Sec. 1102 of the Social Security Act, (42 U.S.C. 1302).
This part establishes State plan requirements for the designation, organization, and general administrative activities of a State agency responsible for operating the State Medicaid program, directly or through supervision of local administering agencies.
(a)
(b)
(1) Specify a single State agency established or designated to administer or supervise the administration of the plan; and
(2) Include a certification by the State Attorney General, citing the legal authority for the single State agency to—
(i) Administer or supervise the administration of the plan; and
(ii) Make rules and regulations that it follows in administering the plan or that are binding upon local agencies that administer the plan.
(c)
(i) The Medicaid agency; or
(ii) The single State agency for the financial assistance program under title IV-A (in the 50 States or the District of Columbia), or under title I or XVI (AABD), in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands.
(2) The plan must specify whether the agency that determines eligibility for the aged, blind, or disabled is—
(i) The Medicaid agency;
(ii) The single State agency for the financial assistance program under title IV-A (in the 50 States or the District of Columbia) or under title I or XVI (AABD), in Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands; or
(iii) The Federal agency administering the supplemental security income program under title XVI (SSI). In this case, the plan must also specify whether the Medicaid agency or the title IV-A agency determines eligibility for any groups whose eligibility is not determined by the Federal agency.
(d)
(e)
(1) The agency must not delegate, to other than its own officials, authority to—
(i) Exercise administrative discretion in the administration or supervision of the plan, or
(ii) Issue policies, rules, and regulations on program matters.
(2) The authority of the agency must not be impaired if any of its rules, regulations, or decisions are subject to review, clearance, or similar action by other offices or agencies of the State.
(3) If other State or local agencies or offices perform services for the Medicaid agency, they must not have the authority to change or disapprove any administrative decision of that agency, or otherwise substitute their judgment for that of the Medicaid agency with respect to the application of policies, rules, and regulations issued by the Medicaid agency.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(i) A description of the organization and functions of the Medicaid agency and an organization chart;
(ii) A description of the organization and functions of the medical assistance unit and an organization chart; and
(iii) A description of the kinds and number of professional medical personnel and supporting staff used in the administration of the plan and their responsibilities.
(d)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(1) Board-certified physicians and other representatives of the health professions who are familiar with the medical needs of low-income population groups and with the resources available and required for their care;
(2) Members of consumers’ groups, including Medicaid recipients, and consumer organizations such as labor unions, cooperatives, consumer-sponsored prepaid group practice plans, and others; and
(3) The director of the public welfare department or the public health department, whichever does not head the Medicaid agency.
(e)
(f)
(1) Staff assistance from the agency and independent technical assistance as needed to enable it to make effective recommendations; and
(2) Financial arrangements, if necessary, to make possible the participation of recipient members.
(g)
A State plan must provide for methods of administration that are found by the Secretary to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the plan.
A State plan must provide that the Medicaid agency will—
(a) Submit all reports required by the Secretary;
(b) Follow the Secretary's instructions with regard to the form and content of those reports; and
(c) Comply with any provisions that the Secretary finds necessary to verify and assure the correctness of the reports.
(a)
(b)
(1) Individual records on each applicant and recipient that contain information on—
(i) Date of application;
(ii) Date of and basis for disposition;
(iii) Facts essential to determination of initial and continuing eligibility;
(iv) Provision of medical assistance;
(v) Basis for discontinuing assistance;
(vi) The disposition of income and eligibility verification information received under §§ 435.940 through 435.960 of this subchapter; and
(2) Statistical, fiscal, and other records necessary for reporting and accountability as required by the Secretary.
(c)
(d)
(1) The agency must make a study of its record storage and must show that the use of microfilm is efficient and economical.
(2) The microfilm system must not hinder the agency's supervision and control of the Medicaid program.
(3) The microfilm system must—
(i) Enable the State to audit the propriety of expenditures for which FFP is claimed; and
(ii) Enable the HHS Audit Agency and HCFA to properly discharge their respective responsibilities for reviewing the manner in which the Medicaid program is being administered.
(4) The agency must obtain approval from the HCFA regional office indicating—
(i) The system meets the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2) and (3) of this section; and
(ii) The microfilming procedures are reliable and are supported by an adequate retrieval system.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2) These documents must be available upon request for review, study, and reproduction by individuals during regular working hours of the agency.
(d)
(1) Public and university libraries;
(2) The local or district offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(3) Welfare and legal services offices; and
(4) Other entities that—
(i) Request the material in order to make it accessible to the public;
(ii) Are centrally located and accessible to a substantial number of the recipient population they serve; and
(iii) Agree to accept responsibility for filing all amendments or changes forwarded by the agency.
(e)
(1) To determine whether to request a fair hearing; or
(2) To prepare for a fair hearing.
(f)
(g)
(a)
(b) A State Plan must provide that the State, acting through a State agency, association, or other private nonprofit entity, develop a written description of the State law (whether statutory or as recognized by the courts of the State) concerning advance directives, as defined in § 489.100 of this chapter, to be distributed by Medicaid providers and health maintenance organizations (as specified in section 1903(m)(1)(A) of the Act) in accordance with the requirements under part 489, subpart I of this chapter. Revisions to the written descriptions as a result of changes in State law must be incorporated in such descriptions and distributed as soon as possible, but no later than 60 days from the effective date of the change in State law, to Medicaid providers and health maintenance organizations.
(a) This subpart sets forth State plan requirements and exceptions that pertain to the following administrative requirements and provisions of the Act:
(1) Statewideness—section 1902(a)(1);
(2) Proper and efficient administration—section 1902(a)(4);
(3) Comparability of services—section 1902(a)(10) (B)-(E);
(4) Payment for services furnished outside the State—section 1902(a)(16);
(5) Free choice of providers—section 1902(a)(23);
(6) Special waiver provisions applicable to American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands—section 1902(j); and
(7) Exceptions to, and waiver of, State plan requirements—sections 1915 (a)-(c) and 1916 (a)(3) and (b)(3).
(b) Other applicable regulations include the following:
(1) Section 430.25Waivers of State plan requirements.
(2) Section 440.250Limits on comparability of services.
(a)
(b)
(1) The plan will be in operation statewide through a system of local offices, under equitable standards for assistance and administration that are mandatory throughout the State.
(2) If administered by political subdivisions of the State, the plan will be mandatory on those subdivisions.
(3) The agency will ensure that the plan is continuously in operation in all local offices or agencies through—
(i) Methods for informing staff of State policies, standards, procedures, and instructions;
(ii) Systematic planned examination and evaluation of operations in local offices by regularly assigned State staff who make regular visits; and
(iii) Reports, controls, or other methods.
(c)
(2) Other allowable exceptions and waivers are set forth in §§ 431.54 and 431.55.
(a)
(1) Section 1902(a)(23) of the Act provides that recipients may obtain services from any qualified Medicaid provider that undertakes to provide the services to them.
(2) Section 1915(a) of the Act provides that a State shall not be found out of compliance with section 1902(a)(23) solely because it imposes certain specified allowable restrictions on freedom of choice.
(3) Section 1915(b) of the Act authorizes waiver of the section 1902(a)(23) freedom of choice of providers requirement in certain specified circumstances, but not with respect to providers of family planning services.
(4) Section 1902(a)(23), as amended by section 4113(c) of OBRA ’87, provides that, for services furnished after June 1988, a recipient enrolled in a primary care case-management system, an HMO, or a similar entity, may not be denied freedom of choice of qualified providers of family planning services.
(5) Section 1902(e)(2), as amended by section 4113(c)(2) of OBRA ’87, provides that HMO enrollees deemed eligible only for services furnished by the HMO (while they complete a minimum enrollment period) may, as an exception, seek family planning services from any qualified provider.
(b)
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (c) of this section, a recipient may obtain Medicaid services from any institution, agency, pharmacy, person, or organization that is—
(i) Qualified to furnish the services; and
(ii) Willing to furnish them to that particular recipient.
(2) A recipient enrolled in a primary care case-management system, an HMO, or other similar entity will not be restricted in freedom of choice of providers of family planning services.
(c)
(1) Establishing the fees it will pay providers for Medicaid services;
(2) Setting reasonable standards relating to the qualifications of providers: or
(3) Subject to paragraph (b)(2) of this section, restricting recipients’ free choice of providers in accordance with one or more of the exceptions set forth in § 431.54, or under a waiver as provided in § 431.55.
(d)
(2)
(ii) For exceptions under § 431.54 (e) or (f), the State must submit the certificate by the end of the quarter in which it implements the project.
(a)
(b)
(1) Medical services are needed because of a medical emergency;
(2) Medical services are needed and the recipient's health would be endangered if he were required to travel to his State of residence;
(3) The State determines, on the basis of medical advice, that the needed medical services, or necessary supplementary resources, are more readily available in the other State;
(4) It is general practice for recipients in a particular locality to use medical resources in another State.
(c)
A State plan must—
(a) Specify that the Medicaid agency will ensure necessary transportation for recipients to and from providers; and
(b) Describe the methods that the agency will use to meet this requirement.
(a)
(b)
(c) [Reserved]
(d)
(1) Adequate services or devices are available to recipients under the special procedures.
