CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)

                            CHAMBER ACTION
              Senate                               House
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  4  ______________________________________________________________

  5                                           ORIGINAL STAMP BELOW

  6

  7

  8

  9

10  ______________________________________________________________

11  Representative(s) Sobel and Frankel offered the following:

12

13         Amendment (with title amendment) 

14  Remove everything after the enacting clause

15

16  and insert:

17

18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

19

20         Section 1.  Section 16.59, Florida Statutes, is amended

21  to read:

22         16.59  Medicaid fraud control.--There is created in the

23  Department of Legal Affairs the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit,

24  which may investigate all violations of s. 409.920 and any

25  criminal violations discovered during the course of those

26  investigations.  The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit may refer any

27  criminal violation so uncovered to the appropriate prosecuting

28  authority. Offices of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the

29  offices of the Agency for Health Care Administration Medicaid

30  program integrity program shall, to the extent possible, be

31  colocated. The agency and the Department of Legal Affairs

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  shall conduct joint training and other joint activities

  2  designed to increase communication and coordination in

  3  recovering overpayments.

  4         Section 2.  Subsections (3), (5), and (7) of section

  5  112.3187, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  6         112.3187  Adverse action against employee for

  7  disclosing information of specified nature prohibited;

  8  employee remedy and relief.--

  9         (3)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this act, unless

10  otherwise specified, the following words or terms shall have

11  the meanings indicated:

12         (a)  "Agency" means any state, regional, county, local,

13  or municipal government entity, whether executive, judicial,

14  or legislative; any official, officer, department, division,

15  bureau, commission, authority, or political subdivision

16  therein; or any public school, community college, or state

17  university.

18         (b)  "Employee" means a person who performs services

19  for, and under the control and direction of, or contracts

20  with, an agency or independent contractor for wages or other

21  remuneration.

22         (c)  "Adverse personnel action" means the discharge,

23  suspension, transfer, or demotion of any employee or the

24  withholding of bonuses, the reduction in salary or benefits,

25  or any other adverse action taken against an employee within

26  the terms and conditions of employment by an agency or

27  independent contractor.

28         (d)  "Independent contractor" means a person, other

29  than an agency, engaged in any business and who enters into a

30  contract or provider agreement with an agency.

31         (e)  "Gross mismanagement" means a continuous pattern

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  of managerial abuses, wrongful or arbitrary and capricious

  2  actions, or fraudulent or criminal conduct which may have a

  3  substantial adverse economic impact.

  4         (5)  NATURE OF INFORMATION DISCLOSED.--The information

  5  disclosed under this section must include:

  6         (a)  Any violation or suspected violation of any

  7  federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation committed by

  8  an employee or agent of an agency or independent contractor

  9  which creates and presents a substantial and specific danger

10  to the public's health, safety, or welfare.

11         (b)  Any act or suspected act of gross mismanagement,

12  malfeasance, misfeasance, gross waste of public funds,

13  suspected or actual Medicaid fraud or abuse, or gross neglect

14  of duty committed by an employee or agent of an agency or

15  independent contractor.

16         (7)  EMPLOYEES AND PERSONS PROTECTED.--This section

17  protects employees and persons who disclose information on

18  their own initiative in a written and signed complaint; who

19  are requested to participate in an investigation, hearing, or

20  other inquiry conducted by any agency or federal government

21  entity; who refuse to participate in any adverse action

22  prohibited by this section; or who initiate a complaint

23  through the whistle-blower's hotline or the hotline of the

24  Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Department of Legal

25  Affairs; or employees who file any written complaint to their

26  supervisory officials or employees who submit a complaint to

27  the Chief Inspector General in the Executive Office of the

28  Governor, to the employee designated as agency inspector

29  general under s. 112.3189(1), or to the Florida Commission on

30  Human Relations.  The provisions of this section may not be

31  used by a person while he or she is under the care, custody,

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  or control of the state correctional system or, after release

  2  from the care, custody, or control of the state correctional

  3  system, with respect to circumstances that occurred during any

  4  period of incarceration.  No remedy or other protection under

  5  ss. 112.3187-112.31895 applies to any person who has committed

  6  or intentionally participated in committing the violation or

  7  suspected violation for which protection under ss.

  8  112.3187-112.31895 is being sought.

  9         Section 3.  Section 408.831, Florida Statutes, is

10  created to read:

11         408.831  Denial of application; suspension or

12  revocation of license, registration, or certificate.--

13         (1)  In addition to any other remedies provided by law,

14  the agency may deny each application or suspend or revoke each

15  license, registration, or certificate of entities regulated or

16  licensed by it:

17         (a)  If the applicant, licensee, registrant, or

18  certificateholder, or, in the case of a corporation,

19  partnership, or other business entity, if any officer,

20  director, agent, or managing employee of that business entity

21  or any affiliated person, partner, or shareholder having an

22  ownership interest equal to 5 percent or greater in that

23  business entity, has failed to pay all outstanding fines,

24  liens, or overpayments assessed by final order of the agency

25  or final order of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid

26  Services unless a repayment plan is approved by the agency; or

27         (b)  For failure to comply with any repayment plan.

28         (2)  For all legal proceedings that may result from a

29  denial, suspension, or revocation under this section,

30  testimony or documentation from the financial entity charged

31  with monitoring such payment shall constitute evidence of the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  failure to pay an outstanding fine, lien, or overpayment and

  2  shall be sufficient grounds for the denial, suspension, or

  3  revocation.

  4         (3)  This section provides standards of enforcement

  5  applicable to all entities licensed or regulated by the Agency

  6  for Health Care Administration. This section controls over any

  7  conflicting provisions of chapters 39, 381, 383, 390, 391,

  8  393, 394, 395, 400, 408, 468, 483, and 641 or rules adopted

  9  pursuant to those chapters.

10         Section 4.  For the purpose of incorporating the

11  amendments made by this act to sections 409.902, 409.907,

12  409.908, and 409.913, Florida Statutes, in references thereto,

13  subsection (4) of section 409.8132, Florida Statutes, is

14  reenacted to read:

15         409.8132  Medikids program component.--

16         (4)  APPLICABILITY OF LAWS RELATING TO MEDICAID.--The

17  provisions of ss. 409.902, 409.905, 409.906, 409.907, 409.908,

18  409.912, 409.9121, 409.9122, 409.9123, 409.9124, 409.9127,

19  409.9128, 409.913, 409.916, 409.919, 409.920, and 409.9205

20  apply to the administration of the Medikids program component

21  of the Florida Kidcare program, except that s. 409.9122

22  applies to Medikids as modified by the provisions of

23  subsection (7).

24         Section 5.  Section 409.902, Florida Statutes, is

25  amended to read:

26         409.902  Designated single state agency; payment

27  requirements; program title; release of medical records.--The

28  Agency for Health Care Administration is designated as the

29  single state agency authorized to make payments for medical

30  assistance and related services under Title XIX of the Social

31  Security Act.  These payments shall be made, subject to any

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  limitations or directions provided for in the General

  2  Appropriations Act, only for services included in the program,

  3  shall be made only on behalf of eligible individuals, and

  4  shall be made only to qualified providers in accordance with

  5  federal requirements for Title XIX of the Social Security Act

  6  and the provisions of state law.  This program of medical

  7  assistance is designated the "Medicaid program." The

  8  Department of Children and Family Services is responsible for

  9  Medicaid eligibility determinations, including, but not

10  limited to, policy, rules, and the agreement with the Social

11  Security Administration for Medicaid eligibility

12  determinations for Supplemental Security Income recipients, as

13  well as the actual determination of eligibility.  As a

14  condition of Medicaid eligibility, the Agency for Health Care

15  Administration and the Department of Children and Family

16  Services shall ensure that each recipient of Medicaid consents

17  to the release of her or his medical records to the Agency for

18  Health Care Administration and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

19  of the Department of Legal Affairs.

20         Section 6.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (1) of

21  section 409.904, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 2 of

22  chapter 2001-377, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

23         409.904  Optional payments for eligible persons.--The

24  agency may make payments for medical assistance and related

25  services on behalf of the following persons who are determined

26  to be eligible subject to the income, assets, and categorical

27  eligibility tests set forth in federal and state law. Payment

28  on behalf of these Medicaid eligible persons is subject to the

29  availability of moneys and any limitations established by the

30  General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.

31         (1)  A person who is age 65 or older or is determined

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  to be disabled, whose income is at or below 90 88 percent of

  2  federal poverty level, and whose assets do not exceed

  3  established limitations.

  4         Section 7.  Subsection (2) of section 409.904, Florida

  5  Statutes, as amended by section 2 of chapter 2001-377, Laws of

  6  Florida, is amended to read:

  7         409.904  Optional payments for eligible persons.--The

  8  agency may make payments for medical assistance and related

  9  services on behalf of the following persons who are determined

10  to be eligible subject to the income, assets, and categorical

11  eligibility tests set forth in federal and state law. Payment

12  on behalf of these Medicaid eligible persons is subject to the

13  availability of moneys and any limitations established by the

14  General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.

15         (2)(a)  A pregnant woman who would otherwise qualify

16  for Medicaid under s. 409.903(5) except for her level of

17  income and whose assets fall within the limits established by

18  the Department of Children and Family Services for the

19  medically needy.  A pregnant woman who applies for medically

20  needy eligibility may not be made presumptively eligible.

21         (b)  A child under age 21 who would otherwise qualify

22  for Medicaid or the Florida Kidcare program except for the

23  family's level of income and whose assets fall within the

24  limits established by the Department of Children and Family

25  Services for the medically needy. A family, a pregnant woman,

26  a child under age 18, a person age 65 or over, or a blind or

27  disabled person who would be eligible under any group listed

28  in s. 409.903(1), (2), or (3), except that the income or

29  assets of such family or person exceed established

30  limitations.  For a family or person in this group, medical

31  expenses are deductible from income in accordance with federal

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  requirements in order to make a determination of eligibility.

  2  Expenses used to meet spend-down liability are not

  3  reimbursable by Medicaid.  The medically-needy income levels

  4  in effect on July 1, 2001, are increased by $537 effective

  5  July 1, 2002.  A family or person in this group, which group

  6  is known as the "medically needy," is eligible to receive the

  7  same services as other Medicaid recipients, with the exception

  8  of services in skilled nursing facilities and intermediate

  9  care facilities for the developmentally disabled.

10         Section 8.  Present subsections (8) and (10) of section

11  409.904, Florida Statutes, are amended, present subsections

12  (9), (10), and (11) are renumbered as subsections (10), (11),

13  and (12), respectively, and a new subsection (9) is added to

14  said section, to read:

15         409.904  Optional payments for eligible persons.--The

16  agency may make payments for medical assistance and related

17  services on behalf of the following persons who are determined

18  to be eligible subject to the income, assets, and categorical

19  eligibility tests set forth in federal and state law.  Payment

20  on behalf of these Medicaid eligible persons is subject to the

21  availability of moneys and any limitations established by the

22  General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.

23         (8)  A pregnant woman or a child under 1 year of age

24  who lives in a family that has an income above 150 185 percent

25  but not in excess of 200 percent of the most recently

26  published federal poverty level, but which is at or below 200

27  percent of such poverty level. Countable income shall be

28  determined in accordance with state and federal regulation.

29  For a pregnant woman, coverage is dependent upon federal

30  approval of coverage through Title XXI of the Social Security

31  Act. In determining the eligibility of such child, an assets

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  test is not required. A child who is eligible for Medicaid

  2  under this subsection must be offered the opportunity, subject

  3  to federal rules, to be made presumptively eligible.

  4         (9)  A pregnant woman for the duration of her pregnancy

  5  and for the postpartum period as defined in federal law and

  6  regulation, who has an income above 150 percent but not in

  7  excess of 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Countable

  8  income shall be determined in accordance with state and

  9  federal regulation. A pregnant woman who applies for

10  eligibility for the Medicaid program shall be offered the

11  opportunity, subject to federal regulations, to be made

12  presumptively eligible. Coverage for a pregnant woman during

13  her pregnancy shall not be available should coverage become

14  available under Title XXI of the Social Security Act as

15  provided in subsection (8).

16         (11)(10)(a)  Eligible women with incomes at or below

17  200 percent of the federal poverty level and under age 65, for

18  cancer treatment pursuant to the federal Breast and Cervical

19  Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act of 2000, screened through

20  the Mary Brogan National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early

21  Detection Program established under s. 381.93.

22         (b)  A woman who has not attained 65 years of age and

23  who has been screened for breast or cervical cancer by a

24  qualified entity under the Mary Brogan Breast and Cervical

25  Cancer Early Detection Program of the Department of Health and

26  needs treatment for breast or cervical cancer and is not

27  otherwise covered under creditable coverage, as defined in s.

