Introduced By: Senators Perry, Cicilline, Cote, Gallo, Sosnowski, et al.
Date Introduced : February 4, 1999
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 40-16-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-16 entitled "Community Health Centers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
40-16-1. Funding of community health centers. -- (a) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1989, and for each year thereafter the state shall contribute a share of the costs associated with community health centers as provided in this chapter. Subject to the provisions of subsection (i), the state's share shall be calculated by multiplying the total number of medical patients treated at the health centers listed below by the sum of thirteen dollars and thirty-four cents ($13.34) for each patient; provided, that multiple visits or treatment shall be counted only once, by the state department of human services for grants to the following health centers:
(2) Providence ambulatory health care foundation, Thundermist health associates, inc., Blackstone Valley community health care inc., Wood River health services, Family health center, East Providence community health center, new visions of Newport County, tri-town health center, Dr. John A. Ferris health center, Chad Brown health center, health center of South County, Bayside family healthcare, Northwest Community nursing and Block Island health services inc.; that sum shall be allocated by the department of human services as follows:
(i) One-half (1/2) of the state share in each fiscal year to be divided equally among the fourteen (14) health centers listed in subsection (a)(2); and
(ii) One-half (1/2) of the state share to be allocated among the health centers listed in subsection (a)(2) based on a per capita rate multiplied by the number of medical patients each center treated in the previous fiscal year; that per capita rate to be computed by dividing this half of the state share by the total number of medical patients treated by all aforesaid health centers in the previous fiscal year; each patient notwithstanding multiple visits or treatment, shall be counted once only.
(b) If the sum appropriated by the state for any fiscal year for making payments to the health centers listed in subsection (a)(2) under this program is not sufficient to pay in full the total amount which all the health centers listed in subsection (a)(2) are entitled to receive for that fiscal year, the maximum entitlement which all the health centers listed in subsection (a)(2) shall receive for such fiscal year shall be ratably reduced.
(c) The appropriation of six hundred seventy-three thousand five hundred dollars ($673,500) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1988, for the state department of human services for distribution to the health centers listed above shall be allocated as follows: three hundred thirty-six thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($336,750) to be divided, equally, among the fourteen (14) health centers cited and three hundred thirty-six thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($336,750) to be allocated among the health centers on a per capita rate of ten dollars ($10.00) for each patient.
(d) If the sum appropriated by the state for any fiscal year exceeds the amount to be distributed based upon the provisions of this section, the excess shall be distributed equally among the fourteen (14) designated health centers.
(e) In December of each year, the department of human services shall forward to the chairperson of the house finance committee and to the chairperson of the senate finance committee the proposed unduplicated per patient rate for the next fiscal year:
(f) In the event that a designated grantee shall cease to operate, then its share shall revert to the general fund.
(g) For purposes of this section, "reference year" shall mean the second fiscal year immediately proceeding the fiscal year of appropriation.
(h) For purposes of this section "unduplicated medical patient" shall mean an individual who receives service at a community health center. An individual can be counted only once and multiple visits by and/or multiple treatments of the individual shall not be counted.
(i) (1) For as long as the United States department of health and human services, health care financing administration project No. 11-W-00004/1-01 entitled "RIte Care" remains in effect and the state is paying health maintenance organizations to care for RIte Care enrollees, the state's annual share of costs associated with community health centers to be paid under this chapter shall be an amount no less than $718,015, which amount shall be appropriated to the Rhode Island department of human services. The department of human services shall obtain federal matching funds for the state's annual share to the fullest extent permitted under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. section 1396 et seq.
(2) In order to encourage federally qualified health centers and rural health centers to participate in RIte Care, for as long as RIte Care remains in effect, all funds appropriated under this chapter and all federal funds matched thereto, shall be paid by the department of human services, without deduction for administrative or other expenses, to Rhode Island health center association, inc., provided that a majority of the health centers referred to in subsection (a) constitute a majority of the members of Rhode Island health center association, inc., and continue to participate as primary care providers in the RIte Care program of the health centers referred to in subsection (a). Such amounts shall be paid monthly to Rhode Island health center association, inc. by the department of human services at the rate of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per member per month for each RIte Care member (regardless of health plan) selecting a federally qualified health center or rural health center, as those terms are defined in 42 U.S.C. section 1395x (or any successor statute), as the member's primary care provider.
(3) In no event shall the amounts payable under this subsection
exceed {DEL three million three hundred thousand dollars ($3,300,000) DEL}
{ADD four million five hundred thousand ($4,500,000) ADD} per fiscal
year. In any fiscal year, if any portion of the state share appropriated
in this subsection is not used to obtain federal matching funds
and pay the amounts due under subsection (i)(2), the unused portion
of the appropriation shall be distributed by the department of
human services equally among the fourteen (14) health centers
named in subsection (a). This subsection shall be inapplicable
and the remaining provisions of this chapter shall apply if at
any time a majority of the health centers referred to in subsection
(a) do not constitute a majority of the members of Rhode Island
health center association, inc. and do not participate as primary
care providers in the RIte Care program.
(4) Rhode Island health center association, inc., shall be entitled to disburse the funds paid under this subsection to federally qualified health centers, rural health centers, other health centers or other entities in the manner it considers necessary or appropriate to encourage maximal participation of federally qualified health centers and rural health centers in RIte Care.
{ADD (5) The department of human services shall require each qualifying center or entity receiving funds under this chapter to: (a) file uniform cost and utilization reports with the department beginning January 1, 2000; and (b) to certify to the department that it will provide, beginning July 1, 2000, a proportional share of the operating expenses of the management service organization, CHC Enterprise, Inc., formed by qualifying centers or entities. ADD}
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
