[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6287776,"mediaKeyId","2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18","parentId",2546871,"title","Committee hears changes to resident-rights law to clarify monitoring, transfers and refunds","audioSeconds",3189,"startMs",3809000,"endMs",619254,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18&start=3809&end=619","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18/thumbnail_3809000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287776/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-changes-to-resident-rights-law-to-clarify-monitoring-transfers-and-refunds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287776-76f39cc35516e3575e41b1fb597a44c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145257&Signature=f-c5SP5~RUL19lXtpPzp6qZ8~0VLkUbYvjSWJ3TK3Z-HbnTIzUJy4~G8zq8namuyeAbFGbXb3dP-rZYQUkG-4thlfAzSTVfn1eCRpCXCQ7WGS7XUPge~-QXWtoC6RJ0Uhr0B6IO8APEpwbvK47HaG5j3HdxF0lKpGJnokwPpcCgABDPAxOcpkjc3J7vRBvgTEVTH6Iy46HgzQXKbUvGDUrfvKxLrfWNVuOYOck~31O6JQoihSAY2PvwRE5KllBFpFg23VhL4suibUO4~59pxmU4dEhjVaD6PB2mmU5udPoDsZumX5drI3dnE90nYNjBXhKLsK3Pfc5sj1L6hbr9kWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-11T00:00:00Z","article","Carla Bachman, State Long Term Care Ombudsman: The House Human Services Committee heard engrossed Senate Bill 2070, a package of revisions to North Dakota resident-rights law (NDCC 50-10.2) requested by the Department of Health and Human Services and developed with stakeholder input. Carla Bachman, the state ombudsman, told the committee the changes aim to update definitions, distinguish recording from virtual monitoring, group facility responsibilities, and address resident protections including transfer/discharge notices and refunds.

What’s proposed: The bill replaces older language about “monitoring” with clearer statutory definitions for “authorized electronic recording,” “technology device,” “virtual monitoring,” “virtual visitation,” and related terms; it limits recording use and preserves privacy. Other proposals moved existing language to group facility responsibilities and add clarifications such as including partners and significant others in private-visit rules, adding neglect and financial exploitation to enumerated resident protections, and requiring facilities to provide three years of survey reports to match federal skilled-nursing rules.

Ombudsman and provider collaboration: Bachman said four stakeholder meetings were held with providers, family members and residents. Nikki Wagner, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, testified that association members worked with the ombudsman during the interim and—after raising concerns about how some provisions would apply differently across skilled nursing, assisted living, basic care and swing-bed settings—reached agreement on amended language. Wagner said the association supports the engrossed bill as amended.

Key clarifications: Witnesses stressed several clarifications adopted after provider feedback:
- Personal possessions: language was clarified to allow personal furnishings and clothing “as space permits” and not require facilities to provide unreasonable storage.
- Restraints: the bill’s physician-authorization requirement for emergency use of physical or chemical restraints was amended to allow authorization by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant when a physician is not available, addressing rural staffing realities.
- Transfers and discharges: the bill proposes new requirements for transfer/discharge notices (content and timing) to reduce complaints and help residents and families understand reasons for denial or discharge.

Resident funds and refunds: The bill would require facilities to process payout of resident personal funds and refunds within 30 days; witnesses said that requirement aims to reduce delays experienced by residents and representatives. A resident who testified described a personal overpayment and long delay in refunds and proposed an amendment to explicitly require refund of overpayments and interest if refunds are not made within 30 days; the ombudsman indicated she had seen the proposal and would follow up with providers.

Virtual monitoring and visitation: The bill allows use of technology devices for virtual monitoring and virtual visitation under rules that protect other residents’ privacy and distinguishes nonrecording drop-in calls from recording devices that create a permanent record; where recording is used, the older authorized-recording rules continue to apply.

Where it stands: Provider groups and the ombudsman reported consensus on engrossed language after revisions, and the bill drew broad support in committee testimony. No formal committee vote is recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Human Services Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 8:56 AM - 10:51 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The House Human Services Committee considered engrossed Senate Bill 2070, which updates North Dakota resident-rights law to clarify authorized electronic recording, virtual monitoring and visitor rules and to tighten notice and refund requirements for long-term-care residents.","taxTitle","Human Services, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28893,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287787,"Committee hears broad support to add adult dental benefit to Medicaid expansion",3082,324000,3406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18&start=324&end=3406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18/thumbnail_324000.jpg","/articles/6287787/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-broad-support-to-add-adult-dental-benefit-to-Medicaid-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287787-7a818cb11fcd470d37d9e55a437f5c2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145257&Signature=JqKd593-cBlVazAUXIm1WhiSul7bNw-IsS-JROnM0f1R2rMmmZ8kNWXXorpD7T-EqJVFl4v0-TZknl-zDVezsKnbBJ1IbRKE5Y5hscsdoupGxfB60mJVpCz-bhXsVFXDsAm3VFwYK~mMtU2CpAdrhFlpoNluaXYuUHSbq2sVI5yefNkOhlXOD7Xa7l0SO~654GVBxc3Uq17QwX2gV5M9qca~qhK88mC~CygKnReDnAI0GYuzX41nkKA6ulr9kLO1pYegNi50bBmly84G8LOZdO1yGjfj299axa9imk1S1zqDVYnAkp~EN2fFPZ-kFCYgcOna1IWtOsIOuvsQ9Do6uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Judy Lee, sponsor: For the record, Senator Judy Lee (District 13), told the House Human Services Committee Senate Bill 2231 would add medically necessary dental services to the Medicaid expansion population and that dental services found necessary through screening and teledentistry should be paid through Medicaid expansion.

