A. Payments to disproportionate share hospitals (DSH) shall be prospectively determined in advance of the state fiscal year to which they apply. The payments shall be made on a quarterly basis and shall be final subject to subsections E and K of this section.

B. Effective July 1, 2014, in order to qualify for DSH payments, DSH eligible hospitals shall have a total Medicaid inpatient utilization rate equal to 14% or higher in the base year using Medicaid days eligible for Medicare DSH defined in 42 USC § 1396r-4(b)(2) or a low income utilization rate defined in 42 USC § 1396r-4(b)(3) in excess of 25%. Eligibility for out-of-state cost reporting hospitals shall be based on total Medicaid utilization or on total Medicaid neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) utilization equal to 14% or higher. Effective July 1, 2018, freestanding children's hospitals located in the District of Columbia shall not be eligible for DSH payments.

C. Effective July 1, 2014, the DSH reimbursement methodology for all hospitals except Type One hospitals is the following:

1. Each hospital's DSH payment shall be equal to the DSH per diem multiplied by each hospital's eligible DSH days in a base year. Days reported in provider fiscal years in state fiscal year (FY) 2011 (available from the Medicaid cost report through the Hospital Cost Report Information System (HCRIS) as of July 30, 2013) will be the base year for FY 2015 prospective DSH payments. DSH shall be recalculated annually with an updated base year. Future base year data shall be extracted from Medicare cost report summary statistics available through HCRIS as of October 1 prior to next year's effective date.

2. Eligible DSH days are the sum of all Medicaid inpatient acute, psychiatric, and rehabilitation days above 14% for each DSH hospital subject to special rules for out-of-state cost reporting hospitals. Eligible DSH days for out-of-state cost reporting hospitals shall be the higher of the number of eligible days based on the calculation in the first sentence of this subdivision times Virginia Medicaid utilization (Virginia Medicaid days as a percent of total Medicaid days) or the Medicaid NICU days above 14% times Virginia NICU Medicaid utilization (Virginia NICU Medicaid days as a percent of total NICU Medicaid days). Eligible DSH days for out-of-state cost reporting hospitals that qualify for DSH but that have less than 12% Virginia Medicaid utilization shall be 50% of the days that would have otherwise been eligible DSH days.

3. Additional eligible DSH days are days that exceed 28% Medicaid utilization for Virginia Type Two hospitals, excluding Children's Hospital of the Kings Daughters (CHKD).

4. The DSH per diem shall be calculated in the following manner:

a. The DSH per diem for Type Two hospitals is calculated by dividing the total Type Two DSH allocation by the sum of eligible DSH days for all Type Two DSH hospitals. For purposes of DSH, Type Two hospitals do not include CHKD or any hospital whose reimbursement exceeds its federal uncompensated care cost limit. The Type Two hospital DSH allocation shall equal the amount of DSH paid to Type Two hospitals in state FY 2014 increased annually by the percent change in the federal allotment, including any reductions as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Affordable Care Act), Public Law 111-148, adjusted for the state fiscal year. Effective July 1, 2018, the Type Two hospital DSH allocation shall be reduced by the amount of DSH allocated to freestanding children's hospitals located in the District of Columbia.

b. The DSH per diem for state inpatient psychiatric hospitals is calculated by dividing the total state inpatient psychiatric hospital DSH allocation by the sum of eligible DSH days. The state inpatient psychiatric hospital DSH allocation shall equal the amount of DSH paid in state FY 2013 increased annually by the percent change in the federal allotment, including any reductions as a result of the Affordable Care Act, adjusted for the state fiscal year.

c. Effective July 1, 2017, the annual DSH payment shall be calculated separately for each eligible hospital by multiplying each year's state inpatient psychiatric hospital DSH allocation described in subdivision C 4 b of this section by the ratio of each hospital's uncompensated care cost for the most recent DSH audited year completed prior to the DSH payment year to the uncompensated care cost of all state inpatient psychiatric hospitals for the same audited year.

d. The DSH per diem for CHKD shall be three times the DSH per diem for Type Two hospitals.

