WSR 09-09-014
DEPARTMENT OFSOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
[
Filed April 3, 2009,
11:03 a.m.
]
FINAL NOTICE OF CHANGES TO STATE OF WASHINGTONNURSING FACILITY MEDICAID PAYMENT RATE METHODOLOGY
The 2009 state legislature has passed changes to the
method for determining facility-specific, per resident day
medicaid payment rates for nursing facility care in
Washington. The changes are effective February 18, 2009.
This notice includes a justification, description, and
estimated rate impact of the changes. These changes were the subject of a notice published in
Issue 09-06 of the Washington state register, distributed on
March 18, 2009. No comments were received in response to the
notice.
JUSTIFICATION
The changes are mandated by the 2009 Washington state
legislature in the amended State Operating Budget Supplemental
Appropriations Act; see section 205, chapter 4, Laws of 2009.
It was passed by the legislature on February 18, 2009, and
signed by the governor the same day; it included an emergency
clause making it effective immediately.
NEW RATES AND PROPOSED CHANGES TO RATE METHODOLOGY
In combination with a variety of other factors, including
changes in the allowed costs of care, the methodological
changes are estimated to result in a statewide average nursing
facility medicaid payment rate of $163.72 per resident day, at
a maximum, for state fiscal year 2009, running from July 1,
2008, to June 30, 2009. However, because rate changes made to
comply with the statewide average nursing facility payment
rate can be made only prospectively, and because of legal
notice requirements, the change in the statute did not affect
the actual rates paid to nursing facilities under medicaid
until April 1, 2009.
© Washington State Code Reviser's Office