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2000 Session

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Hamilton
Co-Patron(s): Jackson
Nursing Home Rates & Detailed Method

Item 319 #35h

Item 319 #35h

First Year - FY2001 Second Year - FY2002
Health And Human Resources
Medical Assistance Services, Department of FY2001 $13,500,000 FY2002 $13,500,000 GF
FY2001 $14,600,000 FY2002 $14,600,000 NGF

Language
Page 244, line 45, strike "$2,849,830,824" and insert "$2,877,930,824".
Page 244, line 45, strike "$2,896,793,218" and insert "$2,924,893,218".
Page 250, after line 8 insert:
"X.1.  Beginning July 1, 2000, the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) shall increase reimbursement rates in the current nursing facility payment system and modify the respective methodologies in order to effect the changes described below,
2.  The payment system shall be comprised of two distinct components, operating and capital, and the operating component shall include two distinct cost centers, direct care costs and indirect costs.
3.  The direct care cost center shall include the following:
Salaries, wages, benefits and other related costs of Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), contract nursing labor, nursing administration, social services, activities, quality assurance and assessment functions.  Also included are the cost of medical directorship, pharmacy consultants, raw food and medical supplies.
Salaries, wages, benefits and other related costs for RNs, LPNs, CNAs, contract nursing labor, nursing administration as well as the cost of medical supplies shall be case mix adjusted on a semi-annual basis to reflect the change in facility-specific patient acuity.  The existing Patient Intensity Rating System (PIRS) and associated resident assessment instruments shall continue to be used for purposes of determining patient acuity until such time as a Resource Utilization Group (RUG) methodology mutually agreed upon by recognized provider groups representing nursing facilities and DMAS can be developed and implemented.  Such implementation shall occur no later than January 1, 2001.
4.  Ancillary costs which are included under the direct care cost center shall be removed and reimbursed under a separate fee screen methodology.  These costs include expenses associated with the provision of laboratory, radiology, speech, occupational and physical therapy, and kinetic therapy services.  DMAS shall evaluate the appropriateness of utilizing the existing Medicare Part B fee screen for reimbursement of such services.
5.  DMAS shall reimburse nursing facilities for direct care costs using facility-reported cost data from the prior fiscal year updated to reflect inflationary cost increases using the national nursing home producer price index as developed and published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  DMAS shall annually determine the mean costs of nursing facility care on a geographic peer group basis and establish a direct care cost ceiling at 125% of the inflation-adjusted mean costs.  Each nursing facility will receive a prospective direct care payment rate based upon the lesser of the facility’s semi-annually case-mix adjusted prior year inflation-adjusted cost or the applicable semi-annually case-mix adjusted direct care peer group cost ceiling.
6.  DMAS shall not utilize a minimum occupancy adjustment for the calculation of direct care costs, rates or ceilings.  The determination of both direct care and indirect costs shall be made without applying limits on compensation paid or cost of services for any unrelated party transaction including but not limited to employment or contracting of facility administrators and medical directors.
7.  DMAS shall annually determine the mean nursing facility indirect costs on a geographic peer group basis and establish an indirect care rate at 110% of the inflation-adjusted mean costs.  DMAS shall calculate mean indirect costs using facility-reported cost data from the prior fiscal year updated to reflect inflationary cost increases using the national nursing home producer price index as developed and published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
8.  DMAS shall continue to utilize the price-based methodology for indirect costs outlined above upon implementation of the mutually agreed upon Resource Utilization Group (RUG) methodology.  Such implementation shall occur no later than January 1, 2001.  Once implemented, the RUG-based payment for indirect costs shall continue to be based upon a prospective price set at 110% of the inflation-adjusted mean peer group costs.
9.  DMAS shall utilize a minimum occupancy adjustment for the calculation of capital-related costs and indirect cost means based upon the lower of 85% or average statewide occupancy for the prior calendar year less five percentage points.
10.  DMAS shall continue to recognize and reimburse for the direct costs and related efficiency incentive payments associated with care provided to residents meeting the criteria for the existing Specialized Care program until such time as a mutually agreed upon Resource Utilization Group (RUG) methodology can be developed and implemented.  Such implementation shall occur no later than January 1, 2001.  Once developed, the RUG-based methodology must fairly recognize and reimburse nursing facilities for costs associated with this heavy care patient population.  Indirect costs associated with the Medicaid Specialized Care program shall be paid in accordance with the methodology outlined above effective July 1, 2000.
11.  DMAS shall take all actions necessary to develop, publish and distribute all applicable Virginia nursing facility regulations, State Plan sections and any other Title XIX-related documentation including all applicable /Medicaid Memos in a searchable electronic format.  Such format will include, but not be limited to, distribution via CD-ROM and the DMAS Web Site.  This requirement shall be completed on or before July 1, 2000, and contemplates ongoing efforts to maintain currency."


Explanation
(This amendment adds funds for increased Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes and prescribes the rate calculation methodology.)