Legislative Highlights

Raising the Medical Assistance Spenddown Income and Asset Limits *MHCA PRIORITY ISSUE*
Overview: This bill raises the asset limits for individuals and couples accessing Medical Assistance to $10,000 for an individual (current law is $3,000) and $18,000 for a couple (current law is $6,000). The bill was passed on to the House HHS Finance Committee and heard in the Senate Human Services Reform Committee and was laid on the table for further discussion once a fiscal note becomes available.

Best Life Alliance Bill to Raise Wages for Direct Support Professionals *MHCA PRIORITY ISSUE*
Overview: The bill requests a 4% rate increase effective July 1st, 2017 and a 4% rate increase effective July 1st 2018.
This bill has travelled through policy committee hearings in both bodies and is waiting to be heard in finance committees in both bodies. A fact sheet about the bill that can be shared with legislators and others can be found here.

Modifications to the Hospice Bill of Rights
Overview: This bill modifies the hospice bill of rights by requiring that hospice agencies provide patients with a 30 day notice when they are discharging patients. MHCA is working in collaboration with the MN Network of Hospice and Palliative Care to address concerns with this bill.

MA Face to Face Legislation
MHCA has included language around the requirements of this subdivision only apply to fee-for-service medical assistance. Managed care plans and county-based purchasing plans must not require face-to-face encounter requirements for home health services provided under medical assistance managed care.

Electronic Visit Verification
Overview: This is the bill that directs the state to move forward with developing an electronic visit verification system for PCA and CFSS to be in compliance with new federal regulations. The bill directs DHS to bring together a stakeholder group to help produce a report with recommendations for how to move forward by January of 2018. MHCA Executive Director Kathy Messerli will be testifying at a hearing in the House HHS Reform Committee today (3/7).

Hearing Loss Care Requirements
MHCA leadership and Kevin Goodno have been in communications with the proponents of this bill. Due to these communications, the bill was changed to make the training optional, although MHCA will still be communicating with the bill authors that we feel the language is not necessary due to training and resources already in place and noting our strong concern about the growing list of trainings on various disabilities or illnesses and the precedent this sets given that this list could grow endlessly.

Complex Pediatric Home Care Nursing Definition and Rate
This bill, which MHCA is supporting, was heard on 2/9 in the House HHS Policy Committee and was passed on to the House HHS Finance Committee, where it was heard on 3/1 and laid over for possible inclusion in the committee's omnibus bill.

Creation of Certified Paraprofessional
This bill has been “laid on the table” to allow time to see if a compromise can be found in the coming weeks. MHCA will continue to monitor this bill.