Assigned to HHS                                                                                                                                                                                                                             AS PASSED BY COW

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2633

nursing shortage; workforce preparation; plan.

(NOW: long-term care services; allowed practitioner)

Purpose

                      Authorizes specified allowed practitioners to order home health services.

Background

                      Under the Arizona Long Term Care System, program contactors must provide institutional services, including home and community-based services provided in a member's home, at an alternative residential setting or at other licensed behavioral health alternative residential facilities (A.R.S.   36-2939).

                      Home health is the provision of nursing services, skilled home health aide services, licensed health aide services, home health aide services or medical supplies, equipment and appliances provided on a part-time or intermittent basis by a licensed home health agency within a member's residence based on a physician's orders in accordance with federal law (A.R.S.
  36-2939).

                      On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was approved by Congress and signed into law. The CARES Act allows Medicare payment for home health services ordered by a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist or a physician assistant, in a manner consistent with state law (P.L. 116-136, 116^th Congress, 2020).

                      There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.   Authorizes an allowed practitioner to order home health services.

2.   Defines allowed practitioner as a certified nurse practitioner, certified clinical nurse specialist or certified physician assistant.

3.   Makes conforming changes.

4.   Contains a conditional enactment in order to conform to changes made by H.B. 2521, which was transmitted to the Governor on March 17, 2021.

5.   Becomes effective on the general effective date, subject to the provisions of the conditional enactment.

Amendments Adopted by Committee

  Adopted the strike-everything amendment.

Senate Action

HHS                               3/24/21           DPA/SE           8-0-0

Prepared by Senate Research

April 5, 2021

CRS/JP/kja