5. Each year, the department shall determine how much Type Two DSH has been reduced as a result of the Affordable Care Act and adjust the percent of cost reimbursed for outpatient hospital reimbursement.

D. Effective July 1, 2014, the DSH reimbursement methodology for Type One hospitals shall be to pay its uncompensated care costs up to the available allotment. Interim payments shall be made based on estimates of the uncompensated care costs and allotment. Payments shall be settled at cost report settlement and at the conclusion of the DSH audit.

E. Prior to July 1, 2014, hospitals qualifying under the 14% inpatient Medicaid utilization percentage shall receive a DSH payment based on the hospital's type and the hospital's Medicaid utilization percentage.

1. Type One hospitals shall receive a DSH payment equal to:

a. The sum of (i) the hospital's Medicaid utilization percentage in excess of 10.5%, times 17, times the hospital's Medicaid operating reimbursement, times 1.4433 and (ii) the hospital's Medicaid utilization percentage in excess of 21%, times 17, times the hospital's Medicaid operating reimbursement, times 1.4433.

b. Multiplied by the Type One hospital DSH factor. The Type One hospital DSH factor shall equal a percentage that when applied to the DSH payment calculation yields a DSH payment equal to the total calculated using the methodology outlined in subdivision 1 a of this subsection using an adjustment factor of one in the calculation of operating payments rather than the adjustment factor specified in subdivision B 1 of 12VAC30-70-331.

2. Type Two hospitals shall receive a DSH payment equal to the sum of (i) the hospital's Medicaid utilization percentage in excess of 10.5%, times the hospital's Medicaid operating reimbursement, times 1.2074 and (ii) the hospital's Medicaid utilization percentage in excess of 21%, times the hospital's Medicaid operating reimbursement, times 1.2074. Out-of-state cost reporting hospitals with Virginia utilization in the base year of less than 12% of total Medicaid days shall receive 50% of the payment described in this subsection.

F. Hospitals qualifying under the 25% low-income patient utilization rate shall receive a DSH payment based on the hospital's type and the hospital's low-income utilization rate.

1. Type One hospitals shall receive a DSH payment equal to the product of the hospital's low-income utilization in excess of 25%, times 17, times the hospital's Medicaid operating reimbursement.

2. Type Two hospitals shall receive a DSH payment equal to the product of the hospital's low-income utilization in excess of 25%, times the hospital's Medicaid operating reimbursement.

3. Calculation of a hospital's low-income patient utilization percentage is defined in 42 USC § 1396r-4(b)(3).

G. Each hospital's eligibility for DSH payment and the amount of the DSH payment shall be calculated at the time of each rebasing using the most recent reliable utilization data and projected operating reimbursement data available. The utilization data used to determine eligibility for DSH payment and the amount of the DSH payment shall include days for Medicaid recipients enrolled in capitated managed care programs. In years when DSH payments are not rebased in the way described in this section, the previous year's amounts shall be adjusted for inflation.

For freestanding psychiatric facilities licensed as hospitals, DSH payment shall be based on the most recently settled Medicare cost report available before the beginning of the state fiscal year for which a payment is being calculated.

H. Effective July 1, 2010, DSH payments shall be rebased for all hospitals with the final calculation reduced by a uniform percentage such that the expenditures in FY 2011 do not exceed expenditures in FY 2010 separately for Type One and Type Two hospitals. The reduction shall be calculated after determination of eligibility. Payments determined in FY 2011 shall not be adjusted for inflation in FY 2012.

I. Effective July 1, 2013, DSH payments shall not be rebased for all hospitals in FY 2014 and shall be frozen at the payment levels for FY 2013 eligible providers.

J. To be eligible for DSH, a hospital shall also meet the requirements in 42 USC § 1396r-4(d). No DSH payment shall exceed any applicable limitations upon such payment established by 42 USC § 1396r‑4(g).

