MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare; Appropriations

By: Representative Evans

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS FOR PERSONS WHO RESIDE IN PERSONAL CARE HOMES AND WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR AND RECEIVING CERTAIN MEDICAID ASSISTANCE; TO AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MEDICAID TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM OF ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Division" means the Division of Medicaid in the Office of the Governor.

(b) "Applicant" means a person who applies for personal care home assistance payments under this act.

(c) "Recipient" means a person who resides in a personal care home, who is eligible for assistance under the Mississippi Medicaid Law as prescribed in Section 43-13-115, and who is receiving Medicaid assistance for medicine, hospital services and physician's services.

(d) "Personal care home" means any building or buildings, residence, private home, boarding home, home for persons eighteen (18) years of age or older, or other place, whether operated for profit or not, which undertakes through its ownership or management to provide, for a period exceeding twenty-four (24) hours, housing, food service, and one or more personal services for four (4) or more adults who are not related to the owner or operator by blood or marriage and who require those services, and which is licensed as a personal care home by the State Department of Health under Section 43-11-1 et seq.

SECTION 2. There is established a program of assistance payments for persons who reside in personal care homes, which shall be administered by the Division of Medicaid. The amount of the assistance payments shall be in the amount of Three Dollars ($3.00) per bed per day for each eligible recipient, subject to appropriations therefor by the Legislature.

SECTION 3. Recipients of the personal care home assistance payments shall be applicants who reside in personal care homes, who are certified by the division as persons eligible for Medicaid assistance, and who are receiving Medicaid assistance for medicine, hospital services and physician's services.

SECTION 4. The division may adopt and promulgate reasonable rules, regulations and standards, with the approval of the Governor, as may be necessary for making proper and efficient payments to all qualified recipients of personal care assistance payments under this act.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.