28  2701(c) of the Public Health Service Act. For purposes of this

29  subsection, the term "qualified entity" means a county public

30  health department or other entity that has contracted with the

31  Department of Health to provide breast and cervical cancer

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  screening services paid for under this act. In determining the

  2  eligibility of such a woman, an assets test is not required. A

  3  presumptive eligibility period begins on the date on which all

  4  eligibility criteria appear to be met and ends on the date

  5  determination is made with respect to the eligibility of such

  6  woman for services under the state plan or, in the case of

  7  such a woman who does not file an application, by the last day

  8  of the month following the month in which the presumptive

  9  eligibility determination is made. A woman is eligible until

10  she gains creditable coverage, until treatment is no longer

11  necessary, or until attainment of 65 years of age.

12         Section 9.    Effective July 1, 2002, subsections (1),

13  (12) and (23) of section 409.906, Florida Statutes as amended

14  by Section 3 of chapter 2001-377, Laws of Florida, are amended

15  to read:

16         409.906  Optional Medicaid services.--Subject to

17  specific appropriations, the agency may make payments for

18  services which are optional to the state under Title XIX of

19  the Social Security Act and are furnished by Medicaid

20  providers to recipients who are determined to be eligible on

21  the dates on which the services were provided.  Any optional

22  service that is provided shall be provided only when medically

23  necessary and in accordance with state and federal law.

24  Optional services rendered by providers in mobile units to

25  Medicaid recipients may be restricted or prohibited by the

26  agency. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent

27  or limit the agency from adjusting fees, reimbursement rates,

28  lengths of stay, number of visits, or number of services, or

29  making any other adjustments necessary to comply with the

30  availability of moneys and any limitations or directions

31  provided for in the General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.

                                  10

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  If necessary to safeguard the state's systems of providing

  2  services to elderly and disabled persons and subject to the

  3  notice and review provisions of s. 216.177, the Governor may

  4  direct the Agency for Health Care Administration to amend the

  5  Medicaid state plan to delete the optional Medicaid service

  6  known as "Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally

  7  Disabled."  Optional services may include:

  8         (1)  ADULT DENTURE SERVICES.--The agency may pay for

  9  dentures, the procedures required to seat dentures, and the

10  repair and reline of dentures, provided by or under the

11  direction of a licensed dentist, for a recipient who is age 21

12  or older. However, Medicaid will not provide reimbursement for

13  dental services provided in a mobile dental unit, except for a

14  mobile dental unit:

15         (a)  Owned by, operated by, or having a contractual

16  agreement with the Department of Health and complying with

17  Medicaid's county health department clinic services program

18  specifications as a county health department clinic services

19  provider.

20         (b)  Owned by, operated by, or having a contractual

21  arrangement with a federally qualified health center and

22  complying with Medicaid's federally qualified health center

23  specifications as a federally qualified health center

24  provider.

25         (c)  Rendering dental services to Medicaid recipients,

26  21 years of age and older, at nursing facilities.

27         (d)  Owned by, operated by, or having a contractual

28  agreement with a state-approved dental educational

29  institution.

30         (e)  This subsection is repealed July 1, 2002.

31         (12)  CHILDREN'S HEARING SERVICES.--The agency may pay

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  for hearing and related services, including hearing

  2  evaluations, hearing aid devices, dispensing of the hearing

  3  aid, and related repairs, if provided to a recipient under age

  4  21 by a licensed hearing aid specialist, otolaryngologist,

  5  otologist, audiologist, or physician.

  6         (23)  CHILDREN'S VISUAL SERVICES.--The agency may pay

  7  for visual examinations, eyeglasses, and eyeglass repairs for

  8  a recipient under age 21, if they are prescribed by a licensed

  9  physician specializing in diseases of the eye or by a licensed

10  optometrist

11         Section 10.  Effective July 1, 2002, subsection (2) of

12  section 409.9065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

13         409.9065  Pharmaceutical expense assistance.--

14         (2)  ELIGIBILITY.--Eligibility for the program is

15  limited to those individuals who qualify for limited

16  assistance under the Florida Medicaid program as a result of

17  being dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, but

18  whose limited assistance or Medicare coverage does not include

19  any pharmacy benefit. To the extent that funds are

20  appropriated, specifically eligible are low-income senior

21  citizens who:

22         (a)  Are Florida residents age 65 and over;

23         (b)  Have an income between 90 and 120 percent of the

24  federal poverty level, or an income between 90 and 150 percent

25  of the federal poverty level if the Federal Government raises

26  the Medicaid match to 150 percent of the federal poverty

27  level;

28         (c)  Are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid;

29         (d)  Are not enrolled in a Medicare health maintenance

30  organization that provides a pharmacy benefit; and

31         (e)  Request to be enrolled in the program.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         Section 11.  Subsections (7) and (9) of section

  2  409.907, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 6 of chapter

  3  2001-377, Laws of Florida, are amended to read:

  4         409.907  Medicaid provider agreements.--The agency may

  5  make payments for medical assistance and related services

  6  rendered to Medicaid recipients only to an individual or

  7  entity who has a provider agreement in effect with the agency,

  8  who is performing services or supplying goods in accordance

  9  with federal, state, and local law, and who agrees that no

10  person shall, on the grounds of handicap, race, color, or

11  national origin, or for any other reason, be subjected to

12  discrimination under any program or activity for which the

13  provider receives payment from the agency.

14         (7)  The agency may require, as a condition of

15  participating in the Medicaid program and before entering into

16  the provider agreement, that the provider submit information,

17  in an initial and any required renewal applications,

18  concerning the professional, business, and personal background

19  of the provider and permit an onsite inspection of the

20  provider's service location by agency staff or other personnel

21  designated by the agency to perform this function. After

22  receipt of the fully completed application of a new provider,

23  the agency shall perform random onsite inspection of the

24  provider's service location to assist in determining the

25  applicant's ability to provide the services that the applicant

26  is proposing to provide for Medicaid reimbursement. The agency

27  is not required to perform an onsite inspection of a provider

28  or program that is licensed by the agency or the Department of

29  Health.  As a continuing condition of participation in the

30  Medicaid program, a provider shall immediately notify the

31  agency of any current or pending bankruptcy filing. Before

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  entering into the provider agreement, or as a condition of

  2  continuing participation in the Medicaid program, the agency

  3  may also require that Medicaid providers reimbursed on a

  4  fee-for-services basis or fee schedule basis which is not

  5  cost-based, post a surety bond not to exceed $50,000 or the

  6  total amount billed by the provider to the program during the

  7  current or most recent calendar year, whichever is greater.

  8  For new providers, the amount of the surety bond shall be

  9  determined by the agency based on the provider's estimate of

10  its first year's billing. If the provider's billing during the

11  first year exceeds the bond amount, the agency may require the

12  provider to acquire an additional bond equal to the actual

13  billing level of the provider. A provider's bond shall not

14  exceed $50,000 if a physician or group of physicians licensed

15  under chapter 458, chapter 459, or chapter 460 has a 50

16  percent or greater ownership interest in the provider or if

17  the provider is an assisted living facility licensed under

18  part III of chapter 400. The bonds permitted by this section

19  are in addition to the bonds referenced in s. 400.179(4)(d).

20  If the provider is a corporation, partnership, association, or

21  other entity, the agency may require the provider to submit

22  information concerning the background of that entity and of

23  any principal of the entity, including any partner or

24  shareholder having an ownership interest in the entity equal

25  to 5 percent or greater, and any treating provider who

26  participates in or intends to participate in Medicaid through

27  the entity. The information must include:

28         (a)  Proof of holding a valid license or operating

29  certificate, as applicable, if required by the state or local

30  jurisdiction in which the provider is located or if required

31  by the Federal Government.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (b)  Information concerning any prior violation, fine,

  2  suspension, termination, or other administrative action taken

  3  under the Medicaid laws, rules, or regulations of this state

  4  or of any other state or the Federal Government; any prior

  5  violation of the laws, rules, or regulations relating to the

  6  Medicare program; any prior violation of the rules or

  7  regulations of any other public or private insurer; and any

  8  prior violation of the laws, rules, or regulations of any

  9  regulatory body of this or any other state.

10         (c)  Full and accurate disclosure of any financial or

11  ownership interest that the provider, or any principal,

12  partner, or major shareholder thereof, may hold in any other

13  Medicaid provider or health care related entity or any other

14  entity that is licensed by the state to provide health or

15  residential care and treatment to persons.

16         (d)  If a group provider, identification of all members

17  of the group and attestation that all members of the group are

18  enrolled in or have applied to enroll in the Medicaid program.

19         (9)  Upon receipt of a completed, signed, and dated

20  application, and completion of any necessary background

21  investigation and criminal history record check, the agency

22  must either:

23         (a)  Enroll the applicant as a Medicaid provider no

24  earlier than the effective date of the approval of the

25  provider application. With respect to providers who were

26  recently granted a change of ownership and those who primarily

27  provide emergency medical services transportation or emergency

28  services and care pursuant to s. 401.45 or s. 395.1041, and

29  out-of-state providers, upon approval of the provider

30  application, the effective date of approval is considered to

31  be the date the agency receives the provider application; or

                                  15

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (b)  Deny the application if the agency finds that it

  2  is in the best interest of the Medicaid program to do so. The

  3  agency may consider the factors listed in subsection (10), as

  4  well as any other factor that could affect the effective and

  5  efficient administration of the program, including, but not

  6  limited to, the applicant's demonstrated ability to provide

  7  services, conduct business, and operate a financially viable

  8  concern; the current availability of medical care, services,

  9  or supplies to recipients, taking into account geographic

10  location and reasonable travel time; the number of providers

11  of the same type already enrolled in the same geographic area;

12  and the credentials, experience, success, and patient outcomes

13  of the provider for the services that it is making application

14  to provide in the Medicaid program. The agency shall deny the

15  application if the agency finds that a provider; any officer,

16  director, agent, managing employee, or affiliated person; or

17  any partner or shareholder having an ownership interest of 5

18  percent or more in the provider if the provider is a

19  corporation, partnership, or other business entity has failed

20  to pay all outstanding fines or overpayments assessed by final

21  order of the agency or final order of the Centers for Medicare

22  and Medicaid Services, unless the provider agrees to a

23  repayment plan that includes withholding Medicaid

24  reimbursement until the amount due is paid in full.

25         Section 12.  The Legislature determines and declares

26  that this act fulfills an important state interest.

27         Section 13.  Section 409.908, Florida Statutes, as

28  amended by section 7 of chapter 2001-377, Laws of Florida, is

29  amended to read:

30         409.908  Reimbursement of Medicaid providers.--Subject

31  to specific appropriations, the agency shall reimburse

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Medicaid providers, in accordance with state and federal law,

  2  according to methodologies set forth in the rules of the

  3  agency and in policy manuals and handbooks incorporated by

  4  reference therein.  These methodologies may include fee

  5  schedules, reimbursement methods based on cost reporting,

  6  negotiated fees, competitive bidding pursuant to s. 287.057,

  7  and other mechanisms the agency considers efficient and

  8  effective for purchasing services or goods on behalf of

  9  recipients. If a provider is reimbursed based on cost

10  reporting and fails to submit cost reports at the time

11  specified by the agency, the agency may withhold reimbursement

12  to the provider until a cost report is submitted that is

13  acceptable to the agency.  Payment for Medicaid compensable

14  services made on behalf of Medicaid eligible persons is

15  subject to the availability of moneys and any limitations or

16  directions provided for in the General Appropriations Act or

17  chapter 216.  Further, nothing in this section shall be

18  construed to prevent or limit the agency from adjusting fees,

19  reimbursement rates, lengths of stay, number of visits, or

20  number of services, or making any other adjustments necessary

21  to comply with the availability of moneys and any limitations

22  or directions provided for in the General Appropriations Act,

23  provided the adjustment is consistent with legislative intent.

24         (1)  Reimbursement to hospitals licensed under part I

25  of chapter 395 must be made prospectively or on the basis of

26  negotiation.

27         (a)  Reimbursement for inpatient care is limited as

28  provided for in s. 409.905(5), except for:

29         1.  The raising of rate reimbursement caps, excluding

30  rural hospitals.

31         2.  Recognition of the costs of graduate medical

                                  17

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  education.

