Tri-City Sun

State Representative Matthew Bierlein has put forward a legislative proposal aimed at safeguarding county-owned care facilities in Michigan. The proposed legislation, House Bill 4726, seeks to ensure that vulnerable residents across the state continue to receive essential care services.

Currently, counties with Medicaid-funded nursing home services are obligated to reimburse the state for operating costs of these facilities. However, some counties have found themselves facing higher costs due to the existing reimbursement rate parameters. House Bill 4726 aims to extend protections for these facilities by allowing them to maintain a lower "maintenance of effort" rate.

"County-owned care facilities are vital for many people in Michigan, including in rural areas," said Bierlein, representing Vassar. "It’s important that these facilities are sustained. Maintaining these reimbursement protections will ensure providers are there for our most vulnerable senior citizens. If these protections go away, facilities would see significant cost increases that would impact care and it would force local residents to pay more through county millages. Extending this program is commonsense policy that protects people’s well-being."

The current provision for reimbursement rates is set to expire on December 31st of this year. Bierlein's plan proposes extending this date to December 31st, 2030 or until a new reimbursement system is established. This provision has been in place since the mid-1980s and has received multiple extensions previously.

The bill is currently under consideration by the House Insurance Committee. Representative Bierlein also serves as the chair of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Public Health and Food Security.