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SF1861 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Certain hospital swing beds licensing conditions modifications

Related bill: HF1912

AI Generated Summary

This bill, Minnesota Senate File No. 1861, proposes modifications to the licensing conditions for hospital swing beds—beds that can be used for both acute care and skilled nursing care.

Key Provisions:

  1. Approval for Swing Bed Use:

    • The Minnesota Commissioner of Health must approve a hospital’s swing bed license condition if the hospital meets specific eligibility criteria and follows Medicare regulations.

  2. Length of Stay Limitation:

    • Generally, patients in swing beds cannot stay more than 40 days or beyond their Medicare eligibility unless an emergency waiver is granted by the Commissioner of Health.
    • Hospitals requesting an emergency extension must provide documentation proving:
      • The patient requires continued care.
      • No skilled nursing facility (SNF) beds are available within 25 miles or at a facility of the patient’s choice.
      • No alternative services are available.

  3. Admission Criteria:

    • Normally, swing bed admissions are limited to:
      1. Patients already hospitalized at the facility.
      2. Patients transferred directly from an acute care hospital.

  4. Reporting Requirements:

    • Hospitals must provide annual reports on swing bed usage, including:
      • The number of readmissions within 60 days of discharge.
      • Billing charges for swing bed care.
      • Number of beds used for transitional or subacute care.
    • Additional data must be reported about overall swing bed utilization.

  5. Exemptions for Certain Hospitals:

    • Hospitals located in Cook County, which:
      1. Are designated as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) under federal and state law.
      2. Have an attached nursing home.
    • These hospitals may use swing beds for nursing facility services without requiring a prior hospital stay, and services are eligible for Medical Assistance reimbursement.

Purpose of the Bill:

The bill aims to regulate hospital swing bed usage while providing flexibility for critical access hospitals in Cook County, allowing them to use swing beds for long-term nursing home care. This exemption helps rural hospitals provide essential healthcare without strict restrictions on swing bed admissions and stay limitations.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 23, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 23, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toHealth and Human Services

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Allows exceptions for length of stay and admission limitations under specified emergency situations."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill modifies requirements for swing bed facilities, ensuring compliance with Medicare's conditions of participation as outlined in Title 42, Part 482.66 of the Code of Federal Regulations.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts specific hospital reporting requirements and length of stay limitations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "42 CFR 482.66"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provides exceptions for hospitals in Cook County designated under this federal law, allowing more flexible use of swing beds."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill refers to the designation of critical access hospitals, which impacts eligibility for exceptions in swing bed usage.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies use guidelines and reimbursement for nursing facility services in critical access hospitals."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "42 USC 1395i-4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specifies conditions under which hospitals in Cook County can be exempt from general swing bed usage regulations."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill refers to Minnesota Statute 144.1483 regarding designation of critical access hospitals for exceptions to swing bed regulations.",
      "modified": [
        "Refines applicability of critical access hospital status for regulatory exceptions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "144.1483"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Medical assistance reimbursement eligibility for swing bed services in critical access hospitals."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill ensures that services provided in swing beds under certain conditions are considered covered medical assistance services under Minnesota's medical assistance regulations.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies reimbursement policies under medical assistance for eligible services in modified swing bed scenarios."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "256B"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Eligible reimbursement mechanisms for facilities adapting their swing bed services under modified regulations."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill mentions eligibility for medical assistance reimbursement under the provisions of chapter 256R to ensure proper compensation for services rendered in designated swing bed facilities.",
      "modified": [
        "Details how financial support through medical assistance will apply to swing bed services under adjusted regulations."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "256R"
  }
]

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