1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; authorizing a negotiated 
  1.3             blended, budget-neutral nursing facility rate in a 
  1.4             certain county; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, 
  1.5             section 256B.431, by adding a subdivision. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 256B.431, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 40.  [NEGOTIATED BUDGET NEUTRAL BLENDED RATE.] (a) 
  1.10  The commissioner may negotiate a blended, budget-neutral 
  1.11  reimbursement agreement in a county in northwestern Minnesota 
  1.12  containing three nursing facilities, only one of which is a 
  1.13  hospital-attached facility.  Upon agreement between the 
  1.14  commissioner and the three facilities, the commissioner shall 
  1.15  implement the new agreement as soon as practicable.  The rates 
  1.16  effective under this section shall supersede any other rates 
  1.17  determined under this section or any other section. 
  1.18     (b) The agreement may include joint staffing arrangements 
  1.19  among the three facilities, shared facilities or services, or 
  1.20  any other efficiencies agreed to by the parties. 
  1.21     (c) The goals of the agreement shall be to reduce the use 
  1.22  of nursing staff pools, increase the efficiency of operations at 
  1.23  the three facilities, and encourage efficient use of hospital 
  1.24  resources. 
  1.25     (d) Upon 60 days' notice of any of the three nursing 
  2.1   facilities, the agreement shall be terminated.  In that event, 
  2.2   the commissioner shall establish rates for the three facilities 
  2.3   based on the reimbursement system or systems otherwise in effect.
  2.4      <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective the day 
  2.5   following final enactment.