The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) approved new per diem payment rates for the Nursing Facility (NF) Program, the Hospice Program in NFs and the Swing Bed Program, effective September 1, 2014. See letter.
Nursing Facility and Swing Bed Program Payment Rates
The new NF and Swing Bed payment rates can be accessed through the HHSC Rate Analysis website at the following address:
http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/rad/long-term-svcs/nursing-facility/index.shtml.
Once you access this website, scroll down to the “Payment Rate Information” heading and click
on the link entitled “Effective September 1, 2014 to Current”.
Providers who are non-participants in the Enhanced Direct Care Staff Rate and Swing Bed providers will receive the rates listed on the Base Rate Chart with no enhanced payment rate option. Providers who are participants in the Enhanced Direct Care Staff Rate will receive the rates that correspond with their level of participation.
Providers participating in the enhancement program who fail to maintain their required staffing levels will face recoupment of funds associated with unmet staffing requirements. As well, participating providers are required to spend at least 85 percent of their direct care staff revenues on direct care staff compensation or the difference between 85 percent of direct care staff revenues and direct care staff compensation costs is recouped by the state. At no time will a participating facility’s direct care rates after staffing and spending recoupments be less than the direct care base rate.
House Bill (HB) 154 of the 77th Texas Legislative session requires HHSC to ensure that the rate component derived from reported liability insurance costs is paid only to those facilities that purchase liability insurance acceptable to the commission.
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