(2) Laboratory services are furnished through laboratories that meet the following requirements:
(i) They are independent laboratories, or inpatient or outpatient hospital laboratories that provide services for individuals who are not hospital patients, or physician laboratories that process at least 100 specimens for other physicians during any calendar year.
(ii) They meet the requirements of subpart M of part 405 or part 482 of this chapter.
(iii) Laboratories that require an interstate license under 42 CFR part 74 are licensed by HCFA or receive an exemption from the licensing requirement by the College of American Pathologists. (Hospital and physician laboratories may participate in competitive bidding only with regard to services to non-hospital patients and other physicians’ patients, respectively.)
(3) Any laboratory from which a State purchases services under this section has no more than 75 percent of its charges based on services to Medicare beneficiaries and Medicaid recipients.
(e)
(1) The agency gives the recipient notice and opportunity for a hearing (in accordance with procedures established by the agency) before imposing the restrictions.
(2) The agency ensures that the recipient has reasonable access (taking into account geographic location and
(3) The restrictions do not apply to emergency services furnished to the recipient.
(f)
Before imposing any restriction, the agency must meet the following conditions:
(1) Give the provider notice and opportunity for a hearing, in accordance with procedures established by the agency.
(2) Find that in a significant number or proportion of cases, the provider has:
(i) Furnished Medicaid services at a frequency or amount not medically necessary, as determined in accordance with utilization guidelines established by the agency; or
(ii) Furnished Medicaid services of a quality that does not meet professionally recognized standards of health care.
(3) Notify HCFA and the general public of the restriction and its duration.
(4) Ensure that the restrictions do not result in denying recipients reasonable access (taking into account geographic location: and reasonable travel time) to Medicaid services of adequate quality, including emergency services.
(a)
(b)
(2) In applying for a waiver to implement an approvable project under paragraph (c), (d), (e), or (f) of this section, a Medicaid agency must document in the waiver request and maintain data regarding:
(i) The cost-effectiveness of the project;
(ii) The effect of the project on the accessibility and quality of services;
(iii) The anticipated impact of the project on the State's Medicaid program and;
(iv) Assurances that the restrictions on free choice of providers do not apply to family planning services.
(3) No waiver under this section may be granted for a period longer than 2 years, unless the agency requests a continuation of the waiver.
(4) HCFA monitors the implementation of waivers granted under this section to ensure that requirements for such waivers are being met.
(i) If monitoring demonstrates that the agency is not in compliance with the requirements for a waiver under this section, HCFA gives the agency notice and opportunity for a hearing.
(ii) If, after a hearing, HCFA finds an agency to be out of compliance with the requirements of a waiver, HCFA terminates the waiver and gives the agency a specified date by which it must demonstrate that it meets the applicable requirements of section 1902 of the Act.
(5) The requirements of section 1902(s) of the Act, with regard to adjustments in payments for inpatient hospital services furnished to infants who have not attained age 1 and to children who have not attained age 6 and who receive these services in disproportionate share hospitals, may not be waived under a section 1915(b) waiver.
(c)
(i) Under a primary care case-management system the agency assures that a specific person or persons or agency will be responsible for locating, coordinating, and monitoring all primary care or primary care and other medical care and rehabilitative services on behalf of a recipient.
(ii) A specialty physician services system allows States to restrict recipients of specialty services to designated providers of such services, even in the absence of a primary care case-management system.
(2) A waiver under this paragraph (c) may not be approved unless the State's request assures that the restrictions—
(i) Do not apply in emergency situations; and
(ii) Do not substantially impair access to medically necessary services of adequate quality.
(d)
(1) A locality is any defined jurisdiction, e.g., district, town, city, borough, county, parish, or State.
(2) A locality may use any agency or agent, public or private, profit or nonprofit, to act on its behalf in carrying out its central broker function.
(e)
(2) Sharing is through the provision of additional services, including—
(i) Services furnished by a plan selected by the recipient; and
(ii) Services expressly offered by the State as an inducement for recipients to participate in a primary care case-management system, a competing health care plan or other system that furnishes health care services in a more cost-effective manner.
(f)
(2) An agency may qualify for a waiver under this paragraph (f) only if its applicable State standards are consistent with access, quality and efficient and economic provision of covered care and services and the restrictions it imposes—
(i) Do not apply to recipients residing at a long-term care facility when a restriction is imposed unless the State arranges for reasonable and adequate recipient transfer.
(ii) Do not discriminate among classes of providers on grounds unrelated to their demonstrated effectiveness and efficiency in providing those services; and
(iii) Do not apply in emergency circumstances.
(3) Demonstrated effectiveness and efficiency refers to reducing costs or slowing the rate of cost increase and maximizing outputs or outcomes per unit of cost.
(4) The agency must make payments to providers furnishing services under a freedom of choice waiver under this paragraph (f) in accordance with the timely claims payment standards specified in § 447.45 of this chapter for health care practitioners participating in the Medicaid program.
(g) [Reserved]
(h)
(ii) FFP is available in payments to an entity that furnishes services under a section 1915(b)(1) waiver only if the agency excludes from participation any entity described in paragraph (h)(2) of this section.
(2) Entities that must be excluded. The agency must exclude an entity that meets any of the following conditions:
(i) Could be excluded under section 1128(b)(8) of the Act as being controlled by a sanctioned individual.
(ii) Has a substantial contractual relationship (direct or indirect) with an individual convicted of certain crimes, as described in section 1128(b)(8)(B) of the Act.
(iii) Employs or contracts directly or indirectly with one of the following:
(A) Any individual or entity that, under section 1128 or section 1128A of the Act, is precluded from furnishing health care, utilization review, medical social services, or administrative services.
(B) Any entity described in paragraph (h)(2)(i) of this section.
(3) Definitions. As used in this section, substantial contractual relationship means any contractual relationship that provides for one or more of the following services:
(i) The administration, management, or provision of medical services.
(ii) The establishment of policies, or the provision of operational support, for the administration, management, or provision of medical services.
(a)
(b)
(1) The Federal medical assistance percentage specified in section 1903 of the Act and § 433.10(b) of this chapter.
(2) The limit imposed by section 1108(c) of the Act on the amount of Federal funds payable to American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Islands for care and services that meet the section 1905(a) definition for Medicaid assistance.
(3) The requirement that payment be made only with respect to expenditure made by American Samoa or the Northern Mariana Islands for care and services that meet the section 1905(a) definition of medical assistance.
(a) Sections 1916(a)(3) and 1916(b)(3) of the Act specify the circumstances under which the Secretary is authorized to waive the requirement that cost-sharing amounts be nominal.
(b) For nonemergency services furnished in a hospital emergency room, the Secretary may by waiver permit a State to impose a copayment of up to double the “nominal” copayment amounts determined under § 447.54(a)(3) of this subchapter.
(c) Nonemergency services are services that do not meet the definition of emergency services at § 447.53(b)(4) of this subchapter.
(d) In order for a waiver to be approved under this section, the State must establish to the satisfaction of HCFA that alternative sources of nonemergency, outpatient services are available and accessible to recipients.
(e) Although, in accordance with § 431.55(b)(3) of this part, a waiver will generally be granted for a 2-year duration, HCFA will reevaluate waivers approved under this section if the State increases the nominal copayment amounts in effect when the waiver was approved.
(f) A waiver approved under this section cannot apply to services furnished before the waiver was granted.
(a)
(b)
(1) Qualify for payments under the maternal and child health and crippled children's program (title V of the Act), Medicaid or Medicare;
(2) Establish and maintain fiscal records necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the Act; and
(3) Provide information needed to determine payments due under the Act for services furnished to recipients.
(c)
(a)
(b)
(1) Keep any records necessary to disclose the extent of services the provider furnishes to recipients;
(2) On request, furnish to the Medicaid agency, the Secretary, or the State Medicaid fraud control unit (if such a unit has been approved by the Secretary under § 455.300 of this chapter), any information maintained under paragraph (b)(1) of this section and any information regarding payments claimed by the provider for furnishing services under the plan;
(3) Comply with the disclosure requirements specified in part 455, subpart B of this chapter; and
(4) Comply with the advance directives requirements for hospitals, nursing facilities, providers of home health care and personal care services, hospices, and HMOs specified in part 489, subpart I, and § 417.436(d) of this chapter.
(a)
(i) Are subject to survey and certification by HCFA or the State survey agency; or
(ii) Are deemed to meet Federal requirements on the basis of accreditation by an accrediting organization whose program has HCFA approval at the time of accreditation survey and accreditation decision.
(2)
(b)
(1) All applicable Federal requirements as set forth in this chapter; and
(2) Any other requirements imposed by the State for participation in the Medicaid program. (If the provider has a time-limited agreement, the new agreement is effective on the day following expiration of the current agreement.)
(c)
(1) An NF provider agreement is effective on the date on which—
(i) The NF is found to be in substantial compliance as defined in § 488.301 of this chapter; and
(ii) HCFA or the State survey agency receives from the NF, if applicable, an approvable waiver request.
(2) For an agreement with any other provider, the effective date is the earlier of the following:
(i) The date on which the provider meets all requirements.