Why it matters: Supporters said including adult dental care in the Medicaid expansion benefit would close an existing coverage gap, bring federal dollars into the state health system and reduce costly emergency-room visits for tooth pain.

Several community health center leaders, including Kim Kuhlman, policy and partnership manager for the Community Healthcare Association of the Dakotas (CHaD), told the committee: “We are here today in support of SB 2,231 as passed by the Senate.” Kuhlman said the bill would “add an adult dental benefit under Medicaid expansion, which would be the same coverage as currently covered under traditional Medicaid and would ensure that expansion enrollees have coverage for medically necessary dental care.”

Health-center CEOs described local demand. Nadine Bowe, CEO of Northland Health Centers, said her clinics have opened urgent dental access sites to meet need and stressed those efforts will face recruitment and sustainability challenges without Medicaid reimbursement for expansion enrollees. Mara Duran, CEO of Spectra Health in Grand Forks, said recent demand has “skyrocketed” and that clinics often absorb uncompensated care when expansion patients have no dental benefit.

The North Dakota Dental Association’s executive director William Sherwin told the committee community health centers and private dentists stand ready to provide care if the benefit is added. Sherwin noted national estimates of emergency-room spending on oral health and argued that treating patients in dental settings would be more effective and less costly than repeated ER visits.

Numbers and local impact: Testimony included several figures from providers and CHaD materials: five community health center organizations operating 22 locations serving about 36,000 individuals; health centers provided dental care to 11,912 patients with more than 25,000 dental visits in 2023; and an estimated 34,000 North Dakotans covered by Medicaid expansion currently lack dental coverage. CHaD emphasized that about 90% of Medicaid expansion funding for covered services would come from the federal match.

Questions and clarifications: Committee members asked whether dental services already are covered for some Medicaid populations; Senator Lee and witnesses clarified that traditional Medicaid includes an adult dental benefit in some categories but Medicaid expansion historically did not include vision or dental. Sarah Aker, executive director of the Division of Medical Services, told the committee that “medically necessary would include things that, kind of match our current dental benefit in our, traditional Medicaid population” and that the bill would exclude cosmetic or experimental procedures.

Implementation concerns raised by lawmakers and witnesses included workforce shortages, recruitment efforts (student rotations and new dental hygiene schools), and the need for sustainable reimbursement to expand dental clinics and hire staff. Witnesses said health centers use strategies such as student rotations and recruitment trips to dental schools to grow the workforce.

Where it stands: Supporters asked for a “do pass” recommendation to allow the bill to proceed. No formal committee vote was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: Proponents asked the committee to include medically necessary dental treatment for adults on Medicaid expansion so the state could reduce avoidable emergency care, improve overall health, and strengthen safety-net dental capacity.","Senator Judy Lee introduced Senate Bill 2231 to the House Human Services Committee, proposing that medically necessary dental services be added to North Dakota’s Medicaid expansion benefit so adults covered by expansion would receive the same dental coverage as traditional Medicaid enrollees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287771,"Committee hears department request to remove prior‑auth requirement for children on five or more psychotropic drugs",849,6041000,6890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18&start=6041&end=6890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18/thumbnail_6041000.jpg","/articles/6287771/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-department-request-to-remove-priorauth-requirement-for-children-on-five-or-more-psychotropic-drugs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287771-cdca7fc39b56b5172f4f97f43b7469d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145257&Signature=EE~PNA-Is3wek57nl-teVHjm0SFYBobqoHboZu5jUvUt343dmX-EItlRaEYjzKkuq9HZehxozHfcoA2m9R7iOr1ivrf4DaXsu74OHlOo0H100Ylzs~NaR3LNr7PcZ3xT9HhSgtSmFZ4aMqpmhprqzXNUvGColCNGAXjQgkZZKZgZoUJYMI7grY-BooH1AjsKU-yZyMULfUBPEf8EnApckEqqfTBZU7JuaA1zpL4YQM94XwFH-EmxNHiRR-Sh0~SZWv6tOKNaSkJSOrnqgV13F79fnlmTwJP8cliuMHq2Xxr57eDz99kyM8OYLA60Jaf-Du7VpgA0j129KBZlBv16PA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bridal Joyce, pharmacy and clinical services director for Medicaid: The House Human Services Committee heard Senate Bill 2076, which the Department of Health and Human Services brought forward for two purposes: first, to remove the statutory requirement that Medicaid prior‑authorize psychotropic medications for children on five or more concurrent psychotropic prescriptions; and second, to add situational authority so the department can avoid discriminatory supplemental rebate offers that would reduce North Dakota’s rebate revenue.

