NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Payments to Nursing Facilities; April 1, 2001 Final Rates

[31 Pa.B. 2748]

   The purpose of this notice is to announce final payment rates based on case-mix index (CMI) adjustments only, for nursing facilities beginning April 1, 2001, 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 (Pub. L. No. 105-33). An April 1, 2001, Proposed Rates Notice was published at 31 Pa.B. 1810 (March 31, 2001) and provided for a 30-day comment period. The Department of Public Welfare (Department) did not receive any comments on the proposed April 1, 2001, rate notice.

Rates

   The final April 1, 2001, rates are available at the local County Assistance Offices throughout this Commonwealth, on the Office of Medical Assistance Programs' web site 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 final 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 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way by which a nursing facility can present the Department with a demand that a final rate be modified, reversed, rescinded or otherwise altered, or with a demand that the Department increase the amount of reimbursement paid to the facility under that rate.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 1999-2000 based on these final rates is $0.263 million ($0.122 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-289. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2000-01 is $122,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2001-02 is $133,000; 2nd Succeeding Year 2002-03 is $133,000; 3rd Succeeding Year 2003-04 is $133,000; 4th Succeeding Year 2004-05 is $133,000; 5th Succeeding Year 2005-06 is $133,000; (4) 1999-00 Program--$693,625,000; 1998-99 Program--$721,631,000; 1997-98--$617,252,000; (7) Medical Assistance-Long Term Care; (8) recommends adoption. Funds are included in the budget for this purpose.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 01-914. Filed for public inspection May 25, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]

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