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HB26-1177 • 2026

End Nursing Provider Wage Enhancement Payments

The act prohibits the department of health care policy and financing (department) from making a wage enhancement supplemental payment to an eligible nursing home provider regardless of when the servic

Healthcare Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rep. K. Brown, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Rep. E. Sirota, Sen. J. Bridges, Rep. J. McCluskie
Last action
2026-02-27
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide information on the future impact of the law or changes to nursing home workers' wages.

End Nursing Provider Wage Enhancement Payments

This law stops the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing from giving extra money to nursing homes for paying higher wages.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing from giving wage enhancement payments to nursing homes.
  • Reduces the amount of money the state gives to the department for medical and long-term care services in the 2025-26 fiscal year by $4,359,961.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Nursing homes that receive wage enhancement payments from the state.
  • The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing which manages Medicaid funding.

Terms To Know

Wage Enhancement Payment
Extra money given to nursing homes to help them pay higher wages to their workers.
Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
The state agency that manages health care funding, including Medicaid services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify when the law will start or how nursing homes will be affected in the future.
  • Does not explain what happens to nursing home workers' wages after this change.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-27 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-02-26 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-02-20 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations

  9. 2026-02-12 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  10. 2026-02-11 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  11. 2026-02-10 House

    House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  12. 2026-02-06 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

Official Summary Text

The act prohibits the department of health care policy and financing (department) from making a wage enhancement supplemental payment to an eligible nursing home provider regardless of when the services were provided. The act reduces the 2025-26 state fiscal year appropriation to the department for medical and long-term care services for medicaid eligible individuals by $4,359,961.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)