  2         3.  Other methodologies recognized in the General

  3  Appropriations Act.

  4         4.  Hospital inpatient rates shall be reduced by 6

  5  percent effective July 1, 2001, and restored effective April

  6  1, 2002.

  7

  8  During the years funds are transferred from the Department of

  9  Health, any reimbursement supported by such funds shall be

10  subject to certification by the Department of Health that the

11  hospital has complied with s. 381.0403. The agency is

12  authorized to receive funds from state entities, including,

13  but not limited to, the Department of Health, local

14  governments, and other local political subdivisions, for the

15  purpose of making special exception payments, including

16  federal matching funds, through the Medicaid inpatient

17  reimbursement methodologies. Funds received from state

18  entities or local governments for this purpose shall be

19  separately accounted for and shall not be commingled with

20  other state or local funds in any manner. The agency may

21  certify all local governmental funds used as state match under

22  Title XIX of the Social Security Act, to the extent that the

23  identified local health care provider that is otherwise

24  entitled to and is contracted to receive such local funds is

25  the benefactor under the state's Medicaid program as

26  determined under the General Appropriations Act and pursuant

27  to an agreement between the Agency for Health Care

28  Administration and the local governmental entity. The local

29  governmental entity shall use a certification form prescribed

30  by the agency. At a minimum, the certification form shall

31  identify the amount being certified and describe the

                                  18

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  relationship between the certifying local governmental entity

  2  and the local health care provider. The agency shall prepare

  3  an annual statement of impact which documents the specific

  4  activities undertaken during the previous fiscal year pursuant

  5  to this paragraph, to be submitted to the Legislature no later

  6  than January 1, annually.

  7         (b)  Reimbursement for hospital outpatient care is

  8  limited to $1,500 per state fiscal year per recipient, except

  9  for:

10         1.  Such care provided to a Medicaid recipient under

11  age 21, in which case the only limitation is medical

12  necessity.

13         2.  Renal dialysis services.

14         3.  Other exceptions made by the agency.

15

16  The agency is authorized to receive funds from state entities,

17  including, but not limited to, the Department of Health, the

18  Board of Regents, local governments, and other local political

19  subdivisions, for the purpose of making payments, including

20  federal matching funds, through the Medicaid outpatient

21  reimbursement methodologies. Funds received from state

22  entities and local governments for this purpose shall be

23  separately accounted for and shall not be commingled with

24  other state or local funds in any manner.

25         (c)  Hospitals that provide services to a

26  disproportionate share of low-income Medicaid recipients, or

27  that participate in the regional perinatal intensive care

28  center program under chapter 383, or that participate in the

29  statutory teaching hospital disproportionate share program may

30  receive additional reimbursement. The total amount of payment

31  for disproportionate share hospitals shall be fixed by the

                                  19

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  General Appropriations Act. The computation of these payments

  2  must be made in compliance with all federal regulations and

  3  the methodologies described in ss. 409.911, 409.9112, and

  4  409.9113.

  5         (d)  The agency is authorized to limit inflationary

  6  increases for outpatient hospital services as directed by the

  7  General Appropriations Act.

  8         (2)(a)1.  Reimbursement to nursing homes licensed under

  9  part II of chapter 400 and state-owned-and-operated

10  intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled

11  licensed under chapter 393 must be made prospectively.

12         2.  Unless otherwise limited or directed in the General

13  Appropriations Act, reimbursement to hospitals licensed under

14  part I of chapter 395 for the provision of swing-bed nursing

15  home services must be made on the basis of the average

16  statewide nursing home payment, and reimbursement to a

17  hospital licensed under part I of chapter 395 for the

18  provision of skilled nursing services must be made on the

19  basis of the average nursing home payment for those services

20  in the county in which the hospital is located. When a

21  hospital is located in a county that does not have any

22  community nursing homes, reimbursement must be determined by

23  averaging the nursing home payments, in counties that surround

24  the county in which the hospital is located. Reimbursement to

25  hospitals, including Medicaid payment of Medicare copayments,

26  for skilled nursing services shall be limited to 30 days,

27  unless a prior authorization has been obtained from the

28  agency. Medicaid reimbursement may be extended by the agency

29  beyond 30 days, and approval must be based upon verification

30  by the patient's physician that the patient requires

31  short-term rehabilitative and recuperative services only, in

                                  20

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  which case an extension of no more than 15 days may be

  2  approved. Reimbursement to a hospital licensed under part I of

  3  chapter 395 for the temporary provision of skilled nursing

  4  services to nursing home residents who have been displaced as

  5  the result of a natural disaster or other emergency may not

  6  exceed the average county nursing home payment for those

  7  services in the county in which the hospital is located and is

  8  limited to the period of time which the agency considers

  9  necessary for continued placement of the nursing home

10  residents in the hospital.

11         (b)  Subject to any limitations or directions provided

12  for in the General Appropriations Act, the agency shall

13  establish and implement a Florida Title XIX Long-Term Care

14  Reimbursement Plan (Medicaid) for nursing home care in order

15  to provide care and services in conformance with the

16  applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and

17  quality and safety standards and to ensure that individuals

18  eligible for medical assistance have reasonable geographic

19  access to such care.

20         1.  Changes of ownership or of licensed operator do not

21  qualify for increases in reimbursement rates associated with

22  the change of ownership or of licensed operator. The agency

23  shall amend the Title XIX Long Term Care Reimbursement Plan to

24  provide that the initial nursing home reimbursement rates, for

25  the operating, patient care, and MAR components, associated

26  with related and unrelated party changes of ownership or

27  licensed operator filed on or after September 1, 2001, are

28  equivalent to the previous owner's reimbursement rate.

29         2.  The agency shall amend the long-term care

30  reimbursement plan and cost reporting system to create direct

31  care and indirect care subcomponents of the patient care

                                  21

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  component of the per diem rate. These two subcomponents

  2  together shall equal the patient care component of the per

  3  diem rate. Separate cost-based ceilings shall be calculated

  4  for each patient care subcomponent. The direct care

  5  subcomponent of the per diem rate shall be limited by the

  6  cost-based class ceiling, and the indirect care subcomponent

  7  shall be limited by the lower of the cost-based class ceiling,

  8  by the target rate class ceiling, or by the individual

  9  provider target. The agency shall adjust the patient care

10  component effective January 1, 2002. The cost to adjust the

11  direct care subcomponent shall be net of the total funds

12  previously allocated for the case mix add-on. The agency shall

13  make the required changes to the nursing home cost reporting

14  forms to implement this requirement effective January 1, 2002.

15         3.  The direct care subcomponent shall include salaries

16  and benefits of direct care staff providing nursing services

17  including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and

18  certified nursing assistants who deliver care directly to

19  residents in the nursing home facility. This excludes nursing

20  administration, MDS, and care plan coordinators, staff

21  development, and staffing coordinator.

22         4.  All other patient care costs shall be included in

23  the indirect care cost subcomponent of the patient care per

24  diem rate. There shall be no costs directly or indirectly

25  allocated to the direct care subcomponent from a home office

26  or management company.

27         5.  On July 1 of each year, the agency shall report to

28  the Legislature direct and indirect care costs, including

29  average direct and indirect care costs per resident per

30  facility and direct care and indirect care salaries and

31  benefits per category of staff member per facility.

                                  22

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         6.  Under the plan, interim rate adjustments shall not

  2  be granted to reflect increases in the cost of general or

  3  professional liability insurance for nursing homes unless the

  4  following criteria are met: have at least a 65 percent

  5  Medicaid utilization in the most recent cost report submitted

  6  to the agency, and the increase in general or professional

  7  liability costs to the facility for the most recent policy

  8  period affects the total Medicaid per diem by at least 5

  9  percent. This rate adjustment shall not result in the per diem

10  exceeding the class ceiling. This provision shall be

11  implemented to the extent existing appropriations are

12  available.

13

14  It is the intent of the Legislature that the reimbursement

15  plan achieve the goal of providing access to health care for

16  nursing home residents who require large amounts of care while

17  encouraging diversion services as an alternative to nursing

18  home care for residents who can be served within the

19  community. The agency shall base the establishment of any

20  maximum rate of payment, whether overall or component, on the

21  available moneys as provided for in the General Appropriations

22  Act. The agency may base the maximum rate of payment on the

23  results of scientifically valid analysis and conclusions

24  derived from objective statistical data pertinent to the

25  particular maximum rate of payment.

26         (3)  Subject to any limitations or directions provided

27  for in the General Appropriations Act, the following Medicaid

28  services and goods may be reimbursed on a fee-for-service

29  basis. For each allowable service or goods furnished in

30  accordance with Medicaid rules, policy manuals, handbooks, and

31  state and federal law, the payment shall be the amount billed

                                  23

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  by the provider, the provider's usual and customary charge, or

  2  the maximum allowable fee established by the agency, whichever

  3  amount is less, with the exception of those services or goods

  4  for which the agency makes payment using a methodology based

  5  on capitation rates, average costs, or negotiated fees.

  6         (a)  Advanced registered nurse practitioner services.

  7         (b)  Birth center services.

  8         (c)  Chiropractic services.

  9         (d)  Community mental health services.

10         (e)  Dental services, including oral and maxillofacial

11  surgery.

12         (f)  Durable medical equipment.

13         (g)  Hearing services.

14         (h)  Occupational therapy for Medicaid recipients under

15  age 21.

16         (i)  Optometric services.

17         (j)  Orthodontic services.

18         (k)  Personal care for Medicaid recipients under age

19  21.

20         (l)  Physical therapy for Medicaid recipients under age

21  21.

22         (m)  Physician assistant services.

23         (n)  Podiatric services.

24         (o)  Portable X-ray services.

25         (p)  Private-duty nursing for Medicaid recipients under

26  age 21.

27         (q)  Registered nurse first assistant services.

28         (r)  Respiratory therapy for Medicaid recipients under

29  age 21.

30         (s)  Speech therapy for Medicaid recipients under age

31  21.

                                  24

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (t)  Visual services.

  2         (4)  Subject to any limitations or directions provided

  3  for in the General Appropriations Act, alternative health

  4  plans, health maintenance organizations, and prepaid health

  5  plans shall be reimbursed a fixed, prepaid amount negotiated,

  6  or competitively bid pursuant to s. 287.057, by the agency and

  7  prospectively paid to the provider monthly for each Medicaid

  8  recipient enrolled.  The amount may not exceed the average

  9  amount the agency determines it would have paid, based on

10  claims experience, for recipients in the same or similar

11  category of eligibility.  The agency shall calculate

12  capitation rates on a regional basis and, beginning September

13  1, 1995, shall include age-band differentials in such

14  calculations. Effective July 1, 2001, the cost of exempting

15  statutory teaching hospitals, specialty hospitals, and

16  community hospital education program hospitals from

17  reimbursement ceilings and the cost of special Medicaid

18  payments shall not be included in premiums paid to health

19  maintenance organizations or prepaid health care plans. Each

20  rate semester, the agency shall calculate and publish a

21  Medicaid hospital rate schedule that does not reflect either

22  special Medicaid payments or the elimination of rate

23  reimbursement ceilings, to be used by hospitals and Medicaid

24  health maintenance organizations, in order to determine the

25  Medicaid rate referred to in ss. 409.912(16), 409.9128(5), and

26  641.513(6).

27         (5)  An ambulatory surgical center shall be reimbursed

28  the lesser of the amount billed by the provider or the

29  Medicare-established allowable amount for the facility.

30         (6)  A provider of early and periodic screening,

31  diagnosis, and treatment services to Medicaid recipients who

                                  25

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  are children under age 21 shall be reimbursed using an

  2  all-inclusive rate stipulated in a fee schedule established by

  3  the agency. A provider of the visual, dental, and hearing

  4  components of such services shall be reimbursed the lesser of

  5  the amount billed by the provider or the Medicaid maximum

  6  allowable fee established by the agency.

  7         (7)  A provider of family planning services shall be

  8  reimbursed the lesser of the amount billed by the provider or

  9  an all-inclusive amount per type of visit for physicians and

10  advanced registered nurse practitioners, as established by the

11  agency in a fee schedule.

12         (8)  A provider of home-based or community-based

13  services rendered pursuant to a federally approved waiver

14  shall be reimbursed based on an established or negotiated rate

15  for each service. These rates shall be established according

16  to an analysis of the expenditure history and prospective

17  budget developed by each contract provider participating in

18  the waiver program, or under any other methodology adopted by

19  the agency and approved by the Federal Government in

20  accordance with the waiver. Effective July 1, 1996, privately

21  owned and operated community-based residential facilities

22  which meet agency requirements and which formerly received

23  Medicaid reimbursement for the optional intermediate care

24  facility for the mentally retarded service may participate in

25  the developmental services waiver as part of a

26  home-and-community-based continuum of care for Medicaid

27  recipients who receive waiver services.