K. If making the DSH payments prescribed in this chapter would exceed the DSH allotment, DMAS shall adjust DSH payments to Type One hospitals. Any DSH payment not made as prescribed in the State Plan as a result of the DSH allotment shall be made upon a determination that an available allotment exists.

L. Effective July, 1, 2020, a supplemental DSH payment shall be made quarterly for non-state government, public acute care hospitals up to its hospital-specific DSH (Omnibus Reconciliation Act 1993 DSH limit) as determined pursuant to 42 USC § 1396r-4(g)(1). The annual payment total shall be based upon the hospital's disproportionate share limit for the most recent year for which the disproportionate share limit has been calculated subject to the availability of DSH funds under the federal allotment of such funds to the department.

A. Payment for the following services, except for physician services, shall be the lower of the state agency fee schedule (12VAC30-80-190 has information about the state agency fee schedule) or actual charge (charge to the general public). Except as otherwise noted in this section, state developed fee schedule rates are the same for both governmental and private individual practitioners. The state agency fee schedule is published on the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) website at http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/#/searchcptcodes.

1. Physicians' services. Payment for physician services shall be the lower of the state agency fee schedule or actual charge (charge to the general public).

2. Dentists' services. Dental services, dental provider qualifications, and dental service limits are identified in 12VAC30-50-190. Dental services are paid based on procedure codes, which are listed in the agency's fee schedule. Except as otherwise noted, state-developed fee schedule rates are the same for both governmental and private individual practitioners.

3. Mental health services.

a. Professional services furnished by nonphysicians as described in 12VAC30-50-150. These services are reimbursed using current procedural technology (CPT) codes. The agency's fee schedule rate is based on the methodology as described in subsection A of this section.

(1) Services provided by licensed clinical psychologists shall be reimbursed at 90% of the reimbursement rate for psychiatrists in subdivision A 1 of this section.

(2) Services provided by independently enrolled licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical nurse specialists-psychiatric, or licensed marriage and family therapists shall be reimbursed at 75% of the reimbursement rate for licensed clinical psychologists.

b. Intensive in-home services are reimbursed on an hourly unit of service. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

c. Therapeutic day treatment services are reimbursed based on the following units of service: one unit equals two to 2.99 hours per day; two units equals three to 4.99 hours per day; three units equals five or more hours per day. No room and board is included in the rates for therapeutic day treatment. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

d. Therapeutic group home services (formerly called level A and level B group home services) shall be reimbursed based on a daily unit of service. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

e. Therapeutic day treatment or partial hospitalization services shall be reimbursed based on the following units of service: one unit equals two to three hours per day; two units equals four to 6.99 hours per day; three units equals seven or more hours per day. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

f. Psychosocial rehabilitation services shall be reimbursed based on the following units of service: one unit equals two to 3.99 hours per day; two units equals four to 6.99 hours per day; three units equals seven or more hours per day. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

g. Crisis intervention services shall be reimbursed on the following units of service: one unit equals two to 3.99 hours per day; two units equals four to 6.99 hours per day; three units equals seven or more hours per day. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

h. Intensive community treatment services shall be reimbursed on an hourly unit of service. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

i. Crisis stabilization services shall be reimbursed on an hourly unit of service. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

j. Independent living and recovery services (previously called mental health skill building services) shall be reimbursed based on the following units of service: one unit equals one to 2.99 hours per day; two units equals three to 4.99 hours per day. The agency's rates are set as of July 1, 2011, and are effective for services on or after that date.

4. Podiatry.

5. Nurse-midwife services.

6. Durable medical equipment (DME) and supplies.

Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this section shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"DMERC" means the Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier rate as published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/DMEPOSFeeSched/DMEPOS-Fee-Schedule.html.