(ii) The date on which a provider is found to meet all conditions of participation but has lower level deficiencies, and HCFA or the State survey agency receives from the provider an acceptable plan of correction for the lower level deficiencies, or an approvable waiver request, or both. (The date of receipt is the effective date of the agreement, regardless of when HCFA approves the plan of correction or waiver request, or both.)
(d)
(i)
(ii)
(2)
(a)
(b)
(a)
(1) Section 1902(a)(36) of the Act, which requires a State plan to provide that the State survey agency will make publicly available the findings from surveys of health care facilities, laboratories, agencies, clinics, or organizations; and
(2) Section 1106(d) of the Act, which places certain restrictions on the Medicaid agency's disclosure of contractor and provider evaluations.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(1) Survey reports, except for Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals reports prohibited from disclosure under § 422.426(b)(2) of this chapter;
(2) Official notifications of findings based on survey reports:
(3) Pertinent parts of written documents furnished by the health care provider to the survey agency that relate to the reports and findings; and
(4) Ownership and contract information as specified in § 455.104 of this subchapter.
(f)
(1) Make statements of deficiencies based on the survey reports available for inspection and copying in both the public assistance office and the Social Security Administration district office serving the area where the provider is located; and
(2) Submit to the Regional Medicaid Director, through the Medicaid agency, a plan for making those findings available in other public assistance offices in standard metropolitian statistical areas where this information would be helpful to persons likely to use the health care provider's services.
(g)
(1) Retain in the survey agency office and make available upon request survey reports and current and accurate ownership information; and
(2) Make available survey reports, findings, and deficiency statements immediately upon determining that a health care provider is eligible to begin or continue participation in the Medicaid program, or within 90 days after completion of the survey, whichever occurs first.
(h)
(i) Individual contractor performance reviews and other formal performance evaluations of carriers, intermediaries, and State agencies, including the reports of followup reviews;
(ii) Comparative performance evaluations of those contractors, including comparisons of either overall performance or of any particular aspect of contractor operations; and
(iii) Program validation survey reports and other formal performance evaluations of providers, including the reports of followup reviews.
(2) The agency must not make the reports public until—
(i) The contractor or provider has had a reasonable opportunity, not to exceed 30 days, to comment on them; and
(ii) Those comments have been incorporated in the report.
(3) The agency must ensure that the reports contain no identification of individual patients, individual health care practitioners or other individuals.
(a)
(1) Provide that the requirements of subpart D of part 483 of this chapter are met; and
(2) Specify the procedures and rules that the State follows in carrying out the specified requirements, including review and approval of State-operated programs.
(3) To an NF or ICF/MR that is dissatisfied with a determination as to the effective date of its provider agreement.
(b)
(1) Nurse aide training and competency programs, and evaluation of nurse aide competency (1919(e)(1) of the Act).
(2) Nurse aide registry (1919(e)(2) of the Act).
(a)
(1) To a nursing facility (NF) that is dissatisfied with a State's finding of noncompliance that has resulted in one of the following adverse actions:
(i) Denial or termination of its provider agreement.
(ii) Imposition of a civil money penalty or other alternative remedy.
(2) To an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded (ICF/MR) that is dissatisfied with a State's finding of noncompliance that has resulted in the denial, termination, or nonrenewal of its provider agreement.
(3) To an NF or ICF/MR that is dissatisfied with a determination as to the effective date of its provider agreement.
(b)
The State plan must provide for appeals procedures that, as a minimum, satisfy the requirements of §§ 431.153 and 431.154.
(a)
(b)
(1) The choice of sanction or remedy.
(2) The State monitoring remedy.
(3) [Reserved]
(4) The level of noncompliance found by a State except when a favorable final administrative review decision would affect the range of civil money penalty amounts the State could collect.
(5) A State survey agency's decision as to when to conduct an initial survey of a prospective provider.
(c)
(1) The basis for the decision; and
(2) A statement of the deficiencies on which the decision was based.
(d)
(e)
(i) The evidentiary hearing must be completed either before, or within 120 days after, the effective date of the adverse action; and
(ii) If the hearing is made available only after the effective date of the action, the State must, before that date, offer the ICF/MR an informal reconsideration that meets the requirements of § 431.154.
(2)
(f)
(1)
(2)
(g)
(1) The appeals procedures specified for Medicare facilities in part 498 of this chapter apply; and
(2) A final decision entered under the Medicare appeals procedures is binding for both programs.
(h)
(i)
(1) Opportunity for the facility—
(i) To appear before an impartial decision-maker to refute the finding of noncompliance on which the adverse action was based;
(ii) To be represented by counsel or other representative; and
(iii) To be heard directly or through its representative, to call witnesses, and to present documentary evidence.
(2) A written decision by the impartial decision-maker, setting forth the reasons for the decision and the evidence on which the decision is based.
(j)
(1) The State's finding as to a NF's level of noncompliance must be upheld unless it is clearly erroneous; and
(2) The scope of review is as set forth in § 488.438(e) of this chapter.
The informal reconsideration must, at a minimum, include—
(a) Written notice to the facility of the denial, termination or nonrenewal and the findings upon which it was based;
(b) A reasonable opportunity for the facility to refute those findings in writing, and
(c) A written affirmation or reversal of the denial, termination, or nonrenewal.
This subpart implements section 1902(a)(3) of the Act, which requires that a State plan provide an opportunity for a fair hearing to any person whose claim for assistance is denied or not acted upon promptly. This subpart also prescribes procedures for an opportunity for hearing if the Medicaid agency takes action to suspend, terminate, or reduce services. This subpart also implements sections 1819(f)(3), 1919(f)(3), and 1919(e)(7)(F) of the Act by providing an appeals process for individuals proposed to be transferred or discharged from skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities and those adversely affected by the preadmission screening and annual resident review requirements of section 1919(e)(7) of the Act.
For purposes of this subpart:
A State plan must provide that the requirements of §§ 431.205 through 431.246 of this subpart are met.
(a) The Medicaid agency must be responsible for maintaining a hearing system that meets the requirements of this subpart.
(b) The State's hearing system must provide for—
(1) A hearing before the agency; or
(2) An evidentiary hearing at the local level, with a right of appeal to a State agency hearing.
(c) The agency may offer local hearings in some political subdivisions and not in others.
(d) The hearing system must meet the due process standards set forth in
(a) The agency must issue and publicize its hearing procedures.
(b) The agency must, at the time specified in paragraph (c) of this section, inform every applicant or recipient in writing—
(1) Of his right to a hearing;
(2) Of the method by which he may obtain a hearing; and
(3) That he may represent himself or use legal counsel, a relative, a friend, or other spokesman.
(c) The agency must provide the information required in paragraph (b) of this section—(1) At the time that the individual applies for Medicaid;
(2) At the time of any action affecting his or her claim;
(3) At the time a skilled nursing facility or a nursing facility notifies a resident in accordance with § 483.12 of this chapter that he or she is to be transferred or discharged; and
(4) At the time an individual receives an adverse determination by the State with regard to the preadmission screening and annual resident review requirements of section 1919(e)(7) of the Act.
A notice required under § 431.206 (c)(2), (c)(3), or (c)(4) of this subpart must contain—
(a) A statement of what action the State, skilled nursing facility, or nursing facility intends to take;
(b) The reasons for the intended action;
(c) The specific regulations that support, or the change in Federal or State law that requires, the action;
(d) An explanation of—
(1) The individual's right to request an evidentiary hearing if one is available, or a State agency hearing; or
(2) In cases of an action based on a change in law, the circumstances under which a hearing will be granted; and
(e) An explanation of the circumstances under which Medicaid is continued if a hearing is requested.
The State or local agency must mail a notice at least 10 days before the date of action, except as permitted under §§ 431.213 and 431.214 of this subpart.
The agency may mail a notice not later than the date of action if—
(a) The agency has factual information confirming the death of a recipient;
(b) The agency receives a clear written statement signed by a recipient that—
(1) He no longer wishes services; or
(2) Gives information that requires termination or reduction of services and indicates that he understands that this must be the result of supplying that information;
(c) The recipient has been admitted to an institution where he is ineligible under the plan for further services;
(d) The recipient's whereabouts are unknown and the post office returns agency mail directed to him indicating no forwarding address (See § 431.231 (d) of this subpart for procedure if the recipient's whereabouts become known);
(e) The agency establishes the fact that the recipient has been accepted for Medicaid services by another local jurisdiction, State, territory, or commonwealth;
(f) A change in the level of medical care is prescribed by the recipient's physician;
(g) The notice involves an adverse determination made with regard to the preadmission screening requirements of section 1919(e)(7) of the Act; or
(h) The date of action will occur in less than 10 days, in accordance with § 483.12(a)(5)(ii), which provides exceptions to the 30 days notice requirements of § 483.12(a)(5)(i).
The agency may shorten the period of advance notice to 5 days before the date of action if—
(a) The agency has facts indicating that action should be taken because of probable fraud by the recipient; and
(b) The facts have been verified, if possible, through secondary sources.