28         (9)  A provider of home health care services or of

29  medical supplies and appliances shall be reimbursed on the

30  basis of competitive bidding or for the lesser of the amount

31  billed by the provider or the agency's established maximum

                                  26

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  allowable amount, except that, in the case of the rental of

  2  durable medical equipment, the total rental payments may not

  3  exceed the purchase price of the equipment over its expected

  4  useful life or the agency's established maximum allowable

  5  amount, whichever amount is less.

  6         (10)  A hospice shall be reimbursed through a

  7  prospective system for each Medicaid hospice patient at

  8  Medicaid rates using the methodology established for hospice

  9  reimbursement pursuant to Title XVIII of the federal Social

10  Security Act.

11         (11)  A provider of independent laboratory services

12  shall be reimbursed on the basis of competitive bidding or for

13  the least of the amount billed by the provider, the provider's

14  usual and customary charge, or the Medicaid maximum allowable

15  fee established by the agency.

16         (12)(a)  A physician shall be reimbursed the lesser of

17  the amount billed by the provider or the Medicaid maximum

18  allowable fee established by the agency.

19         (b)  The agency shall adopt a fee schedule, subject to

20  any limitations or directions provided for in the General

21  Appropriations Act, based on a resource-based relative value

22  scale for pricing Medicaid physician services. Under this fee

23  schedule, physicians shall be paid a dollar amount for each

24  service based on the average resources required to provide the

25  service, including, but not limited to, estimates of average

26  physician time and effort, practice expense, and the costs of

27  professional liability insurance.  The fee schedule shall

28  provide increased reimbursement for preventive and primary

29  care services and lowered reimbursement for specialty services

30  by using at least two conversion factors, one for cognitive

31  services and another for procedural services.  The fee

                                  27

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  schedule shall not increase total Medicaid physician

  2  expenditures unless moneys are available, and shall be phased

  3  in over a 2-year period beginning on July 1, 1994. The Agency

  4  for Health Care Administration shall seek the advice of a

  5  16-member advisory panel in formulating and adopting the fee

  6  schedule.  The panel shall consist of Medicaid physicians

  7  licensed under chapters 458 and 459 and shall be composed of

  8  50 percent primary care physicians and 50 percent specialty

  9  care physicians.

10         (c)  Notwithstanding paragraph (b), reimbursement fees

11  to physicians for providing total obstetrical services to

12  Medicaid recipients, which include prenatal, delivery, and

13  postpartum care, shall be at least $1,500 per delivery for a

14  pregnant woman with low medical risk and at least $2,000 per

15  delivery for a pregnant woman with high medical risk. However,

16  reimbursement to physicians working in Regional Perinatal

17  Intensive Care Centers designated pursuant to chapter 383, for

18  services to certain pregnant Medicaid recipients with a high

19  medical risk, may be made according to obstetrical care and

20  neonatal care groupings and rates established by the agency.

21  Nurse midwives licensed under part I of chapter 464 or

22  midwives licensed under chapter 467 shall be reimbursed at no

23  less than 80 percent of the low medical risk fee. The agency

24  shall by rule determine, for the purpose of this paragraph,

25  what constitutes a high or low medical risk pregnant woman and

26  shall not pay more based solely on the fact that a caesarean

27  section was performed, rather than a vaginal delivery. The

28  agency shall by rule determine a prorated payment for

29  obstetrical services in cases where only part of the total

30  prenatal, delivery, or postpartum care was performed. The

31  Department of Health shall adopt rules for appropriate

                                  28

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  insurance coverage for midwives licensed under chapter 467.

  2  Prior to the issuance and renewal of an active license, or

  3  reactivation of an inactive license for midwives licensed

  4  under chapter 467, such licensees shall submit proof of

  5  coverage with each application.

  6         (d)  For the 2001-2002 fiscal year only and if

  7  necessary to meet the requirements for grants and donations

  8  for the special Medicaid payments authorized in the 2001-2002

  9  General Appropriations Act, the agency may make special

10  Medicaid payments to qualified Medicaid providers designated

11  by the agency, notwithstanding any provision of this

12  subsection to the contrary, and may use intergovernmental

13  transfers from state entities to serve as the state share of

14  such payments.

15         (13)  Medicare premiums for persons eligible for both

16  Medicare and Medicaid coverage shall be paid at the rates

17  established by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act.  For

18  Medicare services rendered to Medicaid-eligible persons,

19  Medicaid shall pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance as

20  follows:

21         (a)  Medicaid shall make no payment toward deductibles

22  and coinsurance for any service that is not covered by

23  Medicaid.

24         (b)  Medicaid's financial obligation for deductibles

25  and coinsurance payments shall be based on Medicare allowable

26  fees, not on a provider's billed charges.

27         (c)  Medicaid will pay no portion of Medicare

28  deductibles and coinsurance when payment that Medicare has

29  made for the service equals or exceeds what Medicaid would

30  have paid if it had been the sole payor.  The combined payment

31  of Medicare and Medicaid shall not exceed the amount Medicaid

                                  29

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  would have paid had it been the sole payor. The Legislature

  2  finds that there has been confusion regarding the

  3  reimbursement for services rendered to dually eligible

  4  Medicare beneficiaries. Accordingly, the Legislature clarifies

  5  that it has always been the intent of the Legislature before

  6  and after 1991 that, in reimbursing in accordance with fees

  7  established by Title XVIII for premiums, deductibles, and

  8  coinsurance for Medicare services rendered by physicians to

  9  Medicaid eligible persons, physicians be reimbursed at the

10  lesser of the amount billed by the physician or the Medicaid

11  maximum allowable fee established by the Agency for Health

12  Care Administration, as is permitted by federal law. It has

13  never been the intent of the Legislature with regard to such

14  services rendered by physicians that Medicaid be required to

15  provide any payment for deductibles, coinsurance, or

16  copayments for Medicare cost sharing, or any expenses incurred

17  relating thereto, in excess of the payment amount provided for

18  under the State Medicaid plan for such service. This payment

19  methodology is applicable even in those situations in which

20  the payment for Medicare cost sharing for a qualified Medicare

21  beneficiary with respect to an item or service is reduced or

22  eliminated. This expression of the Legislature is in

23  clarification of existing law and shall apply to payment for,

24  and with respect to provider agreements with respect to, items

25  or services furnished on or after the effective date of this

26  act. This paragraph applies to payment by Medicaid for items

27  and services furnished before the effective date of this act

28  if such payment is the subject of a lawsuit that is based on

29  the provisions of this section, and that is pending as of, or

30  is initiated after, the effective date of this act.

31         (d)  Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(c):

                                  30

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         1.  Medicaid payments for Nursing Home Medicare part A

  2  coinsurance shall be the lesser of the Medicare coinsurance

  3  amount or the Medicaid nursing home per diem rate.

  4         2.  Medicaid shall pay all deductibles and coinsurance

  5  for Medicare-eligible recipients receiving freestanding end

  6  stage renal dialysis center services.

  7         3.  Medicaid payments for general hospital inpatient

  8  services shall be limited to the Medicare deductible per spell

  9  of illness.  Medicaid shall make no payment toward coinsurance

10  for Medicare general hospital inpatient services.

11         4.  Medicaid shall pay all deductibles and coinsurance

12  for Medicare emergency transportation services provided by

13  ambulances licensed pursuant to chapter 401.

14         (14)  A provider of prescribed drugs shall be

15  reimbursed the least of the amount billed by the provider, the

16  provider's usual and customary charge, or the Medicaid maximum

17  allowable fee established by the agency, plus a dispensing

18  fee. The agency is directed to implement a variable dispensing

19  fee for payments for prescribed medicines while ensuring

20  continued access for Medicaid recipients.  The variable

21  dispensing fee may be based upon, but not limited to, either

22  or both the volume of prescriptions dispensed by a specific

23  pharmacy provider, the volume of prescriptions dispensed to an

24  individual recipient, and dispensing of preferred-drug-list

25  products. The agency shall increase the pharmacy dispensing

26  fee authorized by statute and in the annual General

27  Appropriations Act by $0.50 for the dispensing of a Medicaid

28  preferred-drug-list product and reduce the pharmacy dispensing

29  fee by $0.50 for the dispensing of a Medicaid product that is

30  not included on the preferred-drug list. The agency is

31  authorized to limit reimbursement for prescribed medicine in

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  order to comply with any limitations or directions provided

  2  for in the General Appropriations Act, which may include

  3  implementing a prospective or concurrent utilization review

  4  program.

  5         (15)  A provider of primary care case management

  6  services rendered pursuant to a federally approved waiver

  7  shall be reimbursed by payment of a fixed, prepaid monthly sum

  8  for each Medicaid recipient enrolled with the provider.

  9         (16)  A provider of rural health clinic services and

10  federally qualified health center services shall be reimbursed

11  a rate per visit based on total reasonable costs of the

12  clinic, as determined by the agency in accordance with federal

13  regulations.

14         (17)  A provider of targeted case management services

15  shall be reimbursed pursuant to an established fee, except

16  where the Federal Government requires a public provider be

17  reimbursed on the basis of average actual costs.

18         (18)  Unless otherwise provided for in the General

19  Appropriations Act, a provider of transportation services

20  shall be reimbursed the lesser of the amount billed by the

21  provider or the Medicaid maximum allowable fee established by

22  the agency, except when the agency has entered into a direct

23  contract with the provider, or with a community transportation

24  coordinator, for the provision of an all-inclusive service, or

25  when services are provided pursuant to an agreement negotiated

26  between the agency and the provider.  The agency, as provided

27  for in s. 427.0135, shall purchase transportation services

28  through the community coordinated transportation system, if

29  available, unless the agency determines a more cost-effective

30  method for Medicaid clients. Nothing in this subsection shall

31  be construed to limit or preclude the agency from contracting

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  for services using a prepaid capitation rate or from

  2  establishing maximum fee schedules, individualized

  3  reimbursement policies by provider type, negotiated fees,

  4  prior authorization, competitive bidding, increased use of

  5  mass transit, or any other mechanism that the agency considers

  6  efficient and effective for the purchase of services on behalf

  7  of Medicaid clients, including implementing a transportation

  8  eligibility process. The agency shall not be required to

  9  contract with any community transportation coordinator or

10  transportation operator that has been determined by the

11  agency, the Department of Legal Affairs Medicaid Fraud Control

12  Unit, or any other state or federal agency to have engaged in

13  any abusive or fraudulent billing activities. The agency is

14  authorized to competitively procure transportation services or

15  make other changes necessary to secure approval of federal

16  waivers needed to permit federal financing of Medicaid

17  transportation services at the service matching rate rather

18  than the administrative matching rate.

19         (19)  County health department services may be

20  reimbursed a rate per visit based on total reasonable costs of

21  the clinic, as determined by the agency in accordance with

22  federal regulations under the authority of 42 C.F.R. s.

23  431.615.

24         (20)  A renal dialysis facility that provides dialysis

25  services under s. 409.906(9) must be reimbursed the lesser of

26  the amount billed by the provider, the provider's usual and

27  customary charge, or the maximum allowable fee established by

28  the agency, whichever amount is less.

29         (21)  The agency shall reimburse school districts which

30  certify the state match pursuant to ss. 236.0812 and 409.9071

31  for the federal portion of the school district's allowable

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  costs to deliver the services, based on the reimbursement

  2  schedule.  The school district shall determine the costs for

  3  delivering services as authorized in ss. 236.0812 and 409.9071

  4  for which the state match will be certified. Reimbursement of

  5  school-based providers is contingent on such providers being

  6  enrolled as Medicaid providers and meeting the qualifications

  7  contained in 42 C.F.R. s. 440.110, unless otherwise waived by

  8  the federal Health Care Financing Administration. Speech

  9  therapy providers who are certified through the Department of

10  Education pursuant to rule 6A-4.0176, Florida Administrative

11  Code, are eligible for reimbursement for services that are

12  provided on school premises. Any employee of the school

13  district who has been fingerprinted and has received a

14  criminal background check in accordance with Department of

15  Education rules and guidelines shall be exempt from any agency

16  requirements relating to criminal background checks.

