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Chapter 256B

Section 256B.434

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256B.434 ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

Subdivision 1.Alternative payment demonstration project established.

The commissioner of human services shall establish a contractual alternative payment demonstration project for paying for nursing facility services under the medical assistance program. A nursing facility may apply to be paid under the contractual alternative payment demonstration project instead of the cost-based payment system established under section 256B.431. A nursing facility electing to use the alternative payment demonstration project must enter into a contract with the commissioner. Payment rates and procedures for facilities electing to use the alternative payment demonstration project are determined and governed by this section and by the terms of the contract. The commissioner may negotiate different contract terms for different nursing facilities.

Subd. 2.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 3.Duration and termination of contracts.

(a) Subject to available resources, the commissioner may begin to execute contracts with nursing facilities November 1, 1995.

(b) All contracts entered into under this section are for a term not to exceed four years. Either party may terminate a contract at any time without cause by providing 90 calendar days advance written notice to the other party. The decision to terminate a contract is not appealable. Notwithstanding section 16C.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (5), the contract shall be renegotiated for additional terms of up to four years, unless either party provides written notice of termination. The provisions of the contract shall be renegotiated at a minimum of every four years by the parties prior to the expiration date of the contract. The parties may voluntarily renegotiate the terms of the contract at any time by mutual agreement.

(c) If a nursing facility fails to comply with the terms of a contract, the commissioner shall provide reasonable notice regarding the breach of contract and a reasonable opportunity for the facility to come into compliance. If the facility fails to come into compliance or to remain in compliance, the commissioner may terminate the contract. If a contract is terminated, the contract payment remains in effect for the remainder of the rate year in which the contract was terminated, but in all other respects the provisions of this section do not apply to that facility effective the date the contract is terminated. The contract shall contain a provision governing the transition back to the cost-based reimbursement system established under section 256B.431 and Minnesota Rules, parts 9549.0010 to 9549.0080. A contract entered into under this section may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties.

Subd. 4.Alternate rates for nursing facilities.

A nursing facility's case mix payment rates for the second and subsequent years of a facility's contract under this section are the previous rate year's contract payment rates plus an inflation adjustment and, for facilities reimbursed under this section or section 256B.431, an adjustment to include the cost of any increase in Health Department licensing fees for the facility taking effect on or after July 1, 2001. The index for the inflation adjustment must be based on the change in the Consumer Price Index-All Items (United States City average) (CPI-U) forecasted by the commissioner of management and budget's national economic consultant, as forecasted in the fourth quarter of the calendar year preceding the rate year. The inflation adjustment must be based on the 12-month period from the midpoint of the previous rate year to the midpoint of the rate year for which the rate is being determined. For the rate years beginning on July 1, 1999, July 1, 2000, July 1, 2001, July 1, 2002, July 1, 2003, July 1, 2004, July 1, 2005, July 1, 2006, July 1, 2007, July 1, 2008, October 1, 2009, and October 1, 2010, this paragraph shall apply only to the property-related payment rate. For the rate years beginning on October 1, 2011, October 1, 2012, October 1, 2013, October 1, 2014, October 1, 2015, January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2017, the rate adjustment under this paragraph shall be suspended. Beginning in 2005, adjustment to the property payment rate under this section and section 256B.431 shall be effective on October 1. In determining the amount of the property-related payment rate adjustment under this paragraph, the commissioner shall determine the proportion of the facility's rates that are property-related based on the facility's most recent cost report.

Subd. 4a.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 4b.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 4c.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 4d.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 4e.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 4f.Construction project rate adjustments effective October 1, 2006.

(a) Effective October 1, 2006, facilities reimbursed under this section may receive a property rate adjustment for construction projects exceeding the threshold in section 256B.431, subdivision 16, and below the threshold in section 144A.071, subdivision 2, clause (a). For these projects, capital assets purchased shall be counted as construction project costs for a rate adjustment request made by a facility if they are: (1) purchased within 24 months of the completion of the construction project; (2) purchased after the completion date of any prior construction project; and (3) are not purchased prior to July 14, 2005. Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, the definitions, rate calculation methods, and principles in sections 144A.071 and 256B.431 and Minnesota Rules, parts 9549.0010 to 9549.0080, shall be used to calculate rate adjustments for allowable construction projects under this subdivision and section 144A.073. Facilities completing construction projects between October 1, 2005, and October 1, 2006, are eligible to have a property rate adjustment effective October 1, 2006. Facilities completing projects after October 1, 2006, are eligible for a property rate adjustment effective on the first day of the month following the completion date.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision 18, as of July 14, 2005, facilities with rates set under section 256B.431 and Minnesota Rules, parts 9549.0010 to 9549.0080, that commenced a construction project on or after October 1, 2004, and do not have a contract under subdivision 3 by September 30, 2006, are eligible to request a rate adjustment under section 256B.431, subdivision 10, through September 30, 2006. If the request results in the commissioner determining a rate adjustment is allowable, the rate adjustment is effective on the first of the month following project completion. These facilities shall be allowed to accumulate construction project costs for the period October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2006.