(a) The agency must grant an opportunity for a hearing to:
(1) Any applicant who requests it because his claim for services is denied or is not acted upon with reasonable promptness;
(2) Any recipient who requests it because he or she believes the agency has taken an action erroneously;
(3) Any resident who requests it because he or she believes a skilled nursing facility or nursing facility has erroneously determined that he or she must be transferred or discharged; and
(4) Any individual who requests it because he or she believes the State has made an erroneous determination with regard to the preadmission and annual resident review requirements of section 1919(e)(7) of the Act.
(b) The agency need not grant a hearing if the sole issue is a Federal or State law requiring an automatic change adversely affecting some or all recipients.
(a) The agency may require that a request for a hearing be in writing.
(b) The agency may not limit or interfere with the applicant's or recipient's freedom to make a request for a hearing.
(c) The agency may assist the applicant or recipient in submitting and processing his request.
(d) The agency must allow the applicant or recipient a reasonable time, not to exceed 90 days from the date that notice of action is mailed, to request a hearings.
The agency—
(a) May respond to a series of individual requests for hearing by conducting a single group hearing;
(b) May consolidate hearings only in cases in which the sole issue involved is one of Federal or State law or policy;
(c) Must follow the policies of this subpart and its own policies governing hearings in all group hearings; and
(d) Must permit each person to present his own case or be represented by his authorized representative.
The agency may deny or dismiss a request for a hearing if—
(a) The applicant or recipient withdraws the request in writing; or
(b) The applicant or recipient fails to appear at a scheduled hearing without good cause.
(a) If the agency mails the 10-day or 5-day notice as required under § 431.211 or § 431.214 of this subpart, and the recipient requests a hearing before the date of action, the agency may not terminate or reduce services until a decision is rendered after the hearing unless—
(1) It is determined at the hearing that the sole issue is one of Federal or State law or policy; and
(2) The agency promptly informs the recipient in writing that services are to be terminated or reduced pending the hearing decision.
(b) If the agency's action is sustained by the hearing decision, the agency may institute recovery procedures against the applicant or recipient to recoup the cost of any services furnished the recipient, to the extent they were furnished solely by reason of this section.
(a) The agency may reinstate services if a recipient requests a hearing not more than 10 days after the date of action.
(b) The reinstated services must continue until a hearing decision unless, at the hearing, it is determined that the sole issue is one of Federal or State law or policy.
(c) The agency must reinstate and continue services until a decision is rendered after a hearing if—
(1) Action is taken without the advance notice required under § 431.211 or § 431.214 of this subpart;
(2) The recipient requests a hearing within 10 days of the mailing of the notice of action; and
(3) The agency determines that the action resulted from other than the application of Federal or State law or policy.
(d) If a recipient's whereabouts are unknown, as indicated by the return of unforwardable agency mail directed to him, any discontinued services must be reinstated if his whereabouts become known during the time he is eligible for services.
If the decision of a local evidentiary hearing is adverse to the applicant or recipient, the agency must—
(a) Inform the applicant or recipient of the decision;
(b) Inform the applicant or recipient that he has the right to appeal the decision to the State agency, in writing, within 15 days of the mailing of the notice of the adverse decision;
(c) Inform the applicant or recipient of his right to request that his appeal be a
(d) Discontinue services after the adverse decision.
(a) Unless the applicant or recipient specifically requests a
(b) A person who participates in the local decision being appealed may not participate in the State agency hearing decision.
(a) All hearings must be conducted—
(1) At a reasonable time, date, and place;
(2) Only after adequate written notice of the hearing; and
(3) By one or more impartial officials or other individuals who have not been directly involved in the initial determination of the action in question.
(b) If the hearing involves medical issues such as those concerning a diagnosis, an examining physician's report, or a medical review team's decision, and if the hearing officer considers it necessary to have a medical assessment other than that of the individual involved in making the original decision, such a medical assessment must be obtained at agency expense and made part of the record.
The hearing must cover—
(a) Agency action or failure to act with reasonable promptness on a claim for services, including both initial and subsequent decisions regarding eligibility;
(b) Agency decisions regarding changes in the type or amount of services;
(c) A decision by a skilled nursing facility or nursing facility to transfer or discharge a resident; and
(d) A State determination with regard to the preadmission screening and annual resident review requirements of section 1919(e)(7) of the Act.
The applicant or recipient, or his representative, must be given an opportunity to—
(a) Examine at a reasonable time before the date of the hearing and during the hearing:
(1) The content of the applicant's or recipient's case file; and
(2) All documents and records to be used by the State or local agency or the skilled nursing facility or nursing facility at the hearing;
(b) Bring witnesses;
(c) Establish all pertinent facts and circumstances;
(d) Present an argument without undue interference; and
(e) Question or refute any testimony or evidence, including opportunity to confront and cross-examine adverse witnesses.
If the hearing involves an issue of eligibility and the Medicaid agency is not responsible for eligibility determinations, the agency that is responsible for determining eligibility must participate in the hearing.
(a) Hearing recommendations or decisions must be based exclusively on evidence introduced at the hearing.
(b) The record must consist only of—
(1) The transcript or recording of testimony and exhibits, or an official report containing the substance of what happened at the hearing;
(2) All papers and requests filed in the proceeding; and
(3) The recommendation or decision of the hearing officer.
(c) The applicant or recipient must have access to the record at a convenient place and time.
(d) In any evidentiary hearing, the decision must be a written one that—
(1) Summarizes the facts; and
(2) Identifies the regulations supporting the decision.
(e) In a
(1) Specify the reasons for the decision; and
(2) Identify the supporting evidence and regulations.
(f) The agency must take final administrative action within 90 days
(g) The public must have access to all agency hearing decisions, subject to the requirements of subpart F of this part for safeguarding of information.
The agency must notify the applicant or recipient in writing of—
(a) The decision; and
(b) His right to request a State agency hearing or seek judicial review, to the extent that either is available to him.
The agency must promptly make corrective payments, retroactive to the date an incorrect action was taken, and, if appropriate, provide for admission or readmission of an individual to a facility if—
(a) The hearing decision is favorable to the applicant or recipient; or
(b) The agency decides in the applicant's or recipient's favor before the hearing.
FFP is available in expenditures for—
(a) Payments for services continued pending a hearing decision;
(b) Payments made—
(1) To carry out hearing decisions; and
(2) For services provided within the scope of the Federal Medicaid program and made under a court order.
(c) Payments made to take corrective action prior to a hearing;
(d) Payments made to extend the benefit of a hearing decision or court order to individuals in the same situation as those directly affected by the decision or order;
(e) Retroactive payments under paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section in accordance with applicable Federal policies on corrective payments; and
(f) Administrative costs incurred by the agency for—
(1) Transportation for the applicant or recipient, his representative, and witnesses to and from the hearing;
(2) Meeting other expenses of the applicant or recipient in connection with the hearing;
(3) Carrying out the hearing procedures, including expenses of obtaining the additional medical assessment specified in § 431.240 of this subpart; and
(4) Hearing procedures for Medicaid and non-Medicaid individuals appealing transfers, discharges and determinations of preadmission screening and annual resident reviews under part 483, subparts C and E of this chapter.
(a) Section 1902(a)(7) of the Act requires that a State plan must provide safeguards that restrict the use or disclosure of information concerning applicants and recipients to purposes directly connected with the administration of the plan. This subpart specifies State plan requirements, the types of information to be safeguarded, the conditions for release of safeguarded information, and restrictions on the distribution of other information.
(b) Section 1137 of the Act, which requires agencies to exchange information in order to verify the income and eligibility of applicants and recipients (see § 435.940ff), requires State agencies to have adequate safeguards to assure that—
(1) Information exchanged by the State agencies is made available only to the extent necessary to assist in the valid administrative needs of the program receiving the information, and information received under section 6103(l) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 is exchanged only with agencies authorized to receive that information under that section of the Code; and
(2) The information is adequately stored and processed so that it is protected against unauthorized disclosure for other purposes.
A State plan must provide, under a State statute that imposes legal sanctions, safeguards meeting the requirements of this subpart that restrict the use or disclosure of information concerning applicants and recipients to purposes directly connected with the administration of the plan.
Purposes directly related to plan administration include—
(a) Establishing eligibility;
(b) Determining the amount of medical assistance;
(c) Providing services for recipients; and
(d) Conducting or assisting an investigation, prosecution, or civil or criminal proceeding related to the administration of the plan.
The Medicaid agency must have authority to implement and enforce the provisions specified in this subpart for safeguarding information about applicants and recipients.
(a) The agency must publicize provisions governing the confidential nature of information about applicants and recipients, including the legal sanctions imposed for improper disclosure and use.
(b) The agency must provide copies of these provisions to applicants and recipients and to other persons and agencies to whom information is disclosed.
(a) The agency must have criteria that govern the types of information about applicants and recipients that are safeguarded.
(b) This information must include at least—
(1) Names and addresses;
(2) Medical services provided;
(3) Social and economic conditions or circumstances;
(4) Agency evaluation of personal information;
(5) Medical data, including diagnosis and past history of disease or disability; and
(6) Any information received for verifying income eligibility and amount of medical assistance payments (see § 435.940ff). Income information received from SSA or the Internal Revenue Service must be safeguarded according to the requirements of the agency that furnished the data.
