NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE
Payments to Nursing Facilities July 1, 2001 Proposed Rates
[31 Pa.B. 4018] The purpose of this notice is to announce the proposed changes in payment rates for nursing facilities beginning July 1, 2001, and to identify the methodology and justification for these proposed rates. Under 42 U.S.C.A. § 1902(a)(13)(A), as amended by section 4711 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, (Pub.L. No. 105-33), a state must use a public process when it proposes to make changes in payment rates or payment methodologies for nursing facility services under its approved Title XIX State Plan. The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is not proposing to amend its State Plan or to change its regulations, 55 Pa. Code Chapter 1187, relating to the rate-setting methodology used to set nursing facility payment rates. Rather, the Department is proposing to make changes in its nursing facility payment rates because those rate changes are required by the rate-setting methodology contained in its approved State Plan and regulations. The Department will promulgate amendments to the case-mix payment methodology relating to movable property costs and exceptional payment policies for durable medical equipment in the near future. These proposed rates do not reflect those amendments; however the Department expects the amendments to be finalized and incorporated into the final rates.
Rates
The proposed July 1, 2001, rates are available at the local County Assistance Offices throughout the Commonwealth, on the Office of Medical Assistance Programs' website at www.dpw.state.pa.us/omap or by contacting Tom Jayson in the Policy Section of the Bureau of Long Term Care Programs at (717) 772-2525.
Methodology
The methodology that the Department used to set the proposed rates based on CMI adjustments is contained in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 1187, Subchapter G (relating to rate setting) and the Commonwealth's approved Title XIX State Plan.
Justification
The justification for the proposed rates is that they were set under the rate-setting methodology required by the Commonwealth's approved State Plan and the current regulations.
The estimated increase in annual aggregate expenditures for Medical Assistance nursing facility services for FY 2001-2002 is $92.010 million ($41.964 million in State funds).
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments about the proposed rates to the Department within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments should be addressed to Department of Public Welfare, Attention: Suzanne Love, P. O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17105.
Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Services 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,
SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-298. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2001-02 is $41,964,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2002-03 is $45,779,000; 2nd Succeeding Year 2003-04 is $45,779,000; 3rd Succeeding Year 2004-05 is $45,779,000; 4th Succeeding Year 2005-06 is $45,779,000; 5th Succeeding Year 2006-07 is $45,779,000; (4) 2000-01 Program--$722,565,000; 1999-00 Program--$693,625,000; 1998-99--$712,631,000; (7) Long Term Care; (8) recommends adoption. Funds for these changes were included in the 2001-02 budget.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-1340. Filed for public inspection July 20, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]
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