17         (22)  The agency shall request and implement Medicaid

18  waivers from the federal Health Care Financing Administration

19  to advance and treat a portion of the Medicaid nursing home

20  per diem as capital for creating and operating a

21  risk-retention group for self-insurance purposes, consistent

22  with federal and state laws and rules.

23         Section 14.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section

24  409.910, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

25         409.910  Responsibility for payments on behalf of

26  Medicaid-eligible persons when other parties are liable.--

27         (7)  The agency shall recover the full amount of all

28  medical assistance provided by Medicaid on behalf of the

29  recipient to the full extent of third-party benefits.

30         (b)  Upon receipt of any recovery or other collection

31  pursuant to this section, s. 409.913, or s. 409.920, the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  agency shall distribute the amount collected as follows:

  2         1.  To itself and to any county that has responsibility

  3  for certain items of care and service as mandated in s.

  4  409.915, amounts an amount equal to a pro rata distribution of

  5  the county's contribution and the state's state respective

  6  Medicaid expenditures for the recipient plus any incentive

  7  payment made in accordance with paragraph (14)(a). However, if

  8  a county has been billed for its participation but has not

  9  paid the amount due, the agency shall offset that amount and

10  notify the county of the amount of the offset. If the county

11  has divided its financial responsibility between the county

12  and a special taxing district or authority as contemplated in

13  s. 409.915(6), the county must proportionately divide any

14  refund or offset in accordance with the proration that it has

15  established.

16         2.  To the Federal Government, the federal share of the

17  state Medicaid expenditures minus any incentive payment made

18  in accordance with paragraph (14)(a) and federal law, and

19  minus any other amount permitted by federal law to be

20  deducted.

21         3.  To the recipient, after deducting any known amounts

22  owed to the agency for any related medical assistance or to

23  health care providers, any remaining amount. This amount shall

24  be treated as income or resources in determining eligibility

25  for Medicaid.

26

27  The provisions of this subsection do not apply to any proceeds

28  received by the state, or any agency thereof, pursuant to a

29  final order, judgment, or settlement agreement, in any matter

30  in which the state asserts claims brought on its own behalf,

31  and not as a subrogee of a recipient, or under other theories

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  of liability. The provisions of this subsection do not apply

  2  to any proceeds received by the state, or an agency thereof,

  3  pursuant to a final order, judgment, or settlement agreement,

  4  in any matter in which the state asserted both claims as a

  5  subrogee and additional claims, except as to those sums

  6  specifically identified in the final order, judgment, or

  7  settlement agreement as reimbursements to the recipient as

  8  expenditures for the named recipient on the subrogation claim.

  9         Section 15.  Subsection (7) of section 409.9116,

10  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

11         409.9116  Disproportionate share/financial assistance

12  program for rural hospitals.--In addition to the payments made

13  under s. 409.911, the Agency for Health Care Administration

14  shall administer a federally matched disproportionate share

15  program and a state-funded financial assistance program for

16  statutory rural hospitals. The agency shall make

17  disproportionate share payments to statutory rural hospitals

18  that qualify for such payments and financial assistance

19  payments to statutory rural hospitals that do not qualify for

20  disproportionate share payments. The disproportionate share

21  program payments shall be limited by and conform with federal

22  requirements. Funds shall be distributed quarterly in each

23  fiscal year for which an appropriation is made.

24  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 409.915, counties are

25  exempt from contributing toward the cost of this special

26  reimbursement for hospitals serving a disproportionate share

27  of low-income patients.

28         (7)  This section applies only to hospitals that were

29  defined as statutory rural hospitals, or their

30  successor-in-interest hospital, prior to July 1, 1999 1998.

31  Any additional hospital that is defined as a statutory rural

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  hospital, or its successor-in-interest hospital, on or after

  2  July 1, 1999 1998, is not eligible for programs under this

  3  section unless additional funds are appropriated each fiscal

  4  year specifically to the rural hospital disproportionate share

  5  and financial assistance programs in an amount necessary to

  6  prevent any hospital, or its successor-in-interest hospital,

  7  eligible for the programs prior to July 1, 1999 1998, from

  8  incurring a reduction in payments because of the eligibility

  9  of an additional hospital to participate in the programs. A

10  hospital, or its successor-in-interest hospital, which

11  received funds pursuant to this section before July 1, 1999

12  1998, and which qualifies under s. 395.602(2)(e), shall be

13  included in the programs under this section and is not

14  required to seek additional appropriations under this

15  subsection.

16         Section 16.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and

17  paragraph (b) of subsection (13) of section 409.912, Florida

18  Statutes, are amended to read:

19         409.912  Cost-effective purchasing of health care.--The

20  agency shall purchase goods and services for Medicaid

21  recipients in the most cost-effective manner consistent with

22  the delivery of quality medical care.  The agency shall

23  maximize the use of prepaid per capita and prepaid aggregate

24  fixed-sum basis services when appropriate and other

25  alternative service delivery and reimbursement methodologies,

26  including competitive bidding pursuant to s. 287.057, designed

27  to facilitate the cost-effective purchase of a case-managed

28  continuum of care. The agency shall also require providers to

29  minimize the exposure of recipients to the need for acute

30  inpatient, custodial, and other institutional care and the

31  inappropriate or unnecessary use of high-cost services. The

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  agency may establish prior authorization requirements for

  2  certain populations of Medicaid beneficiaries, certain drug

  3  classes, or particular drugs to prevent fraud, abuse, overuse,

  4  and possible dangerous drug interactions. The Pharmaceutical

  5  and Therapeutics Committee shall make recommendations to the

  6  agency on drugs for which prior authorization is required. The

  7  agency shall inform the Pharmaceutical and Therapeutics

  8  Committee of its decisions regarding drugs subject to prior

  9  authorization.

10         (3)  The agency may contract with:

11         (b)  An entity that is providing comprehensive

12  behavioral health care services to certain Medicaid recipients

13  through a capitated, prepaid arrangement pursuant to the

14  federal waiver provided for by s. 409.905(5). Such an entity

15  must be licensed under chapter 624, chapter 636, or chapter

16  641 and must possess the clinical systems and operational

17  competence to manage risk and provide comprehensive behavioral

18  health care to Medicaid recipients. As used in this paragraph,

19  the term "comprehensive behavioral health care services" means

20  covered mental health and substance abuse treatment services

21  that are available to Medicaid recipients. The secretary of

22  the Department of Children and Family Services shall approve

23  provisions of procurements related to children in the

24  department's care or custody prior to enrolling such children

25  in a prepaid behavioral health plan. Any contract awarded

26  under this paragraph must be competitively procured. In

27  developing the behavioral health care prepaid plan procurement

28  document, the agency shall ensure that the procurement

29  document requires the contractor to develop and implement a

30  plan to ensure compliance with s. 394.4574 related to services

31  provided to residents of licensed assisted living facilities

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  that hold a limited mental health license. The agency must

  2  ensure that Medicaid recipients have available the choice of

  3  at least two managed care plans for their behavioral health

  4  care services. To ensure unimpaired access to behavioral

  5  health care services by Medicaid recipients, all contracts

  6  issued pursuant to this paragraph shall require 80 percent of

  7  the capitation paid to the managed care plan, including health

  8  maintenance organizations, to be expended for the provision of

  9  behavioral health care services. In the event the managed care

10  plan expends less than 80 percent of the capitation paid

11  pursuant to this paragraph for the provision of behavioral

12  health care services, the difference shall be returned to the

13  agency. The agency shall provide the managed care plan with a

14  certification letter indicating the amount of capitation paid

15  during each calendar year for the provision of behavioral

16  health care services pursuant to this section. The agency may

17  reimburse for substance-abuse-treatment services on a

18  fee-for-service basis until the agency finds that adequate

19  funds are available for capitated, prepaid arrangements.

20         1.  By January 1, 2001, the agency shall modify the

21  contracts with the entities providing comprehensive inpatient

22  and outpatient mental health care services to Medicaid

23  recipients in Hillsborough, Highlands, Hardee, Manatee, and

24  Polk Counties, to include substance-abuse-treatment services.

25         2.  By December 31, 2001, the agency shall contract

26  with entities providing comprehensive behavioral health care

27  services to Medicaid recipients through capitated, prepaid

28  arrangements in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Escambia, Glades,

29  Hendry, Lee, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota,

30  and Walton Counties. The agency may contract with entities

31  providing comprehensive behavioral health care services to

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  Medicaid recipients through capitated, prepaid arrangements in

  2  Alachua County. The agency may determine if Sarasota County

  3  shall be included as a separate catchment area or included in

  4  any other agency geographic area.

  5         3.  Children residing in a Department of Juvenile

  6  Justice residential program approved as a Medicaid behavioral

  7  health overlay services provider shall not be included in a

  8  behavioral health care prepaid health plan pursuant to this

  9  paragraph.

10         4.  In converting to a prepaid system of delivery, the

11  agency shall in its procurement document require an entity

12  providing comprehensive behavioral health care services to

13  prevent the displacement of indigent care patients by

14  enrollees in the Medicaid prepaid health plan providing

15  behavioral health care services from facilities receiving

16  state funding to provide indigent behavioral health care, to

17  facilities licensed under chapter 395 which do not receive

18  state funding for indigent behavioral health care, or

19  reimburse the unsubsidized facility for the cost of behavioral

20  health care provided to the displaced indigent care patient.

21         5.  Traditional community mental health providers under

22  contract with the Department of Children and Family Services

23  pursuant to part IV of chapter 394 and inpatient mental health

24  providers licensed pursuant to chapter 395 must be offered an

25  opportunity to accept or decline a contract to participate in

26  any provider network for prepaid behavioral health services.

27         (13)

28         (b)  The responsibility of the agency under this

29  subsection shall include the development of capabilities to

30  identify actual and optimal practice patterns; patient and

31  provider educational initiatives; methods for determining

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  patient compliance with prescribed treatments; fraud, waste,

  2  and abuse prevention and detection programs; and beneficiary

  3  case management programs.

  4         1.  The practice pattern identification program shall

  5  evaluate practitioner prescribing patterns based on national

  6  and regional practice guidelines, comparing practitioners to

  7  their peer groups. The agency and its Drug Utilization Review

  8  Board shall consult with a panel of practicing health care

  9  professionals consisting of the following: the Speaker of the

10  House of Representatives and the President of the Senate shall

11  each appoint three physicians licensed under chapter 458 or

12  chapter 459; and the Governor shall appoint two pharmacists

13  licensed under chapter 465 and one dentist licensed under

14  chapter 466 who is an oral surgeon. Terms of the panel members

15  shall expire at the discretion of the appointing official. The

16  panel shall begin its work by August 1, 1999, regardless of

17  the number of appointments made by that date. The advisory

18  panel shall be responsible for evaluating treatment guidelines

19  and recommending ways to incorporate their use in the practice

20  pattern identification program. Practitioners who are

21  prescribing inappropriately or inefficiently, as determined by

22  the agency, may have their prescribing of certain drugs

23  subject to prior authorization.

24         2.  The agency shall also develop educational

25  interventions designed to promote the proper use of

26  medications by providers and beneficiaries.

27         3.  The agency shall implement a pharmacy fraud, waste,

28  and abuse initiative that may include a surety bond or letter

29  of credit requirement for participating pharmacies, enhanced

30  provider auditing practices, the use of additional fraud and

31  abuse software, recipient management programs for

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  beneficiaries inappropriately using their benefits, and other

  2  steps that will eliminate provider and recipient fraud, waste,

  3  and abuse. The initiative shall address enforcement efforts to

  4  reduce the number and use of counterfeit prescriptions.

  5         4.  By September 30, 2002, the agency shall contract

  6  with an entity in the state to implement a wireless handheld

  7  clinical pharmacology drug information database for

  8  high-prescribing practitioners, as determined by the agency.

  9  The initiative shall be designed to enhance the agency's

10  efforts to reduce fraud, abuse, and errors in the prescription

11  drug benefit program and to otherwise further the intent of

12  this paragraph.

13         5.4.  The agency may apply for any federal waivers

14  needed to implement this paragraph.

