HB568 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Health center access and quality improvement program, established, require qualified health centers to pay assessment to the Health Center Assessment Account

Summary

HB568 would create a Health Center Access and Quality Improvement Program funded by assessments on qualified health centers to improve access and care quality through Medicaid payments, with a sunset in 2018.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Health Center Access and Quality Improvement Program and an in-state Health Center Assessment Account funded by quarterly assessments on qualified health centers, aiming to leverage federal matching funds. It requires federal approval (CMS) of Medicaid State Plan amendments and any waivers before the program starts. It defines types of payments (access, care coordination/health home, and quality improvement) and sets up a panel to oversee program design and state plan changes, with funding and rules tied to FMAP and CMS approval; the program ends on September 30, 2018 unless extended.

Who It Affects

• Qualified health centers in Alabama would pay an assessment based on their in-state net patient revenue and, if certified, receive access payments, care coordination/health home payments, and quality improvement payments from Medicaid.
• Alabama Medicaid Agency, the Department of Revenue, the Alabama Primary Health Care Association (as certifying entity), and the Health Center Services and Reimbursement Panel would administer, certify, and oversee the program, including certifying net patient revenue, approving state plan amendments, and distributing payments after CMS review.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Health Center Access and Quality Improvement Program, imposes a quarterly assessment on qualified health centers, deposits funds into the Health Center Assessment Account, and sets a sunset date of September 30, 2018 pending extension and CMS approval.
• Establishes the Health Center Services and Reimbursement Panel and the Alabama Primary Health Care Association’s certification duties to determine eligibility for payments; outlines payment types (access, care coordination/health home, quality improvement) and requires CMS approval of the State Plan amendments and any alternative payment methodology before they become effective.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Medicaid