(7) Any information received in connection with the identification of legally liable third party resources under § 433.138 of this chapter.
(a) The agency must have criteria specifying the conditions for release and use of information about applicants and recipients.
(b) Access to information concerning applicants or recipients must be restricted to persons or agency representatives who are subject to standards of confidentiality that are comparable to those of the agency.
(c) The agency must not publish names of applicants or recipients.
(d) The agency must obtain permission from a family or individual, whenever possible, before responding to a request for information from an outside source, unless the information is to be used to verify income, eligibility and the amount of medical assistance payment under section 1137 of this Act and §§ 435.940 through 435.965 of this chapter.
(e) The agency's policies must apply to all requests for information from outside sources, including governmental bodies, the courts, or law enforcement officials.
(f) If a court issues a subpoena for a case record or for any agency representative to testify concerning an applicant or recipient, the agency must inform the court of the applicable statutory provisions, policies, and regulations restricting disclosure of information.
(g) Before requesting information from, or releasing information to, other agencies to verify income, eligibility and the amount of assistance under §§ 435.940 through 435.965 of this chapter, the agency must execute data exchange agreements with those agencies, as specified in § 435.945(f).
(h) Before requesting information from, or releasing information to, other agencies to identify legally liable third party resources under § 433.138(d) of this chapter, the agency must execute data exchanges agreements, as specified in § 433.138(h)(2) of this chapter.
(a) All materials distributed to applicants, recipients, or medical providers must—
(1) Directly relate to the administration of the Medicaid program;
(2) Have no political implications except to the extent required to implement the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) Pub. L. 103-931; for States that are exempt from the requirements of NVRA, voter registration may be a voluntary activity so long as the provisions of section 7(a)(5) of NVRA are observed;
(3) Contain the names only of individuals directly connected with the administration of the plan; and
(4) Identify those individuals only in their official capacity with the State or local agency.
(b) The agency must not distribute materials such as ``holiday'' greetings, general public announcements, partisan voting information and alien registration notices.
(c) The agency may distribute materials directly related to the health and welfare of applicants and recipients, such as announcements of free medical examinations, availability of surplus food, and consumer protection information.
(d) Under NVRA, the agency must distribute voter information and registration materials as specified in NVRA.
(a)
(1) Section 1902(a)(9) of the Act, concerning the designation of State authorities to be responsible for establishing and maintaining health and other standards for institutions participating in Medicaid; and
(2) Section 1902(a)(33) of the Act, concerning the designation of the State licensing agency to be responsible for determining whether institutions and agencies meet requirements for participation in the State's Medicaid program.
(3) Section 1919(g)(1)(A) of the Act, concerning responsibilities of the State for certifying the compliance of non-State operated NFs with requirements of participation in the State's Medicaid program.
(b)
(c)
(d)
(2) The plan must provide that the Medicaid agency keeps these standards on file and makes them available to the Administrator upon request.
(e)
(1) The agency designated in paragraph (b) of this section, or another State agency responsible for licensing health institutions in the State, determines for the Medicaid agency whether institutions and agencies meet the requirements for participation in the Medicaid program; and
(2) The agency staff making the determination under paragraph (e)(1) of this section is the same staff responsible for making similar determinations for institutions or agencies participating under Medicare; and
(3) The agency designated in paragraph (e)(1) of this section makes recommendations regarding the effective dates of provider agreements, as determined under § 431.108.
(f)
(1) Federal requirements and the forms, methods and procedures that the Administrator designates will be used to determine provider eligibility and certification under Medicaid;
(2) Inspectors surveying the premises of a provider will—
(i) Complete inspection reports;
(ii) Note on completed reports whether or not each requirement for which an inspection is made is satisfied; and
(iii) Document deficiencies in reports;
(3) The survey agency will keep on file all information and reports used in determining whether participating facilities meet Federal requirements; and
(4) The survey agency will make the information and reports required under paragraph (f)(3) of this section readily accessible to HHS and the Medicaid agency as necessary—
(i) For meeting other requirements under the plan; and
(ii) For purposes consistent with the Medicaid agency's effective administration of the program.
(g)
(1) Review and evaluate medical and independent professional review team reports obtained under part 456 of this subchapter as they relate to health and safety requirements;
(2) Have qualified personnel perform on-site inspections periodically as appropriate based on the timeframes in the correction plan and—
(i) At least once during each certification period or more frequently if there is a compliance question; and
(ii) For non-State operated NFs, within the timeframes specified in § 488.308 of this chapter.
(3) Have qualified personnel perform on-site inspections—
(i) At least once during each certification period or more frequently if there is a compliance question; and
(ii) For intermediate care facilities with deficiencies as described in §§ 442.112 and 442.113 of this subchapter, within 6 months after initial correction plan approval and every 6 months thereafter as required under those sections.
(h)
(2) FFP is not available in any expenditures that the survey agency makes that are attributable to the State's overall responsibilities under
(a)
(1) State health agencies;
(2) State vocational rehabilitation agencies; and
(3) Grantees under title V of the Act, Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children's Services.
(b)
“Title V grantee” means the agency, institution, or organization receiving Federal payments for part or all of the cost of any service program or project authorized by title V of the Act, including—
(1) Maternal and child health services;
(2) Crippled children's services;
(3) Maternal and infant care projects;
(4) Children and youth projects; and
(5) Projects for the dental health of children.
(c)
(1) Describe cooperative arrangements with the State agencies that administer, or supervise the administration of, health services and vocational rehabilitation services designed to make maximum use of these services;
(2) Provide for arrangements with title V grantees, under which the Medicaid agency will utilize the grantee to furnish services that are included in the State plan;
(3) Provide that all arrangements under this section meet the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section; and
(4) Provide, if requested by the title V grantee in accordance with the arrangements made under this section, that the Medicaid agency reimburse the grantee or the provider for the cost of services furnished recipients by or through the grantee.
(d)
(1) The mutual objectives and responsibilities or each party to the arrangement;
(2) The services each party offers and in what circumstances;
(3) The cooperative and collaborative relationships at the State level;
(4) The kinds of services to be provided by local agencies; and
(5) Methods for—
(i) Early identification of individuals under 21 in need of medical or remedial services;
(ii) Reciprocal referrals;
(iii) Coordinating plans for health services provided or arranged for recipients;
(iv) Payment or reimbursement;
(v) Exchange of reports of services furnished to recipients;
(vi) Periodic review and joint planning for changes in the agreements;
(vii) Continuous liaison between the parties, including designation of State and local liaison staff; and
(viii) Joint evaluation of policies that affect the cooperative work of the parties.
(e)
(a)
(b)
(c)
(1) The State authority or authorities concerned with mental diseases; and
(2) Any institution for mental diseases that is not under the jurisdiction of those State authorities, and that provides services under Medicaid to recipients aged 65 or older.
(d)
(1) Joint planning between the parties to the agreement;
(2) Development of alternative methods of care;
(3) Immediate readmission to an institution when needed by a recipient who is in alternative care;
(4) Access by the agency to the institution, the recipient, and the recipient's records when necessary to carry out the agency's responsibilities;
(5) Recording, reporting, and exchanging medical and social information about recipients; and
(6) Other procedures needed to carry out the agreement.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(2) Access by the agency to the State mental health and mental retardation authorities’ records when necessary to carry out the agency's responsibilities;
(3) Recording, reporting, and exchanging medical and social information about individuals subject to PASARR;
(4) Ensuring that preadmission screenings and annual resident reviews are performed timely in accordance with §§ 483.112(c) and 483.114(c) of this part;
(5) Ensuring that, if the State mental health and mental retardation authorities delegate their respective responsibilities, these delegations comply with § 483.106(e) of this part;
(6) Ensuring that PASARR determinations made by the State mental health and mental retardation authorities are not countermanded by the State Medicaid agency, except through the appeals process, but that the State mental health and mental retardation authorities do not use criteria which are inconsistent with those adopted by the State Medicaid agency under its approved State plan;
(7) Designating the independent person or entity who performs the PASARR evaluations for individuals with MI; and
(8) Ensuring that all requirements of §§ 483.100 through 483.136 are met.
(a)
(2) Section 1902(a)(10) of the Act (in clause (II) following subparagraph (D)), allows the State to pay the premium, deductibles, cost sharing, and other
(3) Section 1903 (a)(1) and (b) of the Act authorizes FFP for State payment of Medicare Part B premiums for certain recipients.
(4) This section—
(i) Specifies the exception, relating to Part B coverage, from the requirement to provide comparable services to all recipients; and
(ii) Prescribes FFP rules concerning State payment for Medicare premiums and for services that could have been covered under Medicare.
(5) Section 1902(a)(15) of the Act requires that if a State chooses to pay only a portion of deductibles, cost sharing or other charges for recipients enrolled under Medicare Part B, the portion that is to be paid by a Medicaid recipient must be reasonably related to the recipient's income and resources.
(b)
(2) The State plan must specify this exception if it applies.
(c)
(2) If a State pays on a recipient's behalf any portion of the deductible or cost sharing amounts under Medicare Part B, the portion paid by a State must be reasonably related to the recipient's income and resources.