"HCPCS" means the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, Medicare's National Level II Codes, HCPCS 2006 (Eighteenth edition), as published by Ingenix, as may be periodically updated.

a. Obtaining prior authorization shall not guarantee Medicaid reimbursement for DME.

b. The following shall be the reimbursement method used for DME services:

(1) If the DME item has a DMERC rate, the reimbursement rate shall be the DMERC rate minus 10%. For dates of service on or after July 1, 2014, DME items subject to the Medicare competitive bidding program shall be reimbursed the lower of:

(a) The current DMERC rate minus 10%; or

(b) The average of the Medicare competitive bid rates in Virginia markets.

(2) For DME items with no DMERC rate, the agency shall use the agency fee schedule amount. The reimbursement rates for DME and supplies shall be listed in the DMAS Medicaid Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Supplies Listing and updated periodically. The agency fee schedule shall be available on the agency website at www.dmas.virginia.gov.

(3) If a DME item has no DMERC rate or agency fee schedule rate, the reimbursement rate shall be the manufacturer's net charge to the provider, less shipping and handling, plus 30%. The manufacturer's net charge to the provider shall be the cost to the provider minus all available discounts to the provider. Additional information specific to how DME providers, including manufacturers who are enrolled as providers, establish and document their costs for DME codes that do not have established rates can be found in the relevant agency guidance document.

c. DMAS shall have the authority to amend the agency fee schedule as it deems appropriate and with notice to providers. DMAS shall have the authority to determine alternate pricing, based on agency research, for any code that does not have a rate.

d. The reimbursement for incontinence supplies shall be by selective contract. Pursuant to § 1915(a)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act and 42 CFR 431.54(d), the Commonwealth assures that adequate services or devices shall be available under such arrangements.

e. Certain durable medical equipment used for intravenous therapy and oxygen therapy shall be bundled under specified procedure codes and reimbursed as determined by the agency. Certain services or durable medical equipment such as service maintenance agreements shall be bundled under specified procedure codes and reimbursed as determined by the agency.

(1) Intravenous therapies. The DME for a single therapy, administered in one day, shall be reimbursed at the established service day rate for the bundled durable medical equipment and the standard pharmacy payment, consistent with the ingredient cost as described in 12VAC30-80-40, plus the pharmacy service day and dispensing fee. Multiple applications of the same therapy shall be included in one service day rate of reimbursement. Multiple applications of different therapies administered in one day shall be reimbursed for the bundled durable medical equipment service day rate as follows: the most expensive therapy shall be reimbursed at 100% of cost; the second and all subsequent most expensive therapies shall be reimbursed at 50% of cost. Multiple therapies administered in one day shall be reimbursed at the pharmacy service day rate plus 100% of every active therapeutic ingredient in the compound (at the lowest ingredient cost methodology) plus the appropriate pharmacy dispensing fee.

(2) Respiratory therapies. The DME for oxygen therapy shall have supplies or components bundled under a service day rate based on oxygen liter flow rate or blood gas levels. Equipment associated with respiratory therapy may have ancillary components bundled with the main component for reimbursement. The reimbursement shall be a service day per diem rate for rental of equipment or a total amount of purchase for the purchase of equipment. Such respiratory equipment shall include oxygen tanks and tubing, ventilators, noncontinuous ventilators, and suction machines. Ventilators, noncontinuous ventilators, and suction machines may be purchased based on the individual patient's medical necessity and length of need.

(3) Service maintenance agreements. Provision shall be made for a combination of services, routine maintenance, and supplies, to be known as agreements, under a single reimbursement code only for equipment that is recipient owned. Such bundled agreements shall be reimbursed either monthly or in units per year based on the individual agreement between the DME provider and DMAS. Such bundled agreements may apply to, but not necessarily be limited to, either respiratory equipment or apnea monitors.

7. Local health services.

8. Laboratory services (other than inpatient hospital). The agency's rates for clinical laboratory services were set as of July 1, 2014, and are effective for services on or after that date.

9. Payments to physicians who handle laboratory specimens, but do not perform laboratory analysis (limited to payment for handling).

10. X-ray services.

11. Optometry services.

12. Reserved.

13. Home health services. Effective June 30, 1991, cost reimbursement for home health services is eliminated. A rate per visit by discipline shall be established as set forth by 12VAC30-80-180.

