NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Availability of Proposed Changes to Medical Assistance Nursing Facility Services Payment Methodology Relating to Exceptional Payment Policy and Request for Comments
[29 Pa.B. 5957] On October 30, 1999, the Department of Public Welfare (Department) announced its intent to make changes in its methods and standards for payment of Medical Assistance (MA) nursing facility services to authorize additional payments for certain medically necessary durable medical equipment (DME). See 29 Pa.B. 5657. The Department has now drafted proposed provisions to incorporate this policy change into its nursing facility payment methods and standards. These proposed provisions, if adopted, will authorize and set forth the requirements and conditions under which the Department will make additional exceptional payments to Medical Assistance nursing facility providers.
In accordance with 42 U.S.C.A. § 1396a(a)(13)(A), the Department is making these proposed changes to theDepartment's payment methods and standards available to the public for review and comment. A copy of the Department's proposed exceptional payment policy is available through the Bulletin Board System (BBS) at (800) 833-5091, at the local County Assistance Offices throughout this Commonwealth, or by contacting Tom Jayson in the Long Term Care Policy Section of the Bureau of Long Term Care Programs at (717) 772-2570. The Department invites interested persons to submit written comments regarding the proposed exceptional payment policy to the Department within 30 days. Comments should be addressed to: Department of Public Welfare, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Attention: Policy Section, P. O. Box 8025, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
The proposed policy changes will also be discussed at the Long Term Care Subcommittee meeting of the Medical Assistance Advisory Committee (MAAC) on December 15, 1999, at 10:30 a.m., in Room 327 of the Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA; the Consumer Subcommittee meeting of the MAAC on December 8, 1999, at 1 p.m., in Room 327 of the Health and Welfare Building; the Fee for Service Subcommittee meeting of the MAAC on December 8, 1999, at 4:30 p.m., in Room 505 of the Health and Welfare Building; and the MAAC meeting on December 9, 1999, at 10 a.m., in Room 327 of the Health and Welfare Building.
Following review and consideration of comments received during this public review process, the Department intends to publish a Notice of Rule Change (NORC) in the Pennsylvania Bulletin announcing the final criteria for authorizing these exceptional payments, to submit a State Plan Amendment incorporating the final criteria into the Commonwealth's approved Medicaid State Plan and to proceed with final rulemaking adopting the final policy changes. Payment under these proposed changes is conditioned upon the publication of the NORC and the Health Care Financing Administration's approval of the State Plan Amendment.
Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service by calling (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users). Persons who require another alternative should contact Thomas Vracarich in the Office of Legal Counsel at (717) 783-2209.
FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 99-1964. Filed for public inspection November 19, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]
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