SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB's 834, 1140 & 1612, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    

                            CHAMBER ACTION
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11  Senator Clary moved the following amendment:

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13         Senate Amendment 

14         On page 64, lines 7-21, delete those lines

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16  and insert:

17         Section 31.  There is hereby appropriated the sum of

18  $3,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund and the sum

19  $4,420,344 from the Medical Care Trust Fund to the Agency for

20  Health Care Administration in order to allow nursing

21  facilities the ability to recruit and retain qualified staff

22  and to provide appropriate care. The Agency for Health Care

23  Administration shall adjust limitations in the patient care

24  component of the per diem rate to allow these additional funds

25  to be reimbursed through the per diem rate, effective April 1,

26  2000. The agency in expending the funds provided in this

27  appropriation shall establish a formula for reimbursing

28  nursing facilities for the cost of hiring additional certified

29  nursing assistants and licensed nurses or for the cost of

30  salary or benefit enhancements to retain such staff in these

31  specific classes. The formula shall provide for an increase in

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    10:54 AM   04/29/99                              s0834.hc07.f9




                                                  SENATE AMENDMENT

    Bill No. CS for CS for SB's 834, 1140 & 1612, 1st Eng.

    Amendment No.    





 1  a nursing facility's per diem rate inversely proportionate to

 2  the facility's current staffing level for these staff compared

 3  to the staffing standards set forth in agency rule. The agency

 4  shall maintain for tracking purposes the record of each

 5  facility's staffing increases or enhancements resulting from

 6  these funds.

 7         Section 32.  The sum of $150,000 is hereby appropriated

 8  from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Elderly

 9  Affairs for fiscal year 1999-2000 to fund the responsibilities

10  of the Office of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and establish

11  a statewide toll-free telephone number pursuant to s.

12  400.0078, Florida Statutes, as created by this act. Eighteen

13  positions and the sum of $1,304,720 from recurring General

14  Revenue Funds, $72,994 from nonrecurring General Revenue Funds

15  and $452,584 from the Administrative Trust Fund is

16  appropriated to the Agency for Health Care Administration for

17  Fiscal Year 1999-2000 implement the provisions of this act.

18  The sum of $26,000 from General Revenue Fund is appropriated

19  to the Executive Office of the Governor for Fiscal Year

20  1999-2000 for the Governor's Panel on Excellence in Long Term

21  Care.

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23  (Redesignate subsequent sections.)

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    10:54 AM   04/29/99                              s0834.hc07.f9