The Department utilizes a case mix-adjusted pricing methodology with three peer groups for medical and remedial services provided in residential care facilities, unless the provider is exempted from participation in this Appendix. The Department calculates the price by:
* Grouping residential care facilities that had completed MDS-RCA assessments for MaineCare residents on 9/15/98, and that had audited costs for 1998 (hereinafter the base year), into four peer groups, as described in Section 6000;
Aggregating total allowable direct care costs, applicable workers compensation costs, medical supplies (see Section 3020) and Department-approved medical and remedial services training costs in the base year to calculate each provider's adjusted direct care costs;
* Dividing the adjusted direct care costs by the actual occupancy to determine an adjusted direct care cost/day;
* Inflating the direct care cost from the base year through June 30, 2001 using the regional variations in labor costs by comparing the percentage increase in the weighted average of the actual salaries paid to direct care staff in the base year by medical and remedial PNMIs covered under this Appendix to the weighted average of the actual salaries paid to direct care staff in the subsequent year (based on that subsequent year's audited or as filed cost report);
* Dividing each facility's inflated adjusted direct care cost/day by the facility-specific MaineCare case mix index as of September 15, 1998, and aggregating to arrive at an average industry Direct Care Price (hereinafter DCP) for each of the four peer groups. MDS assessments that could not be classified on the September 15, 1998 roster were excluded from the calculation;
* Adding a Program Allowance (PA) determined by the Commissioner, as set forth in Chapter III, Section 97; and
* Calculating the MaineCare payment to each provider by multiplying the DCP by the facility-specific case mix index for MaineCare members, and adding the applicable program allowance.
Effective July 1, 2002, the Department will determine the rate for the personal care services component by the following method:
* Aggregating total audited allowable costs for housekeeping, laundry, and dietary wages, taxes, and benefits, including applicable Worker's Compensation costs, and benefits in the facility's base year;
* Dividing the costs by the actual occupancy to determine the personal care services component rate; and
* Inflating the personal care services component rate through June 30, 2003.
The actual allowable personal care services costs will be determined at the time of audit of the cost report required under Chapter III, Section 3300, and cost settled up to each PNMI's facility-specific personal services cap.
For new facilities, the allowable personal care services costs will be determined initially based on a pro forma cost report.
Medical supplies contained in the direct care price include but are not limited to the following items: non-prescription analgesics, non-prescription antacids, applicators, bandages, blood pressure equipment, non-prescription calcium supplements, cotton, cough syrup and expectorants, dietary supplements, disinfectants, dressings, enema equipment, gauze bandages, sterile or non-sterile gloves, ice bags, non-prescription laxatives, lotions, ointments and creams, stethoscopes, non-prescription supplies, tapes, thermometers, and rectal medicated wipes.
10-144 C.M.R. ch. 101, § III-97-C-3000