Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 33, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, page 358, after line 9, by adding an appropriately numbered new proviso to read:
/ (DHHS: Notice of Proposed Rate Reductions, Fee Increases, Policy Decisions) The Department of Health and Human Services may not reduce Medicaid provider rates, increase Medicaid fees or implement an agency policy decision with a similar effect, until the department has provided notice of the proposed rate reduction, fee increase or policy decision and has given a minimum of thirty days from the date of notification for written comments to be submitted. Following this thirty day comment period, the department must take a maximum of fifteen days to review and respond to the comments received. The department must not implement a provider rate reduction, fee increase, or policy decision with a similar effect until forty-five days has elapsed from the date of notification.
This does not restrict the annual updating of cost base rates and those rates which are indexed to methodologies provided for in the Medicaid State Plan. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend sections, totals and title to conform.