Why it matters: The 2019 law required prior authorization for children on five or more psychotropics, and initial legislative estimates expected about a dozen children would be impacted. After programming and data review, Medicaid staff concluded that many more children would fall under that requirement—estimates rose from an expected 12 to as high as 78 or around 100 in recent months—so the department did not activate the mandatory prior-authorization workflow and instead proposed statute removal.

Alternatives and oversight: Medicaid officials told the committee they will continue other oversight activities, including drug utilization review, provider education and academic detailing, claim‑processing edits and outreach to prescribers and pharmacies. The department said those steps can address concerns about overprescribing without imposing the administrative disruption of a mandatory prior‑auth requirement.

Rebates: The bill also adds a narrowly targeted provision to allow the department to access higher supplemental rebate rates in situations where manufacturers submit discriminatory offers that would otherwise give North Dakota lower supplemental rebates because of the state’s existing statutory exclusions. The department said multistate rebate pool partners discourage such offers, but the statutory language would help preserve the state’s negotiating position if manufacturers submit discriminatory proposals.

Questions from lawmakers focused on why the affected population grew beyond early estimates and whether removing the statutory prior‑auth would reduce clinical oversight. Joyce and other Medicaid staff said population growth, changes in prescribing patterns and additional drugs in psychotropic classes contributed to the higher counts. They emphasized ongoing monitoring and education efforts and federal reporting and monitoring requirements that already apply to antipsychotic use in children and certain adult populations.

Where it stands: Supporters of the department’s request testified in committee. The transcript records department explanations and questions but does not record a committee action or vote.","Senate Bill 2076 would remove a statutory requirement that Medicaid prior‑authorize psychotropic medications for children taking five or more concurrent psychotropic prescriptions and would add limited language to address discriminatory supplemental rebate offers to protect state rebate revenue. Medicaid officials told the House Human Services",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287782,"Committee considers extending applied behavior analysis coverage under Medicaid",701,3669000,4370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18&start=3669&end=4370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2546871-b29d7deae83c535cf3e3e13a153f3a18/thumbnail_3669000.jpg","/articles/6287782/North-Dakota/Committee-considers-extending-applied-behavior-analysis-coverage-under-Medicaid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287782-ccc5ea0cd182357e69b0dc9ffb50313f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145257&Signature=Xsum2HClc6d57kiFnj9jMtnI44642Zq3Lnu8nkseu034t6oihftopftB84CBbTPxLfZbMS-NhflOkQBjYZIZaYvDDoDufRkS-mF4-1mjcAMBYnc1hKZeukQMZFoE6RP20ByysEdFRf-~lXXuYfNL82fuMJMGHUHlJ4HgmEUH8WGh5-DWa8LKSV2TlL9CtaYVgNUU3P7Be9cQHY5KNprvSw0M~FZCWcuPA0b8LtjvAaOBwjjqqgubpi1P1h3leQLANfrZrJ~AKjtHEVUNlQHRzOIXkdUR56isp0H2KvMALCFnRq5q6g5RzsY-ynpJziek3jNe1-cIpM~rs7Cfkll4Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Judy Lee (District 13) introduced Senate Bill 2190 to the House Human Services Committee, describing the bill as a request to expand coverage of applied behavior analysis (ABA) beyond the current age limit for some individuals with autism.

Why it matters: Supporters argued ABA can be effective beyond childhood for individuals with autism who continue to exhibit behaviors that impair daily living. Extending coverage would allow continued therapeutic intervention for those who meet medical necessity and qualification criteria under Medicaid.

Sen. Lee said the services are “quite effective” and recounted a family case where behavioral treatment and medication adjustments allowed a young adult on the autism spectrum to return home after residential treatment. She said the intent is to enable applied behavioral analysis to “continue working with the families and the individuals who are on the autism spectrum so that those behavioral issues could be addressed.”

Morris Hardy, director of the Dakota Central Human Service Zone and a member of the North Dakota Human Service Zone Association, testified in support and said the association backed the bill as an additional tool for foster- and in-home workers to better serve children and adults who need behavioral supports.

Department clarification and eligibility: Sarah Aker, executive director of the Division of Medical Services, answered committee questions about eligibility and scope. She confirmed the bill would apply to Medicaid (not private insurance) and explained that qualifying for Medicaid remains income- and asset-based for adults on waivers; in many cases individuals eligible for ABA would qualify through waivers such as the developmentally disabled waiver.

Where it stands: Committee members asked procedural and eligibility questions; no formal vote was recorded in the transcript.","Senate Bill 2190 would allow Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services beyond age 18 for individuals with autism and related needs under Medicaid. Sponsor Sen. Judy Lee and human services directors told the committee the coverage addresses lifelong needs for some people on the autism spectrum.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears changes to resident-rights law to clarify monitoring, transfers and refunds

Committee hears broad support to add adult dental benefit to Medicaid expansion

Committee hears department request to remove prior‑auth requirement for children on five or more psychotropic drugs

Committee considers extending applied behavior analysis coverage under Medicaid