14. Physical therapy; occupational therapy; and speech, hearing, language disorders services when rendered to noninstitutionalized recipients.

15. Clinic services, as defined under 42 CFR 440.90, except for services in ambulatory surgery clinics reimbursed under 12VAC30-80-35.

16. Supplemental payments for services provided by Type I physicians.

a. In addition to payments for physician services specified elsewhere in this chapter, DMAS provides supplemental payments to Type I physicians for furnished services provided on or after July 2, 2002. A Type I physician is a member of a practice group organized by or under the control of a state academic health system or an academic health system that operates under a state authority and includes a hospital, who has entered into contractual agreements for the assignment of payments in accordance with 42 CFR 447.10.

b. The methodology for determining the Medicare equivalent of the average commercial rate is described in 12VAC30-80-300.

c. Supplemental payments shall be made quarterly no later than 90 days after the end of the quarter.

d. Effective May 1, 2017, the supplemental payment amount for Type I physician services shall be the difference between the Medicaid payments otherwise made for physician services and 258% of Medicare rates.

17. Supplemental payments for services provided by physicians at Virginia freestanding children's hospitals.

a. In addition to payments for physician services specified elsewhere in this chapter, DMAS provides supplemental payments to Virginia freestanding children's hospital physicians providing services at freestanding children's hospitals with greater than 50% Medicaid inpatient utilization in state fiscal year 2009 for furnished services provided on or after July 1, 2011. A freestanding children's hospital physician is a member of a practice group (i) organized by or under control of a qualifying Virginia freestanding children's hospital, or (ii) who has entered into contractual agreements for provision of physician services at the qualifying Virginia freestanding children's hospital and that is designated in writing by the Virginia freestanding children's hospital as a practice plan for the quarter for which the supplemental payment is made subject to DMAS approval. The freestanding children's hospital physicians also must have entered into contractual agreements with the practice plan for the assignment of payments in accordance with 42 CFR 447.10.

b. Effective July 1, 2015, the supplemental payment amount for freestanding children's hospital physician services shall be the difference between the Medicaid payments otherwise made for freestanding children's hospital physician services and 178% of Medicare rates as defined in the supplemental payment calculation for Type I physician services. Payments shall be made on the same schedule as Type I physicians.

18. Supplemental payments for services provided by physicians affiliated with Eastern Virginia Medical Center.

a. In addition to payments for physician services specified elsewhere in this chapter, the Department of Medical Assistance Services provides supplemental payments to physicians affiliated with Eastern Virginia Medical Center for furnished services provided on or after October 1, 2012. A physician affiliated with Eastern Virginia Medical Center is a physician who is employed by a publicly funded medical school that is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, who provides clinical services through the faculty practice plan affiliated with the publicly funded medical school, and who has entered into contractual arrangements for the assignment of payments in accordance with 42 CFR 447.10.

b. Effective November 1, 2018, the supplemental payment amount shall be the difference between the Medicaid payments otherwise made for physician services and 145% of the Medicare rates. The methodology for determining the Medicare equivalent of the average commercial rate is described in 12VAC30-80-300.

c. Supplemental payments shall be made quarterly, no later than 90 days after the end of the quarter.

19. Supplemental payments for services provided by physicians at freestanding children's hospitals serving children in Planning District 8.

a. In addition to payments for physician services specified elsewhere in this chapter, DMAS shall make supplemental payments for physicians employed at a freestanding children's hospital serving children in Planning District 8 with more than 50% Medicaid inpatient utilization in fiscal year 2014. This applies to physician practices affiliated with Children's National Health System.

b. The supplemental payment amount for qualifying physician services shall be the difference between the Medicaid payments otherwise made and 178% of Medicare rates but no more than $551,000 for all qualifying physicians. The methodology for determining allowable percent of Medicare rates is based on the Medicare equivalent of the average commercial rate described in this chapter.

c. Supplemental payments shall be made quarterly no later than 90 days after the end of the quarter. Any quarterly payment that would have been due prior to the approval date shall be made no later than 90 days after the approval date.

