Authority: Title 51.2, Chapter 1.1 and Title 63.1, Chapters 1 and 6, Code of Virginia; Title XVI, federal Social Security Act, as amended.

1. The Department of Social Services is authorized to base approved licensed assisted living facility rates for individual homes on an occupancy rate of 85 percent of licensed capacity, not to exceed a maximum rate of $833 $854 per month, unless modified as indicated below. The Department may add a 15 percent differential to the maximum amount for licensed assisted living facilities in Planning District Eight.

2. The monthly personal care allowance for auxiliary grant recipients who reside in licensed assisted living facilities shall be $62 per month the first year and $62 per month the second year, unless modified as indicated below.

3. The Department of Social Services is authorized to increase the assisted living facility rate and/or the personal care allowance cited above on January 1 of each year in which the federal government increases Supplemental Security Income or Social Security rates or at any other time that the Department determines that an increase is necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth continues to meet federal requirements for continuing eligibility for federal financial participation in the Medicaid program. Any such increase is subject to the prior concurrence of the Department of Planning and Budget. Within thirty days after its effective date, the Department of Social Services shall report any such increase to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees with an explanation of the reasons for the increase.