533 Payments to nursing facilities April 1, 2000 proposed rates

Payments to Nursing Facilities April 1, 2000 Proposed Rates

[30 Pa.B. 1698]

   The purposes of this notice are to announce the proposed changes in payment rates for nursing facilities beginning April 1, 2000, 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 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.

Rates

   The proposed April 1, 2000, rates are available through the Bulletin Board System (BBS) at [phone], at the local County Assistance Offices throughout the 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 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 1999-2000 is $1.165 million ($0.538 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 [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-236. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 1999-00 is $538,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2000-01 is $616,000; 2nd Succeeding Year 2001-02 is $647,000; 3rd Succeeding Year 2002-03 is $679,000; 4th Succeeding Year 2003-04 is $713,000; 5th Succeeding Year 2004-05 is $749,000; (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. Funds are available in the Department's budget to cover the cost increase caused by the proposed rate increase.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-533. Filed for public inspection March 24, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]