PDFWAC 182-548-1450

Federally qualified health centersGeneral payment information.

(1) The agency limits encounters to one per client, per day except in the following circumstances:
(a) The visits occur with different health care professionals with different specialties; or
(b) There are separate visits with unrelated diagnoses.
(2) FQHC services and supplies incidental to the provider's services are included in the encounter rate payment.
(3) Fluoride treatment and sealants must be provided on the same day as an encounter-eligible service. If provided on another day, the rules for non-FQHC services in subsection (4) of this section apply.
(4) Payments for non-FQHC services provided in an FQHC are made on a fee-for-service basis using the agency's published fee schedules. Non-FQHC services are subject to the coverage guidelines and limitations listed in chapters 182-500 through 182-557 WAC.
(5) For clients enrolled with a managed care organization (MCO), covered FQHC services are paid for by that plan.
(6) For clients enrolled with an MCO, the agency pays each FQHC a supplemental payment in addition to the amounts paid by the MCO. The supplemental payments, called enhancements, are paid in amounts necessary to ensure compliance with 42 U.S.C. 1396a (bb)(5)(A).
(a) The FQHCs receive an enhancement payment each month for each managed care client assigned to them by an MCO.
(b) To ensure that the appropriate amounts are paid to each FQHC, the agency performs an annual reconciliation of the enhancement payments. For each FQHC, the agency will compare the amount actually paid to the amount determined by the following formula: (Managed care encounters times encounter rate) less fee-for-service equivalent of MCO services. If the FQHC has been overpaid, the agency will recoup the appropriate amount. If the FQHC has been underpaid, the agency will pay the difference.
(7) Only clients enrolled in Title XIX (medicaid) or Title XXI (CHIP) are eligible for encounter or enhancement payments. The agency does not pay the encounter rate or the enhancement rate for clients in state-only medical programs. Services provided to clients in state-only medical programs are considered fee-for-service regardless of the type of service performed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160. WSR 17-12-016, § 182-548-1450, filed 5/30/17, effective 7/1/17.]