1882 Payments to nursing facilities; October 1, 1998 proposed rates

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Payments to Nursing Facilities; October 1, 1998 Proposed Rates

[28 Pa.B. 5723]

   The purposes of this notice are to announce the proposed changes in payment rates for nursing facilities beginning October 1, 1998, 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, P. L. 105-33, § 4711, 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 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.

Rates

   The proposed October 1, 1998 rates are available through the Bulletin Board System (BBS) at [phone], at the local County Assistance Offices throughout this Commonwealth, or by contacting Connie Pretz in the Policy Section of the Bureau of Long Term Care Programs at [phone].

Methodology

   The methodology that the Department used to set the proposed 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 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 1998--1999 based on these final rates is $20.809 million ($9.639 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, Room 515 Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17105.

   Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Services by calling [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (Voice users). Persons who require another alternative should contact Thomas Vracarich in the Office of Legal Counsel at [phone].

FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,   
Secretary

   Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-184. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 1998--99 is $9.6 million; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 1999--00 is $10.5 million; 2nd Succeeding Year 2000--01 is $10.5 million; 3rd Succeeding Year 2001--02 is $10.5 million; 4th Succeeding Year 2002--03 is $10.5 million; 5th Succeeding Year 2003--04 is $10.5 million; (4) 1997--98 $617 million; 1996--97 $592 million; 1995--96 $649 million; (7) Medical Assistance--Long Term Care; (8) recommends adoption. Funds are included in the 1998--99 budget for this purpose.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1882. Filed for public inspection November 13, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]