and strengthen protections for vulnerable adults to bring the state into compliance with the federal Adult Protective Services Act. In addition, new duties would be given to county investigative services to ensure vulnerable adults are protected.

Rep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne), who co-chairs the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee with Noor, encouraged support for the bill.

“As we talked to the Senate, there were some things that had some controversy but in the areas where people were able to work together, particularly in the world of aging and long-term care, we were able to work together and find resolve,” he said. In other areas, he noted, agreement couldn’t be reached and provisions were dropped.

Rep. Luke Frederick (DFL-Mankato) applauded Noor and Schomacker’s teamwork. “For a second year in a row, they put on an example of what bipartisanship can look like.”