20. Supplemental payments to nonstate government-owned or operated clinics.

a. In addition to payments for clinic services specified elsewhere in this chapter, DMAS provides supplemental payments to qualifying nonstate government-owned or government-operated clinics for outpatient services provided to Medicaid patients on or after July 2, 2002. Clinic means a facility that is not part of a hospital but is organized and operated to provide medical care to outpatients. Outpatient services include those furnished by or under the direction of a physician, dentist, or other medical professional acting within the scope of his license to an eligible individual. Effective July 1, 2005, a qualifying clinic is a clinic operated by a community services board. The state share for supplemental clinic payments will be funded by general fund appropriations.

b. The amount of the supplemental payment made to each qualifying nonstate government-owned or government-operated clinic is determined by:

(1) Calculating for each clinic the annual difference between the upper payment limit attributed to each clinic according to subdivision 20 d of this subsection and the amount otherwise actually paid for the services by the Medicaid program;

(2) Dividing the difference determined in subdivision 20 b (1) of this subsection for each qualifying clinic by the aggregate difference for all such qualifying clinics; and

(3) Multiplying the proportion determined in subdivision 20 b (2) of this subsection by the aggregate upper payment limit amount for all such clinics as determined in accordance with 42 CFR 447.321 less all payments made to such clinics other than under this section.

c. Payments for furnished services made under this section will be made annually in a lump sum during the last quarter of the fiscal year.

d. To determine the aggregate upper payment limit referred to in subdivision 20 b (3) of this subsection, Medicaid payments to nonstate government-owned or government-operated clinics will be divided by the "additional factor" whose calculation is described in 12VAC30-80-190 B 2 in regard to the state agency fee schedule for Resource Based Relative Value Scale. Medicaid payments will be estimated using payments for dates of service from the prior fiscal year adjusted for expected claim payments. Additional adjustments will be made for any program changes in Medicare or Medicaid payments.

21. Personal assistance services (PAS) or personal care services for individuals enrolled in the Medicaid Buy-In program described in 12VAC30-60-200 or covered under Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT), and respite services covered under EPSDT. These services are reimbursed in accordance with the state agency fee schedule described in 12VAC30-80-190. The state agency fee schedule is published on the DMAS website at http://www.dmas.virginia.gov. The agency's rates, based upon one-hour increments, were set as of July 1, 2019 2020, and shall be effective for services on and after that date.

22. Supplemental payments to state-owned or state-operated clinics.

a. Effective for dates of service on or after July 1, 2015, DMAS shall make supplemental payments to qualifying state-owned or state-operated clinics for outpatient services provided to Medicaid patients on or after July 1, 2015. Clinic means a facility that is not part of a hospital but is organized and operated to provide medical care to outpatients. Outpatient services include those furnished by or under the direction of a physician, dentist, or other medical professional acting within the scope of his license to an eligible individual.

b. The amount of the supplemental payment made to each qualifying state-owned or state-operated clinic is determined by calculating for each clinic the annual difference between the upper payment limit attributed to each clinic according to subdivision 19 b of this subsection and the amount otherwise actually paid for the services by the Medicaid program.

c. Payments for furnished services made under this section shall be made annually in lump sum payments to each clinic.

d. To determine the upper payment limit for each clinic referred to in subdivision 19 b of this subsection, the state payment rate schedule shall be compared to the Medicare resource-based relative value scale nonfacility fee schedule per Current Procedural Terminology code for a base period of claims. The base period claims shall be extracted from the Medical Management Information System and exclude crossover claims.

B. Hospice services payments must be no lower than the amounts using the same methodology used under Part A of Title XVIII, and take into account the room and board furnished by the facility. As of July 1, 2019, payments for hospice services in a nursing facility are 100% of the rate that would have been paid by the state under the plan for facility services in that facility for that individual. Hospice services shall be paid according to the location of the service delivery and not the location of the agency's home office.