(d)
(2)
(i) AFDC families required to be covered under §§ 435.112 and 436.116 of this subchapter, those eligible for continued Medicaid coverage despite increased income from employment;
(ii) Recipients required to be covered under §§ 435.114, 435.134, and 436.112 of this subchapter, those eligible for continued Medicaid coverage despite increased income from monthly insurance benefits under title II of the Act;
(iii) Recipients required to be covered under § 435.135 of this subchapter, those eligible for continued Medicaid coverage despite increased income from cost-of-living increases under title II of the Act;
(iv) Recipients of foster care maintenance payments or adoption assistance payments who, under Part E of title IV of the Act are considered as receiving AFDC;
(v) Individuals required to be covered under § 435.120 of this chapter, that is, blind or disabled individuals who, under section 1619(b) of the Act, are considered to be receiving SSI;
(vi) Individuals who, in accordance with §§ 435.115 and 436.114 of this chapter are, for purposes of Medicaid eligibility, considered to be receiving AFDC. These are participants in a work supplementation program, or individuals denied AFDC because the payment would be less than $10;
(vii) Certain recipients of Veterans Administration pensions during the limited time they are, under section 310(b) of Pub. L. 96-272, considered as receiving SSI, mandatory State supplements, or AFDC;
(viii) Disabled children living at home to whom the State provides Medicaid under section 1902(e)(3) of the Act;
(ix) Individuals who become ineligible for AFDC because of the collection or increased collection of child or spousal support, but, in accordance with section 406(h) of the Act, remain eligible for Medicaid for four more months; and
(x) Individuals who become ineligible for AFDC because they are no longer
(3) No FFP is available in State Medicaid expenditures that could have been paid for under Medicare Part B but were not because the person was not enrolled in Part B. This limit applies to all recipients eligible for enrollment under Part B, whether individually or through an agreement under section 1843(a) of the Act. However, FFP is available in expenditures required by §§ 435.914 and 436.901 of this subchapter for retroactive coverage of recipients.
(a) The State plan may provide for the review of Medicaid services through a contract with a PRO designated under Part 462 of this chapter. Medicaid requirements for medical and utilization review are deemed to be met for those services or providers subject to review under the contract.
(b) The State plan must provide that the contract with the PRO—
(1) Meets the requirements of § 434.6(a) of this part;
(2) Includes a monitoring and evaluation plan by which the State ensures satisfactory performance by the PRO;
(3) Identifies the services and providers subject to PRO review;
(4) Ensures that the review activities performed by the PRO are not inconsistent with PRO review activities of Medicare services and includes a description of whether and to what extent PRO determinations will be considered conclusive for Medicaid payment purposes.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(1) Coordinating operation of the Medicaid program with the State's operation of the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children;
(2) Providing timely written notice of the availability of WIC benefits to all individuals in the State who are determined to be eligible (including presumptively eligible) for Medicaid and who are:
(i) Pregnant women;
(ii) Postpartum women;
(iii) Breastfeeding women; and
(iv) Children under the age of 5.
(3) Referring individuals described under paragraphs (c)(2) (i) through (iv) of this section to the local agency responsible for administering the WIC program.
(d)
(2) The agency, no less frequently than annually, must also provide written notice of the availability of WIC benefits, including the location and telephone number of the local WIC agency or instructions for obtaining further information about the WIC program, to all Medicaid recipients (including those found to be presumptively eligible) who are under age 5 or who are women who might be pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding as described in paragraphs (c)(2) (i) through (iv) of this section.
(3) The agency must effectively inform those individuals who are blind or deaf or who cannot read or understand the English language.
This subpart implements sections 1903(a)(29) and 1908 of the Act which require that the State plan include a State program for licensing nursing home administrators.
Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply for purposes of this subpart:
(a) A religious nonmedical institution as defined in § 440.170(b) of this chapter; or
(b) A distinct part of a hospital, if the hospital meets the definition in § 440.10 or § 440.140 of this subchapter, and the distinct part is not licensed separately or formally approved as a nursing home by the State even though it is designated or certified as a skilled nursing facility.
(a) Has an ownership interest in the home; or
(b) Shares his functions and duties with one or more other persons.
A State plan must provide that the State has a program for licensing administrators of nursing homes that meets the requirements of §§ 431.703 through 431.713 of this subpart.
The State licensing program must provide that only nursing homes supervised by an administrator licensed in accordance with the requirements of this subpart may operate in the State.
If a State licensing law does not use the term “nursing home,” the HCFA Administrator will determine the term or terms equivalent to “nursing home” for purposes of applying the requirements of this subpart. To obtain this determination, the Medicaid agency must submit to the Regional Medicaid Director copies of current State laws that define institutional health care facilities for licensing purposes.
(a) The State licensing program must provide for licensing of nursing home administrators by—
(1) The agency designated under the healing arts act of the State; or
(2) A State licensing board.
(b) The State agency or board must perform the functions and duties specified in §§ 431.707 through 431.713 and the board must meet the membership requirements specified in § 431.706 of this subpart.
(a) The board must be composed of persons representing professions and institutions concerned with the care and treatment of chronically ill or infirm elderly patients. However—
(1) A majority of the board members may not be representative of a single profession or category of institution; and
(2) Members not representative of institutions may not have a direct financial interest in any nursing home.
(b) For purposes of this section, nursing home administrators are considered representatives of institutions.
(a) The agency or board must develop, impose, and enforce standards that must be met by individuals in order to be licensed as a nursing home administrator.
(b) The standards must be designed to insure that nursing home administrators are—
(1) Of good character;
(2) Otherwise suitable; and
(3) Qualified to serve because of training or experience in institutional administration.
The agency or board must develop and apply appropriate procedures and techniques, including examinations and investigations, for determining if a person meets the licensing standards.
Except as provided in § 431.714 of this subpart, the agency or board must—
(a) Issue licenses to persons who meet the agency's or board's standards; and
(b) Revoke or suspend a license if the agency or board determines that the person holding the license substantially fails to meet the standards.
To fill a position of nursing home administrator that unexpectedly becomes vacant, the agency or board may issue one provisional license, for a single period not to exceed 6 months. The license may be issued to a person who does not meet all of the licensing requirements established under § 431.707 but who—
(a) Is of good character and otherwise suitable; and
(b) Meets any other standards established for provisional licensure by the agency or board.
The agency or board must establish and carry out procedures to insure that licensed administrators comply with the standards in this subpart when they serve as nursing home administrators.
The agency or board must investigate and act on all complaints it receives of violations of standards.
The agency or board must conduct a continuing study of nursing homes and administrators within the State to improve—
(a) Licensing standards; and
(b) The procedures and methods for enforcing the standards.
The agency or board may waive any standards developed under § 431.707 of this subpart for any person who has served in the capacity of a nursing home administrator during all of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the calendar year in which the State first meets the requirements in this subpart.
No FFP is available in expenditures by the licensing board for establishing and maintaining standards for the licensing of nursing home administrators.
This subpart—
(a) Establishes State plan requirements for a Medicaid eligibility quality control (MEQC) program designed to
(b) Establishes rules and procedures for disallowing Federal financial participation (FFP) in erroneous Medicaid payments due to eligibility and recipient liability errors as detected through the MEQC program.
This subpart implements the following sections of the Act, which establish requirements for State plans and for payment of Federal financial participation (FFP) to States:
1902(a)(4) Administrative methods for proper and efficient operation of the State plan.
1903(u) Limitation of FFP for erroneous medical assistance expenditures.
As used in this subpart—
(1) For a service not authorized under the State plan;
(2) To a provider not certified for participation in the Medicaid program;
(3) For a service already paid for by Medicaid; or
(4) In an amount above the allowable reimbursement level for that service.
(1) Was ineligible when authorized or when he received services; or
(2) Was eligible for Medicaid but was ineligible for certain services he received; or
(3) Had not met recipient liability requirements when authorized eligible for Medicaid; that is, he had not incurred medical expenses equal to the amount of his excess income over the State's financial eligibility level or he had incurred medical expenses that exceeded the amount of excess income over the State's financial eligibility level, or was making an incorrect amount of payment toward the cost of services.
(a)
(b)
Any individual performing activities under the MEQC program or the claims processing assessment system specified in this subpart must do so in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of §§ 435.902 and 436.901 of this subchapter concerning the rights of recipients.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
(2) The agency is not required to conduct reviews of the following cases:
(i) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient cases in States with contracts under section 1634 of the Act for determining Medicaid eligibility;
(ii) Foster care and adoption assistance cases under title IV-E of the Act found eligible for Medicaid; and
(iii) Cases under programs that are 100 percent federally funded.
(b)
(c)
(2)
(3)
(i) Clearly define the purpose of the system and demonstrate how the system is superior to the current negative case review requirements.
(ii) Contain a methodology for identifying significant problem areas that could result in erroneous denials, suspensions, and terminations of applicants and recipients. Problem areas selected for review must contain at least as many applicants and recipients as were included in the negative case sample size previously required for the State.
(iii) Provide a detailed methodology describing how the extent of the problem area will be measured through sampling and review procedures, the findings expected from the review, and planned corrective actions to resolve the problem.
