Committee discusses making $5/day basic care rate increase one-time and using health care trust fund to replace GF
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Summary
Members debated re-labeling a $5-per-day basic care rate addition as one-time funding and replacing $1.448 million of general fund with the health care trust fund; committee sought more information and agreed in principle to the accounting change, with next steps assigned to HHS for cost figures and the ongoing study referenced in SB 2271.
Committee members debated whether a $5-per-day addition to the basic care daily rate should be ongoing or moved to one-time funding and whether the Health Care Trust Fund could replace a portion of the general fund obligation.
Senator Davidson said the proposal would reduce a $4.067 million general fund obligation by roughly $1.448 million and make the $5-per-day addition a one-time appropriation. "From this discussion then, I think we have an agreement that, to do on on the 1 time funding line to, reduce the the 4.067 general fund obligation by 1 1.47 whatever the number is and that's in the health care trust fund and make this what this $5 a day, addition a 1 time appropriation," he said, and moved the change.
Sarah Acre, executive director of the Division of Medical Services, noted Senate Bill 2271 contains study language directing the department to bring recommendations on basic care reimbursement back in the next biennium. "There is language in, Senate Bill 2271 ... to direct the department to look at recommendations for basic care reimbursement and bring those back next biennium to you," Acre said.
Committee staff confirmed the trust fund had an estimated ending balance of approximately $1.448 million and explained an accounting swap would reduce general fund use while leaving total budget authority unchanged. "No Mr. Chair you'd actually reduce the general fund amount by 1.44 and you'd increase the other fund amount. So your total remains the same but you're actually reducing the amount from general fund," a staff member said.
Lawmakers asked HHS to provide how much would be spent on the $5-per-day addition in the prior biennium and to return with details; HHS said it would provide the requested information. The committee did not record a roll call on a final resolution in the transcript but moved to treat the $5-per-day addition as a one-time item for the upcoming biennium pending follow-up data and the SB 2271 study.