2140 Payments to nursing facilities October 1, 1999 final rates

Payments to Nursing Facilities October 1, 1999 Final Rates

[29 Pa.B. 6376]

   The purpose of this notice is to announce final payment rates for nursing facilities beginning October 1, 1999, 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, § 4711. An October 1, 1999 Proposed Rates Notice was published at 29 Pa.B. 5556 (October 23, 1999) and provided for a 30-day comment period. The Department did not receive any comments on the proposed October 1, 1999 rate notice.

Rates

   The final October 1, 1999 rates are available through the Bulletin Board System (BBS) at [phone], 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 [phone].

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.

   The estimated increase in annual aggregate expenditures for Medical Assistance nursing facility services for FY 1999-2000 based on these final rates is $9.340 million ($4.314 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-230. (1) General Fund; (2)  Implementing Year 1999-00 is $4.314 Million; (3)  1st Succeeding Year 2000-01 is $6.040 Million; 2nd Succeeding Year 2001-02 is $6.342 Million; 3rd Succeeding Year 2002-03 is $6.659 Million; 4th Succeeding Year 2003-04 is $6.992 Million; 5th Succeeding Year 2004-05 is $7.341 Million; (4)  1998-99 Program--$721.631 Million; 1997-98 Program--$617.252 Million; 1996-97 Program--$591.910 Million; (7)  Medical Assistance--Long Term Care; (8)  recommends adoption. There are funds available in the Department's budget to cover the cost of this increase.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 99-2140. Filed for public inspection December 17, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]