(c) Facilities shall be allowed construction project rate adjustments no sooner than 12 months after completing a previous construction project. Facilities must request the rate adjustment according to section 256B.431, subdivision 10.

(d) Capacity days shall be computed according to Minnesota Rules, part 9549.0060, subpart 11. For rate calculations under this section, the number of licensed beds in the nursing facility shall be the number existing after the construction project is completed and the number of days in the nursing facility's reporting period shall be 365.

(e) The value of assets to be recognized for a total replacement project as defined in section 256B.431, subdivision 17d, shall be computed as described in clause (1). The value of assets to be recognized for all other projects shall be computed as described in clause (2).

(1) Replacement-cost-new limits under section 256B.431, subdivision 17e, and the number of beds allowed under subdivision 3a, paragraph (c), shall be used to compute the maximum amount of assets allowable in a facility's property rate calculation. If a facility's current request for a rate adjustment results from the completion of a construction project that was previously approved under section 144A.073, the assets to be used in the rate calculation cannot exceed the lesser of the amount determined under sections 144A.071, subdivision 2, and 144A.073, subdivision 3b, or the actual allowable costs of the construction project. A current request that is not the result of a project under section 144A.073 cannot exceed the limit under section 144A.071, subdivision 2, paragraph (a). Applicable credits must be deducted from the cost of the construction project.

(2)(i) Replacement-cost-new limits under section 256B.431, subdivision 17e, and the number of beds allowed under section 256B.431, subdivision 3a, paragraph (c), shall be used to compute the maximum amount of assets allowable in a facility's property rate calculation.

(ii) The value of a facility's assets to be compared to the amount in item (i) begins with the total appraised value from the last rate notice a facility received when its rates were set under section 256B.431 and Minnesota Rules, parts 9549.0010 to 9549.0080. This value shall be indexed by the factor in section 256B.431, subdivision 3f, paragraph (a), for each rate year the facility received an inflation factor on its property-related rate when its rates were set under this section. The value of assets listed as previous capital additions, capital additions, and special projects on the facility's base year rate notice and the value of assets related to a construction project for which the facility received a rate adjustment when its rates were determined under this section shall be added to the indexed appraised value.

(iii) The maximum amount of assets to be recognized in computing a facility's rate adjustment after a project is completed is the lesser of the aggregate replacement-cost-new limit computed in (i) minus the assets recognized in (ii) or the actual allowable costs of the construction project.

(iv) If a facility's current request for a rate adjustment results from the completion of a construction project that was previously approved under section 144A.073, the assets to be added to the rate calculation cannot exceed the lesser of the amount determined under sections 144A.071, subdivision 2, and 144A.073, subdivision 3b, or the actual allowable costs of the construction project. A current request that is not the result of a project under section 144A.073 cannot exceed the limit stated in section 144A.071, subdivision 2, paragraph (a). Assets disposed of as a result of a construction project and applicable credits must be deducted from the cost of the construction project.

(f) For construction projects approved under section 144A.073, allowable debt may never exceed the lesser of the cost of the assets purchased, the threshold limit in section 144A.071, subdivision 2, or the replacement-cost-new limit less previously existing capital debt.

(g) For construction projects that were not approved under section 144A.073, allowable debt is limited to the lesser of the threshold in section 144A.071, subdivision 2, for such construction projects or the applicable limit in paragraph (e), clause (1) or (2), less previously existing capital debt. Amounts of debt taken out that exceed the costs of a construction project shall not be allowed regardless of the use of the funds.

