For health care services provided to MassHealth members who are seniors, including those provided through the Medicare Saving program, and for the operation of the MassHealth senior care options initiative under
section 9D of chapter 118E of the General Laws; provided, that funds may be expended from this item for health care services provided to recipients in prior fiscal years; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the purposes of an individual's eligibility for the senior care options initiative, an individual is deemed to reach the age of 65 on the first day of the month in which their sixty-fifth birthday occurs; provided further, that no payment for special provider costs shall be made from this item without the prior written approval of the secretary of administration and finance; provided further, that funds shall be expended from this item to maintain a personal needs allowance of $72.80 per month for individuals residing in nursing and rest homes who are eligible for MassHealth, emergency aid to the elderly, the disabled and children program or supplemental security income; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for any nursing home facility or non-acute chronic disease hospital that provides kosher food to its residents, the executive office of health and human services, in consultation with the center for health information and analysis and in recognition of the special innovative program status granted by the executive office, shall continue to make the standard payment rates to reflect the high dietary costs incurred in providing kosher food; provided further, that not later than February 1, 2021, the secretary of health and human services shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the implementation of the Medicare Saving program (MSP) expanded program eligibility for seniors under section 25A of said chapter 118E; provided further, that said report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of members who are seniors whose household incomes, as determined by the executive office, exceed 130 per cent of the federal poverty level that are enrolled in Medicare Saving programs during each month of the fiscal year; (ii) total enrollment in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program and Qualifying Individual (QI) Program; (iii) total annual spending on Medicare premiums and cost-sharing for such members; (iv) total annual transfers from the prescription advantage program in line item
9110-1455 and Health Safety Net Trust Fund to fund the Medicare Saving program expansion; provided further, that nursing facility rates effective October 1, 2020 under
section 13D of said chapter 118E may be developed using the costs of calendar year 2014, or any subsequent year selected by the secretary of health and human services; provided further, that such nursing facility rates on an aggregate basis, including any rate add-ons, shall be at least the amount such nursing facility rates would be if they were developed using the costs of calendar year 2017; provided further, that MassHealth shall reimburse nursing home facilities for up to 20 medical leave-of-absence days and shall reimburse the facilities for up to 10 nonmedical leave-of-absence days; provided further, that medical leave-of-absence days shall include an observation stay in a hospital in excess of 24 hours; and provided further, that no nursing home shall reassign a patient's bed during a leave of absence that is eligible for reimbursement under this item
