NURS HOME-STAFF RATIO-MEDICAID

Amends the Nursing Home Care Act and the Illinois Public Aid Code. In the Nursing Home Care Act, eliminates a provision that certain minimum staffing ratio requirements shall remain in effect until an acuity based registered nurse requirement is promulgated by rule concurrent with the adoption of the Resource Utilization Group (RUG) classification-based payment methodology, as provided in the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that both the 25% licensed nurse requirement and 10% registered nurse requirement shall remain in effect until an acuity based licensed nurse requirement and registered nurse requirement are adopted in administrative rules subsequent to the implementation of the RUG classification-based payment methodology. Provides that an acuity based licensed nurse requirement and registered nurse requirement shall not be made effective before January 1, 2014. In the Illinois Public Aid Code, provides that the methodologies for Medicaid reimbursement of nursing services shall no longer be applicable for bills payable for nursing services rendered on or after a new reimbursement system based on the Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs) has been fully operationalized, which shall take effect for services provided on or after April 1, 2013 (instead of January 1, 2014). In provisions concerning Medicaid standards of payment to nursing facilities, provides that beginning April 1, 2013 (instead of January 1, 2014), the methodologies for reimbursement of nursing facility services shall no longer be applicable for services provided on or after April 1, 2013 (instead of January 1, 2014). Effective April 1, 2013.