15         Section 17.  Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of section

16  409.9122, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 11 of

17  chapter 2001-377, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:

18         409.9122  Mandatory Medicaid managed care enrollment;

19  programs and procedures.--

20         (2)

21         (f)  When a Medicaid recipient does not choose a

22  managed care plan or MediPass provider, the agency shall

23  assign the Medicaid recipient to a managed care plan or

24  MediPass provider. Medicaid recipients who are subject to

25  mandatory assignment but who fail to make a choice shall be

26  assigned to managed care plans or provider service networks

27  until a proportional an equal enrollment of 45 50 percent in

28  MediPass and 55 50 percent in managed care plans is achieved.

29  Once the 45/55 proportional equal enrollment is achieved, the

30  assignments shall be divided in order to maintain an equal

31  enrollment in MediPass and managed care plans. Thereafter,

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  assignment of Medicaid recipients who fail to make a choice

  2  shall be based proportionally on the preferences of recipients

  3  who have made a choice in the previous period. Such

  4  proportions shall be revised at least quarterly to reflect an

  5  update of the preferences of Medicaid recipients. The agency

  6  shall also disproportionately assign Medicaid-eligible

  7  children in families who are required to but have failed to

  8  make a choice of managed care plan or MediPass for their child

  9  and who are to be assigned to the MediPass program to

10  children's networks as described in s. 409.912(3)(g) and where

11  available. The disproportionate assignment of children to

12  children's networks shall be made until the agency has

13  determined that the children's networks have sufficient

14  numbers to be economically operated. For purposes of this

15  paragraph, when referring to assignment, the term "managed

16  care plans" includes exclusive provider organizations,

17  provider service networks, minority physician networks, and

18  pediatric emergency department diversion programs authorized

19  by this chapter or the General Appropriations Act. When making

20  assignments, the agency shall take into account the following

21  criteria:

22         1.  A managed care plan has sufficient network capacity

23  to meet the need of members.

24         2.  The managed care plan or MediPass has previously

25  enrolled the recipient as a member, or one of the managed care

26  plan's primary care providers or MediPass providers has

27  previously provided health care to the recipient.

28         3.  The agency has knowledge that the member has

29  previously expressed a preference for a particular managed

30  care plan or MediPass provider as indicated by Medicaid

31  fee-for-service claims data, but has failed to make a choice.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         4.  The managed care plan's or MediPass primary care

  2  providers are geographically accessible to the recipient's

  3  residence.

  4         Section 18.  Section 409.913, Florida Statutes, as

  5  amended by section 12 of chapter 2001-377, Laws of Florida, is

  6  amended to read:

  7         409.913  Oversight of the integrity of the Medicaid

  8  program.--The agency shall operate a program to oversee the

  9  activities of Florida Medicaid recipients, and providers and

10  their representatives, to ensure that fraudulent and abusive

11  behavior and neglect of recipients occur to the minimum extent

12  possible, and to recover overpayments and impose sanctions as

13  appropriate. Beginning January 1, 2003, and each year

14  thereafter, the agency and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of

15  the Department of Legal Affairs shall submit a joint report to

16  the Legislature documenting the effectiveness of the state's

17  efforts to control Medicaid fraud and abuse and to recover

18  Medicaid overpayments during the previous fiscal year. The

19  report must describe the number of cases opened and

20  investigated each year; the sources of the cases opened; the

21  disposition of the cases closed each year; the amount of

22  overpayments alleged in preliminary and final audit letters;

23  the number and amount of fines or penalties imposed; any

24  reductions in overpayment amounts negotiated in settlement

25  agreements or by other means; the amount of final agency

26  determinations of overpayments; the amount deducted from

27  federal claiming as a result of overpayments; the amount of

28  overpayments recovered each year; the amount of cost of

29  investigation recovered each year; the average length of time

30  to collect from the time the case was opened until the

31  overpayment is paid in full; the amount determined as

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  uncollectible and the portion of the uncollectible amount

  2  subsequently reclaimed from the Federal Government; the number

  3  of providers, by type, that are terminated from participation

  4  in the Medicaid program as a result of fraud and abuse; and

  5  all costs associated with discovering and prosecuting cases of

  6  Medicaid overpayments and making recoveries in such cases. The

  7  report must also document actions taken to prevent

  8  overpayments and the number of providers prevented from

  9  enrolling in or reenrolling in the Medicaid program as a

10  result of documented Medicaid fraud and abuse and must

11  recommend changes necessary to prevent or recover

12  overpayments.  For the 2001-2002 fiscal year, the agency shall

13  prepare a report that contains as much of this information as

14  is available to it.

15         (1)  For the purposes of this section, the term:

16         (a)  "Abuse" means:

17         1.  Provider practices that are inconsistent with

18  generally accepted business or medical practices and that

19  result in an unnecessary cost to the Medicaid program or in

20  reimbursement for goods or services that are not medically

21  necessary or that fail to meet professionally recognized

22  standards for health care.

23         2.  Recipient practices that result in unnecessary cost

24  to the Medicaid program.

25         (b)  "Complaint" means an allegation that fraud, abuse,

26  or an overpayment has occurred.

27         (c)(b)  "Fraud" means an intentional deception or

28  misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge that the

29  deception results in unauthorized benefit to herself or

30  himself or another person.  The term includes any act that

31  constitutes fraud under applicable federal or state law.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (d)(c)  "Medical necessity" or "medically necessary"

  2  means any goods or services necessary to palliate the effects

  3  of a terminal condition, or to prevent, diagnose, correct,

  4  cure, alleviate, or preclude deterioration of a condition that

  5  threatens life, causes pain or suffering, or results in

  6  illness or infirmity, which goods or services are provided in

  7  accordance with generally accepted standards of medical

  8  practice.  For purposes of determining Medicaid reimbursement,

  9  the agency is the final arbiter of medical necessity.

10  Determinations of medical necessity must be made by a licensed

11  physician employed by or under contract with the agency and

12  must be based upon information available at the time the goods

13  or services are provided.

14         (e)(d)  "Overpayment" includes any amount that is not

15  authorized to be paid by the Medicaid program whether paid as

16  a result of inaccurate or improper cost reporting, improper

17  claiming, unacceptable practices, fraud, abuse, or mistake.

18         (f)(e)  "Person" means any natural person, corporation,

19  partnership, association, clinic, group, or other entity,

20  whether or not such person is enrolled in the Medicaid program

21  or is a provider of health care.

22         (2)  The agency shall conduct, or cause to be conducted

23  by contract or otherwise, reviews, investigations, analyses,

24  audits, or any combination thereof, to determine possible

25  fraud, abuse, overpayment, or recipient neglect in the

26  Medicaid program and shall report the findings of any

27  overpayments in audit reports as appropriate.

28         (3)  The agency may conduct, or may contract for,

29  prepayment review of provider claims to ensure cost-effective

30  purchasing, billing, and provision of care to Medicaid

31  recipients.  Such prepayment reviews may be conducted as

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  determined appropriate by the agency, without any suspicion or

  2  allegation of fraud, abuse, or neglect.

  3         (4)  Any suspected criminal violation identified by the

  4  agency must be referred to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of

  5  the Office of the Attorney General for investigation. The

  6  agency and the Attorney General shall enter into a memorandum

  7  of understanding, which must include, but need not be limited

  8  to, a protocol for regularly sharing information and

  9  coordinating casework.  The protocol must establish a

10  procedure for the referral by the agency of cases involving

11  suspected Medicaid fraud to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

12  for investigation, and the return to the agency of those cases

13  where investigation determines that administrative action by

14  the agency is appropriate. Offices of the Medicaid program

15  integrity program and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the

16  Department of Legal Affairs shall, to the extent possible, be

17  colocated. The agency and the Department of Legal Affairs

18  shall periodically conduct joint training and other joint

19  activities designed to increase communication and coordination

20  in recovering overpayments.

21         (5)  A Medicaid provider is subject to having goods and

22  services that are paid for by the Medicaid program reviewed by

23  an appropriate peer-review organization designated by the

24  agency. The written findings of the applicable peer-review

25  organization are admissible in any court or administrative

26  proceeding as evidence of medical necessity or the lack

27  thereof.

28         (6)  Any notice required to be given to a provider

29  under this section is presumed to be sufficient notice if sent

30  to the address last shown on the provider enrollment file.  It

31  is the responsibility of the provider to furnish and keep the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  agency informed of the provider's current address. United

  2  States Postal Service proof of mailing or certified or

  3  registered mailing of such notice to the provider at the

  4  address shown on the provider enrollment file constitutes

  5  sufficient proof of notice. Any notice required to be given to

  6  the agency by this section must be sent to the agency at an

  7  address designated by rule.

  8         (7)  When presenting a claim for payment under the

  9  Medicaid program, a provider has an affirmative duty to

10  supervise the provision of, and be responsible for, goods and

11  services claimed to have been provided, to supervise and be

12  responsible for preparation and submission of the claim, and

13  to present a claim that is true and accurate and that is for

14  goods and services that:

15         (a)  Have actually been furnished to the recipient by

16  the provider prior to submitting the claim.

17         (b)  Are Medicaid-covered goods or services that are

18  medically necessary.

19         (c)  Are of a quality comparable to those furnished to

20  the general public by the provider's peers.

21         (d)  Have not been billed in whole or in part to a

22  recipient or a recipient's responsible party, except for such

23  copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles as are authorized by

24  the agency.

25         (e)  Are provided in accord with applicable provisions

26  of all Medicaid rules, regulations, handbooks, and policies

27  and in accordance with federal, state, and local law.

28         (f)  Are documented by records made at the time the

29  goods or services were provided, demonstrating the medical

30  necessity for the goods or services rendered. Medicaid goods

31  or services are excessive or not medically necessary unless

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  both the medical basis and the specific need for them are

  2  fully and properly documented in the recipient's medical

  3  record.

  4         (8)  A Medicaid provider shall retain medical,

  5  professional, financial, and business records pertaining to

  6  services and goods furnished to a Medicaid recipient and

  7  billed to Medicaid for a period of 5 years after the date of

  8  furnishing such services or goods. The agency may investigate,

  9  review, or analyze such records, which must be made available

10  during normal business hours. However, 24-hour notice must be

11  provided if patient treatment would be disrupted. The provider

12  is responsible for furnishing to the agency, and keeping the

13  agency informed of the location of, the provider's

14  Medicaid-related records.  The authority of the agency to

15  obtain Medicaid-related records from a provider is neither

16  curtailed nor limited during a period of litigation between

17  the agency and the provider.

18         (9)  Payments for the services of billing agents or

19  persons participating in the preparation of a Medicaid claim

20  shall not be based on amounts for which they bill nor based on

21  the amount a provider receives from the Medicaid program.

22         (10)  The agency may require repayment for

23  inappropriate, medically unnecessary, or excessive goods or

24  services from the person furnishing them, the person under

25  whose supervision they were furnished, or the person causing

26  them to be furnished.

27         (11)  The complaint and all information obtained

28  pursuant to an investigation of a Medicaid provider, or the

29  authorized representative or agent of a provider, relating to

30  an allegation of fraud, abuse, or neglect are confidential and

31  exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1):

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (a)  Until the agency takes final agency action with

  2  respect to the provider and requires repayment of any

  3  overpayment, or imposes an administrative sanction;

  4         (b)  Until the Attorney General refers the case for

  5  criminal prosecution;

  6         (c)  Until 10 days after the complaint is determined

  7  without merit; or

  8         (d)  At all times if the complaint or information is

  9  otherwise protected by law.

10         (12)  The agency may terminate participation of a

11  Medicaid provider in the Medicaid program and may seek civil

12  remedies or impose other administrative sanctions against a

13  Medicaid provider, if the provider has been:

14         (a)  Convicted of a criminal offense related to the

15  delivery of any health care goods or services, including the

16  performance of management or administrative functions relating

17  to the delivery of health care goods or services;

18         (b)  Convicted of a criminal offense under federal law

19  or the law of any state relating to the practice of the

20  provider's profession; or

21         (c)  Found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have

22  neglected or physically abused a patient in connection with

23  the delivery of health care goods or services.

24         (13)  If the provider has been suspended or terminated

25  from participation in the Medicaid program or the Medicare

26  program by the Federal Government or any state, the agency

27  must immediately suspend or terminate, as appropriate, the

28  provider's participation in the Florida Medicaid program for a

29  period no less than that imposed by the Federal Government or

30  any other state, and may not enroll such provider in the

31  Florida Medicaid program while such foreign suspension or

                                  50

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  termination remains in effect.  This sanction is in addition

  2  to all other remedies provided by law.

