NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Payments to Nursing Facilities; July 1, 2000 Final Rates

[30 Pa.B. 4392]

   The purpose of this notice is to announce final payment rates for nursing facilities beginning July 1, 2000, in accordance with section 1902(a)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. § 1902(a)(13)(A)), as amended by section 4711 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P. L. 105-33). A 2000-2001 Proposed Rates Notice was published at 30 Pa.B. 3315 (July 1, 2000) and provided for a 30-day comment period. The Department of Public Welfare (Department) did not receive any comments on the proposed July 1, 2000 rate notice.

Rates

   The final July 1, 2000 rates are 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 Policy Section of the Bureau of Long Term Care Programs at (717) 705-3705.

Methodology

   The methodology that the Department used to set the final rates 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 establishing the final rates is that the regulations at 55 Pa. Code Chapter 1187 and the Commonwealth's approved Title XIX State Plan require that rates be set on a quarterly basis.

Appeals

   Nursing facilities may appeal their final rates under 55 Pa. Code § 1187.141(a)(7). Under 55 Pa. Code § 1187.141(c)(2), appeals must be filed within 30 days of the date of the Department's letter notifying the facility of its final rates. The filing of an appeal constitutes the exclusive way by which a nursing facility can present the Department with a demand that a final rate be modified, reversed, rescinded or otherwise altered, or with a demand that the Department increase the amount of reimbursement paid to the facility under that rate.

   The estimated increase in annual aggregate expenditures for Medical Assistance nursing facility services for FY 2000-2001 based on these final rates is $117.981 million ($54.661 million in State funds).

   Interested persons are invited to submit written comments about the final 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, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, 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,   
Secretary

   Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-255. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2000-01 is $54.661 million; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2001-02 is $59.630 million; 2nd Succeeding Year 2002-03 is $59.630 million; 3rd Succeeding Year 2003-04 is $59.630 million; 4th Succeeding Year 2004-05 is $59.630 million; 5th Succeeding Year 2005-06 is $59.630 million; (4) 1999-00 Program--$693.625 million; 1998-99 Program--$721.631 million; 1997-98 Program--$617.252 million; (7) Medical Assistance--Long Term Care; (8) recommends adoption. Funds are available in the Department's budget to cover the cost of this rate change.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-1429. Filed for public inspection August 18, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]

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