WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

74.46.433 - Variable return component rate allocation.

Variable return component rate allocation. (Effective until July 1, 2011.)

(1) The department shall establish for each medicaid nursing facility a variable return component rate allocation. In determining the variable return allowance:

     (a) Except as provided in (d) of this subsection, the variable return array and percentage shall be assigned whenever rebasing of noncapital rate allocations is scheduled under RCW 74.46.431 (4), (5), (6), and (7).

     (b) To calculate the array of facilities, the department, without using peer groups, shall first rank all facilities in numerical order from highest to lowest according to each facility's examined and documented, but unlidded, combined direct care, therapy care, support services, and operations per resident day cost from the applicable cost report period specified in RCW 74.46.431(4)(a). However, before being combined with other per resident day costs and ranked, a facility's direct care cost per resident day shall be adjusted to reflect its facility average case mix index, to be averaged from the four calendar quarters of the cost report period identified in RCW 74.46.431(4)(a), weighted by the facility's resident days from each quarter, under RCW 74.46.501(6)(b). The array shall then be divided into four quartiles, each containing, as nearly as possible, an equal number of facilities, and four percent shall be assigned to facilities in the lowest quartile, three percent to facilities in the next lowest quartile, two percent to facilities in the next highest quartile, and one percent to facilities in the highest quartile.

     (c) The department shall compute the variable return allowance by multiplying a facility's assigned percentage by the sum of the facility's direct care, therapy care, support services, and operations component rates determined in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted by the department.

     (d) The variable return component rate allocation for each facility shall be thirty percent of the facility's June 30, 2006, variable return component rate allocation.

     (2) The variable return rate allocation calculated in accordance with this section shall be adjusted to the extent necessary to comply with RCW 74.46.421.

[2010 1st sp.s. c 34 § 4; 2006 c 258 § 3; 2001 1st sp.s. c 8 § 6; 1999 c 353 § 9.]

Notes: Effective date -- 2010 1st sp.s. c 34: See note following RCW 74.46.010.

Effective date -- 2006 c 258: See note following RCW 74.46.020.

Severability -- Effective dates -- 2001 1st sp.s. c 8: See notes following RCW 74.46.020.

Effective dates -- 1999 c 353: See note following RCW 74.46.020.