  3         (14)  The agency may seek any remedy provided by law,

  4  including, but not limited to, the remedies provided in

  5  subsections (12) and (15) and s. 812.035, if:

  6         (a)  The provider's license has not been renewed, or

  7  has been revoked, suspended, or terminated, for cause, by the

  8  licensing agency of any state;

  9         (b)  The provider has failed to make available or has

10  refused access to Medicaid-related records to an auditor,

11  investigator, or other authorized employee or agent of the

12  agency, the Attorney General, a state attorney, or the Federal

13  Government;

14         (c)  The provider has not furnished or has failed to

15  make available such Medicaid-related records as the agency has

16  found necessary to determine whether Medicaid payments are or

17  were due and the amounts thereof;

18         (d)  The provider has failed to maintain medical

19  records made at the time of service, or prior to service if

20  prior authorization is required, demonstrating the necessity

21  and appropriateness of the goods or services rendered;

22         (e)  The provider is not in compliance with provisions

23  of Medicaid provider publications that have been adopted by

24  reference as rules in the Florida Administrative Code; with

25  provisions of state or federal laws, rules, or regulations;

26  with provisions of the provider agreement between the agency

27  and the provider; or with certifications found on claim forms

28  or on transmittal forms for electronically submitted claims

29  that are submitted by the provider or authorized

30  representative, as such provisions apply to the Medicaid

31  program;

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (f)  The provider or person who ordered or prescribed

  2  the care, services, or supplies has furnished, or ordered the

  3  furnishing of, goods or services to a recipient which are

  4  inappropriate, unnecessary, excessive, or harmful to the

  5  recipient or are of inferior quality;

  6         (g)  The provider has demonstrated a pattern of failure

  7  to provide goods or services that are medically necessary;

  8         (h)  The provider or an authorized representative of

  9  the provider, or a person who ordered or prescribed the goods

10  or services, has submitted or caused to be submitted false or

11  a pattern of erroneous Medicaid claims that have resulted in

12  overpayments to a provider or that exceed those to which the

13  provider was entitled under the Medicaid program;

14         (i)  The provider or an authorized representative of

15  the provider, or a person who has ordered or prescribed the

16  goods or services, has submitted or caused to be submitted a

17  Medicaid provider enrollment application, a request for prior

18  authorization for Medicaid services, a drug exception request,

19  or a Medicaid cost report that contains materially false or

20  incorrect information;

21         (j)  The provider or an authorized representative of

22  the provider has collected from or billed a recipient or a

23  recipient's responsible party improperly for amounts that

24  should not have been so collected or billed by reason of the

25  provider's billing the Medicaid program for the same service;

26         (k)  The provider or an authorized representative of

27  the provider has included in a cost report costs that are not

28  allowable under a Florida Title XIX reimbursement plan, after

29  the provider or authorized representative had been advised in

30  an audit exit conference or audit report that the costs were

31  not allowable;

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (l)  The provider is charged by information or

  2  indictment with fraudulent billing practices.  The sanction

  3  applied for this reason is limited to suspension of the

  4  provider's participation in the Medicaid program for the

  5  duration of the indictment unless the provider is found guilty

  6  pursuant to the information or indictment;

  7         (m)  The provider or a person who has ordered, or

  8  prescribed the goods or services is found liable for negligent

  9  practice resulting in death or injury to the provider's

10  patient;

11         (n)  The provider fails to demonstrate that it had

12  available during a specific audit or review period sufficient

13  quantities of goods, or sufficient time in the case of

14  services, to support the provider's billings to the Medicaid

15  program;

16         (o)  The provider has failed to comply with the notice

17  and reporting requirements of s. 409.907; or

18         (p)  The agency has received reliable information of

19  patient abuse or neglect or of any act prohibited by s.

20  409.920;.

21         (q)  The provider has failed to comply with an

22  agreed-upon repayment schedule; or

23         (r)  The provider has failed to timely file such

24  Medicaid cost reports as the agency considers necessary to set

25  or adjust payment rates.

26         (15)  The agency shall may impose any of the following

27  sanctions or disincentives on a provider or a person for any

28  of the acts described in subsection (14):

29         (a)  Suspension for a specific period of time of not

30  more than 1 year.

31         (b)  Termination for a specific period of time of from

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  more than 1 year to 20 years.

  2         (c)  Imposition of a fine of up to $5,000 for each

  3  violation.  Each day that an ongoing violation continues, such

  4  as refusing to furnish Medicaid-related records or refusing

  5  access to records, is considered, for the purposes of this

  6  section, to be a separate violation.  Each instance of

  7  improper billing of a Medicaid recipient; each instance of

  8  including an unallowable cost on a hospital or nursing home

  9  Medicaid cost report after the provider or authorized

10  representative has been advised in an audit exit conference or

11  previous audit report of the cost unallowability; each

12  instance of furnishing a Medicaid recipient goods or

13  professional services that are inappropriate or of inferior

14  quality as determined by competent peer judgment; each

15  instance of knowingly submitting a materially false or

16  erroneous Medicaid provider enrollment application, request

17  for prior authorization for Medicaid services, drug exception

18  request, or cost report; each instance of inappropriate

19  prescribing of drugs for a Medicaid recipient as determined by

20  competent peer judgment; and each false or erroneous Medicaid

21  claim leading to an overpayment to a provider is considered,

22  for the purposes of this section, to be a separate violation.

23         (d)  Immediate suspension, if the agency has received

24  information of patient abuse or neglect or of any act

25  prohibited by s. 409.920. Upon suspension, the agency must

26  issue an immediate final order under s. 120.569(2)(n).

27         (e)  A fine, not to exceed $10,000, for a violation of

28  paragraph (14)(i).

29         (f)  Imposition of liens against provider assets,

30  including, but not limited to, financial assets and real

31  property, not to exceed the amount of fines or recoveries

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  sought, upon entry of an order determining that such moneys

  2  are due or recoverable.

  3         (g)  Prepayment reviews of claims for a specified

  4  period of time.

  5         (h)  Comprehensive followup reviews of providers every

  6  6 months to ensure that they are billing Medicaid correctly.

  7         (i)  Corrective action plans that would remain in

  8  effect for providers for up to 3 years and that would be

  9  monitored by the agency every 6 months while in effect.

10         (j)(g)  Other remedies as permitted by law to effect

11  the recovery of a fine or overpayment.

12

13  The Secretary of Health Care Administration may make a

14  determination that imposition of a sanction or disincentive is

15  not in the best interest of the Medicaid program, in which

16  case a sanction or disincentive shall not be imposed.

17         (16)  In determining the appropriate administrative

18  sanction to be applied, or the duration of any suspension or

19  termination, the agency shall consider:

20         (a)  The seriousness and extent of the violation or

21  violations.

22         (b)  Any prior history of violations by the provider

23  relating to the delivery of health care programs which

24  resulted in either a criminal conviction or in administrative

25  sanction or penalty.

26         (c)  Evidence of continued violation within the

27  provider's management control of Medicaid statutes, rules,

28  regulations, or policies after written notification to the

29  provider of improper practice or instance of violation.

30         (d)  The effect, if any, on the quality of medical care

31  provided to Medicaid recipients as a result of the acts of the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  provider.

  2         (e)  Any action by a licensing agency respecting the

  3  provider in any state in which the provider operates or has

  4  operated.

  5         (f)  The apparent impact on access by recipients to

  6  Medicaid services if the provider is suspended or terminated,

  7  in the best judgment of the agency.

  8

  9  The agency shall document the basis for all sanctioning

10  actions and recommendations.

11         (17)  The agency may take action to sanction, suspend,

12  or terminate a particular provider working for a group

13  provider, and may suspend or terminate Medicaid participation

14  at a specific location, rather than or in addition to taking

15  action against an entire group.

16         (18)  The agency shall establish a process for

17  conducting followup reviews of a sampling of providers who

18  have a history of overpayment under the Medicaid program.

19  This process must consider the magnitude of previous fraud or

20  abuse and the potential effect of continued fraud or abuse on

21  Medicaid costs.

22         (19)  In making a determination of overpayment to a

23  provider, the agency must use accepted and valid auditing,

24  accounting, analytical, statistical, or peer-review methods,

25  or combinations thereof. Appropriate statistical methods may

26  include, but are not limited to, sampling and extension to the

27  population, parametric and nonparametric statistics, tests of

28  hypotheses, and other generally accepted statistical methods.

29  Appropriate analytical methods may include, but are not

30  limited to, reviews to determine variances between the

31  quantities of products that a provider had on hand and

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  available to be purveyed to Medicaid recipients during the

  2  review period and the quantities of the same products paid for

  3  by the Medicaid program for the same period, taking into

  4  appropriate consideration sales of the same products to

  5  non-Medicaid customers during the same period.  In meeting its

  6  burden of proof in any administrative or court proceeding, the

  7  agency may introduce the results of such statistical methods

  8  as evidence of overpayment.

  9         (20)  When making a determination that an overpayment

10  has occurred, the agency shall prepare and issue an audit

11  report to the provider showing the calculation of

12  overpayments.

13         (21)  The audit report, supported by agency work

14  papers, showing an overpayment to a provider constitutes

15  evidence of the overpayment. A provider may not present or

16  elicit testimony, either on direct examination or

17  cross-examination in any court or administrative proceeding,

18  regarding the purchase or acquisition by any means of drugs,

19  goods, or supplies; sales or divestment by any means of drugs,

20  goods, or supplies; or inventory of drugs, goods, or supplies,

21  unless such acquisition, sales, divestment, or inventory is

22  documented by written invoices, written inventory records, or

23  other competent written documentary evidence maintained in the

24  normal course of the provider's business. Notwithstanding the

25  applicable rules of discovery, all documentation that will be

26  offered as evidence at an administrative hearing on a Medicaid

27  overpayment must be exchanged by all parties at least 14 days

28  before the administrative hearing or must be excluded from

29  consideration.

30         (22)(a)  In an audit or investigation of a violation

31  committed by a provider which is conducted pursuant to this

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  section, the agency is entitled to recover all investigative,

  2  legal, and expert witness costs if the agency's findings were

  3  not contested by the provider or, if contested, the agency

  4  ultimately prevailed.

  5         (b)  The agency has the burden of documenting the

  6  costs, which include salaries and employee benefits and

  7  out-of-pocket expenses. The amount of costs that may be

  8  recovered must be reasonable in relation to the seriousness of

  9  the violation and must be set taking into consideration the

10  financial resources, earning ability, and needs of the

11  provider, who has the burden of demonstrating such factors.

12         (c)  The provider may pay the costs over a period to be

13  determined by the agency if the agency determines that an

14  extreme hardship would result to the provider from immediate

15  full payment.  Any default in payment of costs may be

16  collected by any means authorized by law.

17         (23)  If the agency imposes an administrative sanction

18  under this section upon any provider or other person who is

19  regulated by another state entity, the agency shall notify

20  that other entity of the imposition of the sanction.  Such

21  notification must include the provider's or person's name and

22  license number and the specific reasons for sanction.

23         (24)(a)  The agency may withhold Medicaid payments, in

24  whole or in part, to a provider upon receipt of reliable

25  evidence that the circumstances giving rise to the need for a

26  withholding of payments involve fraud, willful

27  misrepresentation, or abuse under the Medicaid program, or a

28  crime committed while rendering goods or services to Medicaid

29  recipients, pending completion of legal proceedings. If it is

30  determined that fraud, willful misrepresentation, abuse, or a

31  crime did not occur, the payments withheld must be paid to the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  provider within 14 days after such determination with interest

  2  at the rate of 10 percent a year. Any money withheld in

  3  accordance with this paragraph shall be placed in a suspended

  4  account, readily accessible to the agency, so that any payment

  5  ultimately due the provider shall be made within 14 days.

  6         (b)  Overpayments owed to the agency bear interest at

  7  the rate of 10 percent per year from the date of determination

  8  of the overpayment by the agency, and payment arrangements

  9  must be made at the conclusion of legal proceedings. A

10  provider who does not enter into or adhere to an agreed-upon

11  repayment schedule may be terminated by the agency for

12  nonpayment or partial payment.

13         (c)  The agency, upon entry of a final agency order, a

14  judgment or order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or a

15  stipulation or settlement, may collect the moneys owed by all

16  means allowable by law, including, but not limited to,

17  notifying any fiscal intermediary of Medicare benefits that

18  the state has a superior right of payment.  Upon receipt of

19  such written notification, the Medicare fiscal intermediary

20  shall remit to the state the sum claimed.

21         (25)  The agency may impose administrative sanctions

22  against a Medicaid recipient, or the agency may seek any other

23  remedy provided by law, including, but not limited to, the

24  remedies provided in s. 812.035, if the agency finds that a

25  recipient has engaged in solicitation in violation of s.