(iv) Include documentation supporting the use of the system methodology. Documentation must include the timeframes under which the system will be operated.
(v) Provide a superior means of monitoring denials, terminations, and suspensions than that required under paragraph (b) of this section.
(vi) Provide a statistically valid error rate that can be projected to the universe that is being studied.
(d)
(1) Ineligibility for Medicaid;
(2) Ineligibility for certain Medicaid services; and
(3) Recipient understated or overstated liability.
(e)
(1) Examine and analyze each case record for all cases under review to establish what information is available for use in determining eligibility in the review month;
(2) Conduct field investigations including in-person recipient interviews for each case in the active case sample, and conduct in-person interviews only when the correctness of the agency action cannot be determined by review of the case record with recipients for cases in the negative case action sample (unless this is otherwise addressed in a superior system provided for in paragraph (c)(1) of this section);
(3) Verify all appropriate elements of eligibility for active cases through at least one primary source of evidence or two secondary sources of evidence as defined by HCFA by documentation or by collateral contacts as required, or both, and fully record the information on the appropriate forms;
(4) Determine the basis on which eligibility was established and the eligibility status of the active case and each case member;
(5) Collect copies of State paid claims or recipient profiles for services delivered during the review month and, if indicated, any months prior to the review month in the agency's selected spenddown period, for all members of the active case under review;
(6) Associate dollar values with eligibility status for each active case under review; and
(7) Complete the payment, case, and review information for all individuals in the active case under review on the appropriate forms.
(a)
(b)
(1) The population to be sampled;
(2) The list(s) from which the sample is selected and the following characteristics of the list(s):
(i) Sources;
(ii) All types of cases in the selection lists;
(iii) Accuracy and completeness of sample lists in reference to the population(s) of interest;
(iv) Whether or not the selection list was constructed by combining more than one list;
(v) The form of the selection list (whether the list or part of the list is automated);
(vi) Frequency and length of delays in updating the selection lists or their sources;
(vii) Number of items on the lists and proportion of listed-in-error items:
(viii) Methods of deleting unwanted items from the selection lists; and
(ix) Structure of the selection lists.
(3) The sample size, including the minimum number of reviews to be completed and the expected number of cases to be selected. Minimum sample sizes are based on the State's relative level of Medicaid annual expenditures for services for active cases, and on the total number of negative case actions in the universe for negative cases. When the sample is substratified, there
(4) The sample selection procedure. Systematic random sampling is recommended. Alternative procedures must provide a representative sample, conform to principles of probability sampling, and yield estimates with the same or better precision than achieved in systematic random sampling.
(5) Procedures used to identify amounts paid for services received in the review month.
(6) Specification as to whether the agency chooses to—
(i) Use billed amounts to offset recipient liability toward cost of care (No indication will be interpreted to mean that the agency will use paid claims); and
(ii) Use denied claims to offset recipient liability toward cost of care in the payment review. (No indication will be interpreted to mean denied claims will not be used.)
(7) Indication of whether the agency opts to drop or complete cases selected more than once in a sample period. (No indication will be interpreted to mean that the agency will complete cases selected more than once.)
(c)
(1) All States must use the AFDC quality control sample for the AFDC stratum.
(2) States must include in the MAO stratum all cases certified as eligible for Medicaid that are not in the AFDC stratum, excluding individuals specified in paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
(3) States that do not have an agreement with the Social Security Administration under section 1634 of the Act and do not have more restrictive eligibility criteria under section 1902(f) of the Act but require a separate Medicaid application for recipients of SSI and determine Medicaid eligibility using SSI criteria must divide the MAO stratum into two substrata: MAO cases and SSI cash cases for the first review period beginning after July 1, 1990 and for review periods thereafter. The SSI substratum sample size must be 75 cases or one-half of the total MAO sample, whichever is smaller. The non-SSI MAO substratum sample will be the remainder of the MAO stratum cases.
(4) States must exclude from the MEQC universe SSI beneficiaries whose eligibility determinations were made exclusively by the Social Security Administration under an agreement under section 1634 of the Act, individuals in foster care or receiving adoption assistance whose eligibility is determined under title IV-E of the Act, and individuals receiving Medicaid under programs that are 100 percent federally funded.
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(1)
(2)
(i) Draw an initial case sample size each month that is no less than 5 times the required sample size. The sample will be selected from the universe of cases that were certified eligible in the fourth month prior to the month of case selection;
(ii) Identify claims paid for services furnished to all individuals during the review month (and, if indicated, any months prior to the review month in the agency's selected spenddown period) for these cases;
(iii) Stratify the cases by dollar value of the claims into three strata; and
(iv) Select a second statistically valid sample within each group subject to the sample size requirements specified in paragraph (b)(3) or (j)(1) of this section.
(a) The agency must complete case reviews and submit reports of findings to HCFA as specified in paragraph (b) of this section in the form and at the time specified by HCFA.
(b) In addition to the reporting requirements specified in § 431.814 relating to sampling, the agency must complete case reviews and submit reports of findings to HCFA in accordance with paragraphs (b)(1) through (6) of this section for review periods beginning after July 1, 1990.The agency must not combine or otherwise integrate case findings from the MAO and AFDC strata to meet the case percentage deadlines as specified in paragraphs (b)(1) through (6) of this section.
(1)
(ii) The agency must submit a report on cases selected for the review month.
(2)
(ii) The agency must report findings electronically through the system prescribed by HCFA for 100 percent of the State agency-reported eligible individuals within 30 days after the final timeframe required by the AFDC program as specified in program regulations at 45 CFR 205.40(b)(2)(ii).
(3)
(4)
(ii) The agency must complete payment review findings for 100 percent of the active case reviews in its sample and report the findings within 60 days after the first day of the month in which the claims collection process begins. The agency must wait 5 months after the end of each review month before associating the amount of claims paid for each case for services furnished during the review month unless retrospective sampling is elected.
(iii) The agency must make any necessary corrections to claims payments during the month the claim is paid and the following month. HCFA will take necessary action to reject any State adjustment adversely affecting the error rate, for example, by not paying claims on error cases.
(5)
(6)
(a) The agency, upon written request, must mail to the HHS staff all records, including complete local agency eligibility case files or legible copies and all other documents pertaining to its MEQC reviews to which the State has access, including information available under part 435, subpart I, of this chapter.
(b) The agency must mail requested records within 10 working days of receipt of a request, unless the State has an alternate method of submitting these records that is approved by HCFA or has received, on an as-needed basis, approval from HCFA to extend this timeframe by 3 additional working days to allow for exceptional circumstances.
The agency must—
(a) Take action to correct any active or negative case action errors found in the sample cases;
(b) Take administrative action to prevent or reduce the incidence of those errors; and
(c) By September 15 each year, submit to HCFA a report on its error rate analysis and a corrective action plan based on that analysis. The agency must submit revisions to the plan within 60 days of identification of additional error-prone areas, other significant changes in the error rate (that is, changes that the State experiences that increase or decrease its error rate and necessitate immediate corrective action or discontinuance of corrective actions that effectively control the cause of the error rate change), or changes in planned corrective action.
(a) When a difference exists between State and Federal case eligibility or payment findings, the Regional Office will notify the agency by a difference letter.
(b) The agency must return the difference letter to the Regional Office within 28 calendar days of the date of the letter indicating either agreement with the Federal finding or reasons for disagreement and if the agency desires a conference to resolve the difference. This period may be shortened if the Regional Office finds that it is necessary to do so in order to meet a case completion deadline, and the State still has a reasonable period of time in which to respond to the letter. If the agency fails to submit the difference letter indicating its agreement or disagreement with the Federal findings within the 28 calendar days (or the shorter period designated as described above), the Federal findings will be sustained.
(c) If the Regional Office disagrees with the agency's response, a difference conference will be scheduled within 20 days of the request of the agency. If a difference cannot be resolved, the State may request a direct presentation of its position to the Regional Administrator. The Regional Administrator has final authority for resolving the difference.
An agency must—
(a) Operate the MQC claims processing assessment system in accordance with the policies, sampling methodology, review procedures, reporting forms, requirements, and other instructions established by HCFA.
(b) Identify deficiencies in the claims processing operations.
(c) Measure cost of deficiencies;
(d) Provide data to determine appropriate corrective action;
(e) Provide an assessment of the State's claims processing or that of its fiscal agent;
(f) Provide for a claim-by-claim review where justifiable by data; and
(g) Produce an audit trail that can be reviewed by HCFA or an outside auditor.
(a) The agency must submit reports and data specified in paragraph (b) of this section to HCFA, in the form and at the time specified by HCFA.
(b) Except when HCFA authorizes less stringent reporting, States must submit:
(1) A monthly report on claims processing reviews sampled and or claims processing reviews completed during the month;
(2) A summary report on findings for all reviews in the 6-month sample to be submitted by the end of the 3rd month following the scheduled completion of reviews for that 6 month period; and
(3) Other data and reports as required by HCFA.
The agency, upon written request, must provide HHS staff with access to all records pertaining to its MQC claims processing assessment system reviews to which the State has access, including information available under part 435, subpart J, of this chapter.
