The Department of Medical Assistance Services is authorized to amend its State Plans for Medical Assistance and Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) to establish Protecting Access To Healthcare (PATH). PATH shall include the following components: (i) critical access/sole community provider payments for hospitals and may include enhanced payments to Type II hospitals with high Medicaid utilization; (ii) payments for nursing homes that may provide enhanced reimbursement for those facilities that have higher levels of Medicaid utilization; and (iii) payments to ensure that managed care organizations continue to provide access to care for Medicaid and FAMIS clients. The Department shall develop PATH in consultation with the affected industries, and report to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees on the implementation of PATH no later than October 1, 2003.