Authorizes Medicaid coverage for the complex care assistant program

The definition of 'family member' was changed from a broad list of relatives (parents, siblings, etc.) to strictly mean a person legally responsible for the medically fragile child.

The list of allowable tasks for a complex care assistant was simplified and removed specific references to medical procedures like tracheostomy care and central line care.

The maximum number of paid hours per week for a complex care assistant was increased from 40 to 50 hours.

A new requirement was added ensuring that private duty nursing agencies must pass through at least 65% of the reimbursement rate directly to the complex care assistant.

The bill now requires the department to review reimbursement rates bi-annually and adjust them based on the Consumer Price Index to account for cost of living increases.

The definition of allowable tasks was expanded to explicitly include 'personal care assistant' duties alongside home health aide tasks.