WSR 19-14-036

HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY

[Filed June 25, 2019, 3:41 p.m.]

Title or Subject: Medicaid State Plan Amendment (SPA) 19-0016 Tribal Nursing Facility Rates.

Effective Date: July 1, 2019.

Description: The health care authority (HCA), in conjunction with the department of social and health services (DSHS), intends to submit medicaid SPA 19-0016 in order to implement a new, cost-based tribal nursing facility per patient, per day rate of $639.57.

SPA 19-0016 is expected to increase the annual aggregate expenditures/payments for services provided to American Indians/Alaska natives in Indian health service facilities (tribally-owned facilities) by $474.16 per day through December 31, 2019. The total federal expenditure for the new rate is estimated to be $2.174 million dollars through December 31, 2019.

A copy of SPA 19-0016 is available for review. HCA and DSHS would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy of the SPA, you may contact the person named below. To submit comments, please contact the person named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).

The model for the new per patient, per date rate of $639.57 was developed through negotiations with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. The methodology is similar to the standard nursing facility medicaid methodology. To request the model, please contact the person named below.

Interested parties may submit comments and concerns about the rates or the effects the changes may have on beneficiary access to care or continued service access. Please submit comments and concerns to jessie.dean@hca.wa.gov by June 27, 2019 (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).

Contact Jessie Dean, Office of Tribal Affairs and Analysis, 626 8th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-725-1649, TRS 711, fax 360-725-1649, email Jessie.Dean@hca.wa.gov, web site www.hca.wa.gov.