State budgets provide annual minimum funding for ombudsman office

The governor must include at least 3% of nursing facility quality assessment collections in the annual budget bill for the ombudsman office. This applies to collections from facilities with at least 45 beds that operate in Maryland, but not nursing home beds in registered continuing care retirement communities. This funding must add to, and may not replace, other money that would otherwise be budgeted for the office. This requirement applies in fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year after that.

The governor must include at least $2 million for the ombudsman office from managed care organization payments. This applies to money managed care organizations remit under the cited state rule. If managed care organizations remitted less than $2 million in the second preceding fiscal year, the budget must use general funds to cover the difference. This funding must add to, and may not replace, other money that would otherwise be budgeted for the office. This requirement applies in fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year after that, using payments from the second preceding fiscal year.