The agency must—
(a) Take action to correct those errors identified through the claims processing assessment system review and, if cost effective, to recover those funds erroneously spent;
(b) Take administrative action to prevent and reduce the incidence of those errors; and
(c) By August 31 of each year, submit to HCFA a report of its error analysis and a corrective action plan on the reviews conducted since the cut-off-date of the previous corrective action plan.
(a)
(1)
(2)
(b)
(1) The amount of excess income that must be offset with incurred medical expenses to gain eligibility; or
(2) The amount of payment a recipient must make toward the cost of services.
(1) Was ineligible for the review month or, in full month coverage is not provided, at the time services were received;
(2) Was ineligible to receive a service provided during the review month; or
(3) Had not properly met beneficiary liability prior to receiving Medicaid services.
(c)
(2) A payment error rate for each State is determined by HCFA for each annual assessment period by computing the statistical estimate of the ratio of erroneous payments for medical assistance made on behalf of individuals or cases in the sample for services received during the review month to total expenditures for medical assistance for that State made on behalf of individuals or cases in the sample for services received during the review month. This ratio incorporates the findings of a federally re-reviewed subsample of the State's review findings and is projected to the universe of total medical assistance payments for calculating the amount of disallowance under paragraph (d)6) of this section.
(3) The State's payment error rate does not include payments made on behalf of individuals whose eligibility determinations were made exclusively by the Social Security Administration under an agreement under section 1634 of the Act or children found eligible for
(4) The amount of erroneous payments is determined as follows:
(i) For ineligible cases resulting from excess resources, the amount of error is the lesser of—
(A) The amount of the payment made on behalf of the family or individual for the review month; or
(B) The difference between the actual amount of countable resources of the family or individual for the review month and the State's applicable resources standard.
(ii) For ineligible cases resulting from other than excess resources, the amount of error is the total amount of medical assistance payments made for the individual or family under review for the review month.
(iii) For erroneous payments resulting from failure to properly meet beneficiary liability, the amount of error is the lesser of—
(A) The amount of payments made on behalf of the family or individual for the review month; or
(B) The difference between the correct amount of beneficiary liability and the amount of beneficiary liability met by the individual or family for the review month.
(iv) The amount of payments made for services provided during the review month for which the individual or family was not eligible.
(5) In determining the amount of erroneous payments, errors caused by technical errors are not included.
(6) If a State fails to cooperate in completing a valid MEQC sample or individual reviews in a timely and appropriate fashion as required, HCFA will establish the State's payment error rate based on either—
(i) A special sample or audit;
(ii) The Federal subsample; or
(iii) Other arrangements as the Administrator may prescribe.
(7) When it is necessary for HCFA to exercise the authority in paragraph (c)(6) of this section, the amount that would otherwise be payable to the State under title XIX of the Act is reduced by the full costs incurred by HCFA in making these determinations. HCFA may make these determinations either directly or under contractual or other arrangements.
(d)
(2) If the State believes that the anticipated error rate established in accordance with paragraph (d)(1) of this section is based on erroneous data, the State may submit evidence that demonstrates the data were erroneous. If the State satisfactorily demonstrates that HCFA's data were erroneous, the State's anticipated error rate will be adjusted accordingly. Submittal of evidence is subject to the following conditions:
(i) The State must inform HCFA of its intent to submit evidence at least 70 days prior to the beginning of the quarter.
(ii) The State may request copies of data that HCFA used to compute its anticipated error rate within 7 days of receiving notification of its projected error rate.
(iii) The State has up to 40 days before the quarter begins to present the evidence.
(iv) The evidence is restricted to documentation of suspected HCFA data entry errors, processing errors, and resolutions of Federal subsample difference cases subsequent to calculation of the error rate projection as contained in the original notice to the State.
(v) The State may not submit other evidence, such as that consisting of revisions to State errors as a result of changes to the original State review findings submitted to HCFA.
(vi) The State may not submit evidence challenging the error rate computational methodology.
(3) Based on the anticipated error rate established in paragraph (d)(1) or (d)(2) of this section, HCFA reduces its estimate of the State's requirements for FFP for medical assistance for the quarter by the percentage by which the anticipated payment error rate exceeds the 3-percent national standard. This reduction is applied against HCFA's total estimate of FFP for medical assistance expenditures (less payments to Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries in 1634 contract States and payments to children found eligible for foster care and adoption assistance under title IV-E of the Act) prior to any other required reductions. The reduction is noted on the State's grant award for the quarter and does not constitute a disallowance, and, therefore, is not appealable.
(4) After the end of each quarter, an adjustment to the reduction will be made based on the State's actual expenditures.
(5) After the actual payment error rate has been established for each annual assessment period, HCFA will compute the actual amount of the disallowance and adjust the FFP payable to each State based on the difference between the amounts previously withheld for each of the quarters during the appropriate assessment period and the amount that should have been withheld based on the State's actual final error rate. If HCFA determines that the amount withheld for the period exceeds the amount of the actual disallowance, the excess amount withheld will be returned to the States through the normal grant awards process within 30 days of the date the actual disallowance is calculated.
(6) HCFA will compute the amount to be withheld or disallowed as follows:
(i) Subtract the 3-percent national standard from the State's anticipated or actual payment error rate percentage.
(ii) If the difference is greater than zero, the Federal medical assistance funds for the period, excluding payments for those individuals whose eligibility for Medicaid was determined exclusively by the Social Security Administration under a section 1634 agreement and children found eligible for foster care and adoption assistance under title IV-E of the Act, are multiplied by that percentage. This product is the amount of the disallowance or withholding.
(7) A State's payment error rate for an annual assessment period is the weighted average of the payment error rates in the two 6-month review periods comprising the annual assessment period.
(8) The weights are established as the percent of the total annual payments, excluding payments for those individuals whose eligibility for Medicaid was determined exclusively by the Social Security Administration under a section 1634 agreement and children found eligible for foster care and adoption assistance under title IV-E of the Act, that occur in each of the 6-month periods.
(e)
(i) The State has 65 days from the date of receipt of this notification to show that this disallowance should not be made because it failed to meet the national standard despite a good faith effort to do so.
(ii) If HCFA is satisfied that the State did not meet the national standard despite a good faith effort, HCFA may reduce the funds being disallowed in whole or in part as it finds appropriate under the circumstances shown by the State.
(iii) A finding that a State did not meet the national standard despite a good faith effort will be limited to extraordinary circumstances.
(iv) The burden of establishing that a good faith effort was made rests entirely with the State.
(2) Some examples of circumstances under which HCFA may find that a State did not meet the national standard despite a good faith effort are—
(i) Disasters such as fire, flood, or civil disorders that—
(A) Require the diversion of significant personnel normally assigned to Medicaid eligibility administration; or
(B) Destroyed or delayed access to significant records needed to make or maintain accurate eligibility determinations;
(ii) Strikes of State staff or other government or private personnel necessary to the determination of eligibility or processing of case changes;
(iii) Sudden and unanticipated workload changes that result from changes in Federal law and regulation, or rapid, unpredictable caseload growth in excess of, for example, 15 percent for a 6-month period;
(iv) State actions resulting from incorrect written policy interpretations to the State by a Federal official reasonably assumed to be in a position to provide that interpretation; and
(v) The State has taken the action it believed was needed to meet the national standard, but the national standard was not met. HCFA will consider request for a waiver under this criterion only if a State has achieved an error rate for the sample period that (after reducing the error rate by taking into account the cases determined by HCFA to be in error as a result of conditions listed in paragraphs (e)(2) (i) through (iv) of this section) is less than its error rate for the preceding sample year and does not exceed the national mean error rate for the sample period under review (unless that national mean error rate is at or below the 3-percent national standard). If the agency has met this error reduction requirement or had error rates of 3 percent or below for the prior two review periods, and its error rate for the review period under consideration is less than one-third above the national standard, HCFA will evaluate a request for a good faith waiver based on the following factors:
(A) The State has fully met the performance standards in the operation of a quality control system in accordance with Federal regulations and HCFA guidelines (e.g., adherence to Federal case completion timeliness requirements and verification standards).
(B) The State has achieved substantial performance in the formulation of error reduction initiatives based on the following processes:
(
(
(
(C) The State has achieved substantial performance in the operation of the following systems supported by evidence of the timely utilization of their outputs in the determination of case eligibility:
(
(
(D) The State has achieved substantial performance in the use of the following accountability mechanisms to ensure that agency staff adhere to error reduction initiatives. The following are minimum requirements:
(
(
(
(vi) A State that meets the performance standards specified in paragraphs (e)(2)(v) (A) through (D) of this section will be considered for a full or partial waiver of its disallowance amount. The State must submit only specific documentation that verifies that the necessary actions were accomplished. For example, a State could submit worker performance standards reflecting timeliness and case accuracy as quantitative measures of performance.
(3) The failure of a State to act upon necessary legislative changes or to obtain budget authorization for needed resources is not a basis for finding that a State failed to meet the national standard despite a good faith effort.
(f)
(2) This appeal provision, as it applies to MEQC disallowances, is not applicable to the Administrator's decision on a State's waiver request provided for under paragraph (e) of this section.