The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (the Agency), Bureau of Medicaid Program Analysis provides the following public notice regarding reimbursement for nursing home facilities participating in the Florida Medicaid Program.

PURPOSE: To comply with Federal public notice requirements in Section 1902(a)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act in changing reimbursement for nursing home facilities, the Agency is publishing the proposed rates, the methodologies underlying the establishment of such rates, and justifications for the proposed rates. The Agency is in the process of amending its Title XIX Long-Term Care Reimbursement Plan (The Plan) to incorporate changes to the reimbursement methodology.

PROPOSED RATES: The purpose of the proposed amendment is to incorporate changes to the Florida Title XIX Long-Term Care Reimbursement Plan payment methodology effective January 1, 2008.

The reduced appropriation in Senate Bill 2-C, 2007-08 Special Appropriations, Specific Appropriation 116, includes a reduction of $37,591,163 as a result of modifying the reimbursement for nursing home rates, effective January 1, 2008. The Agency will modify the Medicaid trend adjustment contained in the Title XIX Nursing Home Reimbursement Plan to achieve this recurring reduction.

METHODOLOGIES: The methodology underlying the establishment of the proposed rates for Medicaid nursing facilities will be rates resulting from revised methodology used to calculate per diem rates in accordance with Senate Bill 2-C, 2007-08 Special Appropriations, Specific Appropriation 116.

JUSTIFICATION: The justification for the proposed rate change is Senate Bill 2-C, 2007-08 Special Appropriations, Specific Appropriation 116.

The Agency is proposing the above changes effective January 1, 2008. Providers, beneficiaries and their representatives, and other concerned state residents may provide written comment on the proposed rates, methodologies and justification underlying the establishment of such changes. Written comments may be mailed to: Edwin Stephens, Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3, Mail Stop 21, Tallahassee, Florida 32308 or emailed to stephene@ahca.myflorida.com. Written comments should be submitted no later than January 31, 2008.

 Please contact the person listed above to request a copy of the reimbursement plan when available.