26  409.920 or that the recipient has otherwise abused the

27  Medicaid program.

28         (26)  When the Agency for Health Care Administration

29  has made a probable cause determination and alleged that an

30  overpayment to a Medicaid provider has occurred, the agency,

31  after notice to the provider, may:

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         (a)  Withhold, and continue to withhold during the

  2  pendency of an administrative hearing pursuant to chapter 120,

  3  any medical assistance reimbursement payments until such time

  4  as the overpayment is recovered, unless within 30 days after

  5  receiving notice thereof the provider:

  6         1.  Makes repayment in full; or

  7         2.  Establishes a repayment plan that is satisfactory

  8  to the Agency for Health Care Administration.

  9         (b)  Withhold, and continue to withhold during the

10  pendency of an administrative hearing pursuant to chapter 120,

11  medical assistance reimbursement payments if the terms of a

12  repayment plan are not adhered to by the provider.

13

14  If a provider requests an administrative hearing pursuant to

15  chapter 120, such hearing must be conducted within 90 days

16  following receipt by the provider of the final audit report,

17  absent exceptionally good cause shown as determined by the

18  administrative law judge or hearing officer. Upon issuance of

19  a final order, the balance outstanding of the amount

20  determined to constitute the overpayment shall become due. Any

21  withholding of payments by the Agency for Health Care

22  Administration pursuant to this section shall be limited so

23  that the monthly medical assistance payment is not reduced by

24  more than 10 percent.

25         (27)  Venue for all Medicaid program integrity

26  overpayment cases shall lie in Leon County, at the discretion

27  of the agency.

28         (28)  Notwithstanding other provisions of law, the

29  agency and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Department

30  of Legal Affairs may review a provider's non-Medicaid-related

31  records in order to determine the total output of a provider's

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  practice to reconcile quantities of goods or services billed

  2  to Medicaid against quantities of goods or services used in

  3  the provider's total practice.

  4         (29)  The agency may terminate a provider's

  5  participation in the Medicaid program if the provider fails to

  6  reimburse an overpayment that has been determined by final

  7  order within 35 days after the date of the final order, unless

  8  the provider and the agency have entered into a repayment

  9  agreement. If the final order is overturned on appeal, the

10  provider shall be reinstated.

11         (30)  If a provider requests an administrative hearing

12  pursuant to chapter 120, such hearing must be conducted within

13  90 days following assignment of an administrative law judge,

14  absent exceptionally good cause shown as determined by the

15  administrative law judge or hearing officer. Upon issuance of

16  a final order, the outstanding balance of the amount

17  determined to constitute the overpayment shall become due. If

18  a provider fails to make payments in full, fails to enter into

19  a satisfactory repayment plan, or fails to comply with the

20  terms of a repayment plan or settlement agreement, the agency

21  may withhold all medical assistance reimbursement payments

22  until the amount due is paid in full.

23         (31)  Duly authorized agents and employees of the

24  agency and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Department

25  of Legal Affairs shall have the power to inspect, at all

26  reasonable hours and upon proper notice, the records of any

27  pharmacy, wholesale establishment, or manufacturer, or any

28  other place in the state in which drugs and medical supplies

29  are manufactured, packed, packaged, made, stored, sold, or

30  kept for sale, for the purpose of verifying the amount of

31  drugs and medical supplies ordered, delivered, or purchased by

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  a provider.

  2         Section 19.  Subsections (7) and (8) of section

  3  409.920, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

  4         409.920  Medicaid provider fraud.--

  5         (7)  The Attorney General shall conduct a statewide

  6  program of Medicaid fraud control. To accomplish this purpose,

  7  the Attorney General shall:

  8         (a)  Investigate the possible criminal violation of any

  9  applicable state law pertaining to fraud in the administration

10  of the Medicaid program, in the provision of medical

11  assistance, or in the activities of providers of health care

12  under the Medicaid program.

13         (b)  Investigate the alleged abuse or neglect of

14  patients in health care facilities receiving payments under

15  the Medicaid program, in coordination with the agency.

16         (c)  Investigate the alleged misappropriation of

17  patients' private funds in health care facilities receiving

18  payments under the Medicaid program.

19         (d)  Refer to the Office of Statewide Prosecution or

20  the appropriate state attorney all violations indicating a

21  substantial potential for criminal prosecution.

22         (e)  Refer to the agency all suspected abusive

23  activities not of a criminal or fraudulent nature.

24         (f)  Refer to the agency for collection each instance

25  of overpayment to a provider of health care under the Medicaid

26  program which is discovered during the course of an

27  investigation.

28         (f)(g)  Safeguard the privacy rights of all individuals

29  and provide safeguards to prevent the use of patient medical

30  records for any reason beyond the scope of a specific

31  investigation for fraud or abuse, or both, without the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  patient's written consent.

  2         (g)  Publicize to state employees and the public the

  3  ability of persons to bring suit under the provisions of the

  4  Florida False Claims Act and the potential for the persons

  5  bringing a civil action under the Florida False Claims Act to

  6  obtain a monetary award.

  7         (8)  In carrying out the duties and responsibilities

  8  under this section subsection, the Attorney General may:

  9         (a)  Enter upon the premises of any health care

10  provider, excluding a physician, participating in the Medicaid

11  program to examine all accounts and records that may, in any

12  manner, be relevant in determining the existence of fraud in

13  the Medicaid program, to investigate alleged abuse or neglect

14  of patients, or to investigate alleged misappropriation of

15  patients' private funds. A participating physician is required

16  to make available any accounts or records that may, in any

17  manner, be relevant in determining the existence of fraud in

18  the Medicaid program. The accounts or records of a

19  non-Medicaid patient may not be reviewed by, or turned over

20  to, the Attorney General without the patient's written

21  consent.

22         (b)  Subpoena witnesses or materials, including medical

23  records relating to Medicaid recipients, within or outside the

24  state and, through any duly designated employee, administer

25  oaths and affirmations and collect evidence for possible use

26  in either civil or criminal judicial proceedings.

27         (c)  Request and receive the assistance of any state

28  attorney or law enforcement agency in the investigation and

29  prosecution of any violation of this section.

30         (d)  Seek any civil remedy provided by law, including,

31  but not limited to, the remedies provided in ss.

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  68.081-68.092, s. 812.035, and this chapter.

  2         (e)  Refer to the agency for collection each instance

  3  of overpayment to a provider of health care under the Medicaid

  4  program which is discovered during the course of an

  5  investigation.

  6         Section 20.  Subsection (28) of section 393.063,

  7  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  8         393.063  Definitions.--For the purposes of this

  9  chapter:

10         (28)  "Intermediate care facility for the

11  developmentally disabled" or "ICF/DD" means a

12  state-owned-and-operated residential facility licensed and

13  certified in accordance with state law, and certified by the

14  Federal Government pursuant to the Social Security Act, as a

15  provider of Medicaid services to persons who are

16  developmentally disabled mentally retarded or who have related

17  conditions. The capacity of such a facility shall not be more

18  than 120 clients.

19         Section 21.  Section 400.965, Florida Statutes, is

20  amended to read:

21         400.965  Action by agency against licensee; grounds.--

22         (1)  Any of the following conditions constitute grounds

23  for action by the agency against a licensee:

24         (a)  A misrepresentation of a material fact in the

25  application;

26         (b)  The commission of an intentional or negligent act

27  materially affecting the health or safety of residents of the

28  facility;

29         (c)  A violation of any provision of this part or rules

30  adopted under this part; or

31         (d)  The commission of any act constituting a ground

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  upon which application for a license may be denied.

  2         (2)  If the agency has a reasonable belief that any of

  3  such conditions exists, it shall:

  4         (a)  In the case of an applicant for original

  5  licensure, deny the application.

  6         (b)  In the case of an applicant for relicensure or a

  7  current licensee, take administrative action as provided in s.

  8  400.968 or s. 400.969 or injunctive action as authorized by s.

  9  400.963.

10         (c)  In the case of a facility operating without a

11  license, take injunctive action as authorized in s. 400.963.

12         Section 22.  Subsection (4) of section 400.968, Florida

13  Statutes, is renumbered as section 400.969, Florida Statutes,

14  and amended to read:

15         400.969  Violation of part; penalties.--

16         (1)(4)(a)  Except as provided in s. 400.967(3), a

17  violation of any provision of this part section or rules

18  adopted by the agency under this part section is punishable by

19  payment of an administrative or civil penalty not to exceed

20  $5,000.

21         (2)(b)  A violation of this part section or of rules

22  adopted under this part section is a misdemeanor of the first

23  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

24  Each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense.

25         Section 23.  By January 1, 2003, the Agency for Health

26  Care Administration shall make recommendations to the

27  Legislature as to limits in the amount of home office

28  management and administrative fees which should be allowable

29  for reimbursement for Medicaid providers whose rates are set

30  on a cost-reimbursement basis.

31         Section 24.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1  act shall take effect upon becoming a law

  2

  3

  4  ================ T I T L E   A M E N D M E N T ===============

  5  And the title is amended as follows:

  6         On page 1, line 2, through page 3, line 27,

  7  remove

  8  all of said lines

  9

10  and insert:

11         An act relating to health care; amending s.

12         16.59, F.S.; requiring certain collocation and

13         coordination of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

14         of the Department of Legal Affairs and the

15         Medicaid program integrity program; amending s.

16         112.3187, F.S.; revising procedures and

17         requirements relating to whistle-blower

18         protection for reporting Medicaid fraud or

19         abuse; creating s. 408.831, F.S.; authorizing

20         the Agency for Health Care Administration to

21         take action against a regulated entity under

22         certain circumstances; reenacting s.

23         409.8132(4), F.S., to incorporate amendments to

24         ss. 409.902, 409.907, 409.908, and 409.913,

25         F.S., in references thereto; amending s.

26         409.902, F.S.; requiring consent for release of

27         medical records to the agency and the Medicaid

28         Fraud Control Unit as a condition of Medicaid

29         eligibility; amending s. 409.904, F.S.;

30         revising eligibility standards for certain

31         Medicaid optional medical assistance; amending

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         s. 409.906, F.S.; revising guidelines for

  2         payment for certain services; revising

  3         eligibility for certain Medicaid services

  4         amending s. 409.9065, F.S.; revising

  5         eligibility standards for the pharmaceutical

  6         expense assistance program; amending s.

  7         409.907, F.S.; prescribing additional

  8         requirements with respect to Medicaid provider

  9         enrollment; requiring the agency to deny a

10         provider's application under certain

11         circumstances; providing a finding of important

12         state interest; amending s. 409.908, F.S.;

13         authorizing the agency to withhold provider

14         reimbursements if certain requirements for cost

15         reporting are not met; amending s. 409.910,

16         F.S.; revising requirements for the

17         distribution of funds recovered from third

18         parties liable for payments for medical care

19         furnished to Medicaid recipients or recovered

20         from overpayments, to provide for distributions

21         to counties and local taxing districts;

22         amending s. 409.9116, F.S.; revising

23         applicability of the disproportionate

24         share/financial assistance program for rural

25         hospitals; amending s. 409.912, F.S.; providing

26         requirements for contracts for Medicaid

27         behavioral health care services; amending s.

28         409.9122, F.S.; revising procedures relating to

29         assignment of a Medicaid recipient to a managed

30         care plan or MediPass provider; amending s.

31         409.913, F.S.; requiring the agency and the

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                                                   HOUSE AMENDMENT

                                        Bill No. HB 1975, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No. ___ (for drafter's use only)





  1         Medicaid Fraud Control Unit to annually submit

  2         a joint report to the Legislature; defining the

  3         term "complaint" with respect to Medicaid fraud

  4         or abuse; specifying additional requirements

  5         for the Medicaid program integrity program and

  6         the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; requiring

  7         imposition of sanctions or disincentives,

  8         except under certain circumstances; providing

  9         additional sanctions and disincentives;

10         providing additional grounds for termination of

11         a provider's participation in the Medicaid

12         program; providing additional requirements for

13         administrative hearings; providing additional

14         grounds for withholding payments to a provider;

15         authorizing the agency and the Medicaid Fraud

16         Control Unit to review certain records;

17         amending s. 409.920, F.S.; providing additional

18         duties of the Attorney General with respect to

19         Medicaid fraud control; amending s. 393.063,

20         F.S.; revising definition of the term

21         "intermediate care facility for the

22         developmentally disabled" for purposes of ch.

23         393, F.S.; amending ss. 400.965 and 400.968,

24         F.S.; providing penalties for violation of pt.

25         XI of ch. 400, F.S., relating to intermediate

26         care facilities for developmentally disabled

27         persons; requiring the agency to make

28         recommendations to the Legislature regarding

29         limitations on certain Medicaid provider

30         reimbursements; providing effective dates.

31

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