The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) has issued Administrative Bulletin 17-11/Nursing Facility User Fee Update, which amends the Per Diem User Fee, effective July 1, 2017.
Effective July 1, 2017 dates of service, the user fees have been reduced to the following:
|
Facility Group |
Per Diem User Fee Effective July 1, 2017 |
|
Group 1 |
$20.40 |
|
Group 2 |
$2.04 |
|
Group 3 |
$2.04 |
|
Group 4 |
$0.00 |
The new user fee reflects EOHHS’ projection to generate $240 million for the full state fiscal year 2018 (SFY 2018), including a first quarter payment due August 1, 2017 that will continue at the current $22.22 per day fee for the period April 1, 2017 through June 30, 2017 dates of service. The first quarter fee of $22.22 per day will be offset over the final 3 quarterly payments by reducing the user fee to $20.40 per day.
The user fee payment schedule is as follows in SFY 2018 for Group 1 facilities:
August 1, 2017 payment date – covers the time period April 2017 through June 30, 2017, and the Group 1 fee will continue to be $22.22per day;
November 1, 2017 payment date – covers the time period July 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017, and Group 1 facilities will pay a lower, reset fee of $20.40 per day;
February 1, 2018 payment date – covers the time period October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017, and Group 1 facilities will pay a lower, reset fee of $20.40 per day; and
May 1, 2018 payment date – covers the time period January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018, and Group 1 facilities will pay a lower, reset fee of $20.40 per day.
For the complete SFY 2018, the user fee per diem that Group 1 facilities pay for Medicaid resident days will average $20.86 for Class 1 facilities and the amount facilities receive from Medicaid for the user fee reimbursement component is currently set at $17.59 per day. Massachusetts Senior Care Association continues to work aggressively to close this unfunded gap.
Please contact Gary Abrahams if you have questions about the User Fee regulation.