Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DIVISION OF HEALTH CARE FINANCE AND POLICY ADMINISTRATION
4100-0060	For the operation of the division of health care finance and policy and the administration of the uncompensated care pool established pursuant to chapter 118G of the General Laws; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the assessment to acute hospitals authorized pursuant to section 5 of said chapter 118G for the estimated expenses of the division shall include in fiscal year 2003, the estimated expenses, including indirect costs, of the division, and shall be equal to the amount appropriated in this item less amounts projected to be collected in fiscal year 2003 from: (1) filing fees, (2) fees and charges generated by the division`s publication or dissemination of reports and information, and (3) federal financial participation received as reimbursement for the division`s administrative costs; provided further, that said assessed amount shall be not less than 65 per cent of the division`s expenses as specified herein; provided further, that the division shall promulgate regulations requiring all hospitals receiving payments from the uncompensated care pool to report to the division the following utilization information: the number of inpatient admissions and outpatient visits by age category, income category, diagnostic category and average charge per admission; provided further, that the division shall submit quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means a summary report compiling said data; provided further, that the division, in consultation with the division of medical assistance, shall not promulgate any increase in medicaid provider rates without taking all measures possible under Title XIX of the Social Security Act or any successor federal statute to ensure that rates of payment to providers do not exceed such rates as are necessary to meet only those costs incurred by efficiently and economically operated providers in order to provide services of adequate quality; provided further, that the division shall meet the reporting requirements of section 25 of chapter 203 of the acts of 1996; provided further, that the division shall share financial data and expertise about the Massachusetts health care industry with the Massachusetts institute for social and economic research for the purpose of enhancing, developing and marketing data products for the public; provided further, that the division and the institute shall share any revenue generated through sale, licensure, royalty, and usage fees charged for said data products; provided further, that, not later than February 22, 2003, the division shall submit to the comptroller and to the house and senate committees on ways and means a report describing the method by which the division shall generate revenues through said sale, licensure, royalty, and usage fees in an amount sufficient to meet 25 per cent of the projected costs of the division in any fiscal year, as required by section 612 of chapter 151 of the acts of 1996; provided further, that $220,000 shall be expended for the purposes of a survey and study of the uninsured and underinsured in the commonwealth, including the health insurance needs of the residents of the commonwealth; provided further, that said study shall examine the overall impact of programs administered by the division and the division of medical assistance on the uninsured, the underinsured, and the role of employers in assisting their employees in affording health insurance pursuant to section 23 of chapter 118G of the General Laws; provided further, that the division shall publish annual reports on the financial condition of hospitals and other health care providers through the health benchmarks project website, in collaboration with the executive office of health and human services, the office of the attorney general, and the University of Massachusetts; provided further, that the division shall expend no less than $200,000 for the purposes of conducting audits of wage increases and related employee costs for certified nurses` aides as expended from item 4000-0600 and pursuant to 114 CMR 6.00 et seq.; provided further, that the division, in coordination with the division of medical assistance, shall recoup 150 per cent of any funds appropriated for the purpose of wage increases and related employee costs for certified nurses` aides in item 4000-0600 but not expended for said purpose; provided further, that monies so recouped from a nursing facility shall be allocated to the certified nurses` aides employed by said nursing facility; provided further, that the division shall require said nursing facilities to notify and pay out 150 per cent of said underpayments to certified nurses` aides for the calendar year of said underpayment based on total hours worked for the entire calendar year; provided further, that said notice and payment shall be made within one month from notification of said underpayment; provided further, that the division shall also require that nursing facilities document to the division that such funds were received by certified nurses` aides; provided further, that such expenditure of funds shall be subject to audit; and provided further, that the division shall submit to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on health care no later than December 1, 2002, a preliminary analysis of nursing facility spending for the calendar year 2002 based upon a mid-year review of nursing home data and shall report on the amounts recouped pursuant to the certified nurses aides` audits for the calendar year 2002 by August 1, 2003	10,084,422