The bill, Substitute Senate Bill No. 1483, mandates that the Commissioner of Social Services pay federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) participating in the Patient-Centered Medical Home-Plus (PCMH+) program the amounts they were owed for November and December 2024. The PCMH+ program is designed to provide comprehensive and coordinated care to HUSKY Health program members under a shared savings model, where healthcare providers can receive half of the savings achieved by delivering quality care at reduced costs. The bill also stipulates that shared savings payments will not be made until the arrears for the aforementioned months are settled.

Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of the Patient-Centered Medical Home-Plus program and emphasizes the importance of timely payments to FQHCs, which are crucial for their operational sustainability. The fiscal impact of this legislation is estimated to cost the Department of Social Services $1,280,000 in FY 26, as it addresses the backlog of payments that FQHCs did not receive due to exhausted appropriations in the previous year. The bill is effective upon passage and aims to ensure that healthcare providers are compensated for their services, thereby supporting the overall healthcare system.