The California Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously approved the Nursing Home Quality Care Act. The bill, if passed, will change the way the state’s Medicaid program allocates money to facilities by basing reimbursement on the cost of providing care.

The approval came after the committee heard testimony from nursing home providers and caregivers.

Under the act, facilities that care for Medi-Cal patients will pay a quality assurance fee. The money would let the state dip into an estimated $250 million in additional federal Medicaid dollars for nursing home care. The funds, in turn, would help providers hire more caregivers, increase compensation to reduce staff turnover and improve aging facilities.The approval came after the committee heard testimony from nursing home providers and caregivers.