C. Effective July 1, 2019, the telehealth originating site facility fee shall be increased to 100% of the Medicare rate and shall reflect changes annually based on changes in the Medicare rate. Federally qualified health centers and rural health centers are exempt from this reimbursement change.

Subpart XVII
Specialized Care Services

Specialized care services provided in conformance with 12VAC30-60-40 E and H, 12VAC30-60-320, and 12VAC30-60-340 shall be reimbursed under the following methodology. The nursing facilities that provide adult specialized care for the categories of Ventilator Dependent Care, will be placed in one group for rate determination. The nursing facilities that provide pediatric specialized care in a dedicated pediatric unit of eight beds or more will be placed in a second group for rate determination.

1. Routine operating cost. Routine operating cost shall be defined as in 12VAC30-90-271 and 12VAC30-90-272. To calculate the routine operating cost reimbursement rate, routine operating cost shall be converted to a per diem amount by dividing it by actual patient days. Effective July 1, 2016, the base year for routine operating cost shall be the most recently settled cost reports with a fiscal year ending in a calendar year for all specialized care facilities as of the end of the calendar year prior to the prospective rate year.

2. Allowable cost identification and cost reimbursement limitations. The provisions of Article 5 (12VAC30-90-50 et seq.) of Subpart II of Part II of this chapter and of Appendix III (12VAC30-90-290) of Part III of this chapter shall apply to specialized care cost and reimbursement.

3. Routine operating cost rates. Each facility shall be reimbursed a prospective rate for routine operating costs. This rate will be the lesser of the facility-specific prospective routine operating ceiling, or the facility-specific prospective routine operating cost per day plus an efficiency incentive. This efficiency incentive shall be calculated by the same method as in 12VAC30-90-41.

4. Facility-specific prospective routine operating ceiling. Each nursing facility's prospective routine operating ceiling shall be calculated as:

a. Statewide ceiling. The statewide routine operating ceiling shall be $415 as of July 1, 2002. This routine operating ceiling amount shall be adjusted for inflation based on 12VAC30-90-41. Effective July 1, 2016, the routine operating ceiling shall be $573.09 as of state fiscal year 2015 and shall be adjusted for inflation based on 12VAC-30-90-44 to the upcoming state fiscal year, the prospective rate year.

b. The portion of the statewide routine operating ceiling relating to nursing salaries (as determined by the 1994 audited cost report data, or 67.22%) will be wage adjusted using a normalized wage index. The normalized wage index shall be the wage index applicable to the individual provider's geographic location under Medicare rules of reimbursement for skilled nursing facilities, divided by the statewide average of such wage indices across the state. This normalization of wage indices shall be updated January 1, after each time the CMS publishes wage indices for skilled nursing facilities. Updated normalization shall be effective for fiscal years starting on and after the January 1 for which the normalization is calculated. Effective July 1, 2016, the normalized wage index for the federal fiscal year following the base year shall be applied to the state fiscal year ceiling.

5. Facility-specific prospective routine operating base cost per day. The facility-specific routine operating cost per day to be used in the calculation of the routine operating rate and the efficiency incentive shall be the actual routine cost per day from the most recent fiscal year's cost report, adjusted for inflation based on 12VAC30-90-41. Effective July 1, 2016, the routine operating base cost per day in subdivision 1 of this subsection shall be adjusted for inflation based on 12VAC30-90-44 to the upcoming state fiscal year, the prospective rate year.

6. Interim rates. Interim rates, for processing claims during the year, shall be calculated from the most recent settled cost report available at the time the interim rates must be set, except that failure to submit a cost report timely may result in adjustment to interim rates as provided elsewhere. Effective July 1, 2016, this subdivision is no longer applicable.

