DHHS restores NF special wage allowance to its full amount

• By: Richard A. Erb
• On: 03/11/2019 10:58:28
• In: MHCA E-News for week of March 8, 2019

The Department of Health and Human Services announced this week that amendments to Section 67, Principles of Reimbursement for Nursing Facilities have been finalized and adopted.  During the public comment process, MHCA and the First Atlantic Corporation objected to action taken by DHHS in the fall that only paid nursing homes for 78% of the Special Wage Allowance for fiscal year 2018-19.  The Department's reasoning was that the bill did not adequately fund the entire increase.
 
We were therefore pleased that in the final rule, DHHS now agrees with our position and has restored the increase to 100% of what the Legislature approved. New rate letters will now be issued. Since this will be retroactive to 7/1/18, our understanding is that nursing facilities will have the option of rebilling for these funds, or waiting until time of settlement.  Look for more information on this soon. 
 
A full list of rulemaking comments and DHHS responses can be found here.
 
Staff Contact:
Rick Erb
President and CEO
rerb@mehca.org