7. Ancillary costs. Specialized care ancillary costs will be paid on a pass-through basis for those Medicaid specialized care patients who do not have Medicare or any other sufficient third-party insurance coverage. Ancillary costs will be reimbursed as follows:

a. All covered ancillary services, except kinetic therapy devices, will be reimbursed for reasonable costs as defined in the current NHPS. Effective for specialized care days on or after January 15, 2007, reimbursement for reasonable costs shall be subject to a ceiling. The ceiling shall be $238.81 per day for calendar year 2004 (150% of average costs) and shall be inflated to the appropriate provider fiscal year. For cost report years beginning in each calendar year, ancillary ceilings will be inflated based on 12VAC30-90-41. See 12VAC30-90-290 for the cost reimbursement limitations. Effective July 1, 2016, the ancillary ceiling of $300.38 in state fiscal year 2015, inclusive of kinetic therapy devices, shall be adjusted for inflation to the prospective rate year based on 12VAC30-90-44.

b. Kinetic therapy devices will have a limit per day (based on 1994 audited cost report data inflated to the rate period). See 12VAC30-90-290 for the cost reimbursement limitations.

c. Kinetic therapy devices will be reimbursed only if a resident is being treated for wounds that meet the following wound care criteria. Residents receiving this wound care must require kinetic bed therapy (that is, low air loss mattresses, fluidized beds, or rotating or turning beds) and require treatment for a grade (stage) IV decubitus, a large surgical wound that cannot be closed, or second to third degree burns covering more than 10% of the body.

8. Covered ancillary services are defined as follows: laboratory, X-ray, medical supplies (e.g., infusion pumps, incontinence supplies), physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, inhalation therapy, IV therapy, enteral feedings, and kinetic therapy. The following are not specialized care ancillary services and are excluded from specialized care reimbursement: physician services, psychologist services, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and drugs. These services must be separately billed to DMAS. An interim rate for the covered ancillary services will be determined (using data from the most recent settled cost report) by dividing allowable ancillary costs by the number of patient days for the same cost reporting period. The interim rate will be retroactively cost settled based on the specialized care nursing facility cost reporting period.

9. Capital costs. Effective July 1, 2016, capital cost reimbursement rate shall be based on subsection C of 12VAC30-90-44 in accordance with 12VAC30-90-35, 12VAC30-90-36, and 12VAC30-90-37, except that the required occupancy percentage shall not be separately applied to specialized care. To determine the capital cost related to specialized care patients, the following calculation shall be applied.

a. Licensed beds, including specialized care beds, multiplied by days in the cost reporting period, shall equal available days.

b. The required occupancy days shall equal the required occupancy percentage multiplied by available days.

c. The required occupancy days minus actual resident days, including specialized care days, shall equal the shortfall of days. If the shortfall of days is negative, the shortfall of days shall be zero.

d. Actual resident days, not including specialized care days, plus the shortfall of days shall equal the minimum number of days to be used to calculate the capital cost per day.

10. Nurse aide training and competency evaluation programs (NATCEP) costs. NATCEP costs will be paid on a pass-through basis in accordance with the current NHPS. Effective July 1, 2016, NATCEP costs shall be paid on a prospective basis in accordance with 12VAC30-90-170.

11. Pediatric routine operating cost rate. For pediatric specialized care in a distinct part pediatric specialized care unit, one routine operating cost ceiling will be developed. The routine operating cost ceiling will be $418 as of July 1, 2002. Effective July 1, 2016, the pediatric routine operating cost ceiling shall be $577.24.

a. The statewide operating ceiling shall be adjusted for each nursing facility in the same manner as described in subdivision 4 of this section.

b. The final routine operating cost reimbursement rate shall be computed as described for other than pediatric units in subdivision 3 of this section.

12. Pediatric unit capital cost. Pediatric unit capital costs will be reimbursed in accordance with subdivision 9 of this section, except that the occupancy requirement shall be 70% rather than the required occupancy percentage.

13. The cost reporting requirements of 12VAC30-90-70 and 12VAC30-90-80 shall apply to specialized care providers.

14. Effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2022, specialized care operating rates shall be increased annually by inflation based on 12VAC30-90-44.