For all construction projects being recognized, interest expense and average debt shall be computed based on the first 12 months following project completion. "Previously existing capital debt" means capital debt recognized on the last rate determined under section 256B.431 and Minnesota Rules, parts 9549.0010 to 9549.0080, and the amount of debt recognized for a construction project for which the facility received a rate adjustment when its rates were determined under this section.

For a total replacement project as defined in section 256B.431, subdivision 17d, the value of previously existing capital debt shall be zero.

(h) In addition to the interest expense allowed from the application of paragraph (f), the amounts allowed under section 256B.431, subdivision 17a, paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (3), will be added to interest expense.

(i) The equity portion of the construction project shall be computed as the allowable assets in paragraph (e), less the average debt in paragraph (f). The equity portion must be multiplied by 5.66 percent and the allowable interest expense in paragraph (f) must be added. This sum must be divided by 95 percent of capacity days to compute the construction project rate adjustment.

(j) For projects that are not a total replacement of a nursing facility, the amount in paragraph (i) is adjusted for nonreimbursable areas and then added to the current property payment rate of the facility.

(k) For projects that are a total replacement of a nursing facility, the amount in paragraph (i) becomes the new property payment rate after being adjusted for nonreimbursable areas. Any amounts existing in a facility's rate before the effective date of the construction project for equity incentives under section 256B.431, subdivision 16; capital repairs and replacements under section 256B.431, subdivision 15; or refinancing incentives under section 256B.431, subdivision 19, shall be removed from the facility's rates.

(l) No additional equipment allowance is allowed under Minnesota Rules, part 9549.0060, subpart 10, as the result of construction projects under this section. Allowable equipment shall be included in the construction project costs.

(m) Capital assets purchased after the completion date of a construction project shall be counted as construction project costs for any future rate adjustment request made by a facility under section 144A.071, subdivision 2, clause (a), if they are purchased within 24 months of the completion of the future construction project.

(n) In subsequent rate years, the property payment rate for a facility that results from the application of this subdivision shall be the amount inflated in subdivision 4.

(o) Construction projects are eligible for an equity incentive under section 256B.431, subdivision 16. When computing the equity incentive for a construction project under this subdivision, only the allowable costs and allowable debt related to the construction project shall be used. The equity incentive shall not be a part of the property payment rate and not inflated under subdivision 4. Effective October 1, 2006, all equity incentives for nursing facilities reimbursed under this section shall be allowed for a duration determined under section 256B.431, subdivision 16, paragraph (c).

Subd. 4g.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 4h.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 4i.Construction project rate adjustments for certain nursing facilities.

(a) This subdivision applies to nursing facilities with at least 120 active beds as of January 1, 2015, that have projects approved in 2015 under the nursing facility moratorium exception process in section 144A.073. When each facility's moratorium exception construction project is completed, the facility must receive the rate adjustment allowed under subdivision 4f. In addition to that rate adjustment, facilities with at least 120 active beds, but not more than 149 active beds, as of January 1, 2015, must have their construction project rate adjustment increased by an additional $4; and facilities with at least 150 active beds, but not more than 160 active beds, as of January 1, 2015, must have their construction project rate adjustment increased by an additional $12.50.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, money available under section 144A.073, subdivision 11, after the completion of the moratorium exception approval process in 2015 under section 144A.073, subdivision 3, shall be used to reduce the fiscal impact to the medical assistance budget for the increases allowed in this subdivision.

Subd. 5.

[Repealed, 1Sp2001 c 9 art 5 s 41]

Subd. 6.Contract payment rates; appeals.

If an appeal is pending concerning the cost-based payment rates that are the basis for the calculation of the payment rate under the alternative payment demonstration project, the commissioner and the nursing facility may agree on an interim contract rate to be used until the appeal is resolved. When the appeal is resolved, the contract rate must be adjusted retroactively in accordance with the appeal decision.

Subd. 7.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 8.

[Repealed, 2012 c 216 art 9 s 38]

Subd. 9.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 10.Exemptions.

A facility that is under contract with the commissioner under this section is not subject to the moratorium on licensure or certification of new nursing home beds in section 144A.071, unless the project results in a net increase in bed capacity or involves relocation of beds from one site to another. Contract payment rates must not be adjusted to reflect any additional costs that a nursing facility incurs as a result of a construction project undertaken under this subdivision. In addition, as a condition of entering into a contract under this section, a nursing facility must agree that any future medical assistance payments for nursing facility services will not reflect any additional costs attributable to the sale of a nursing facility under this section and to construction undertaken under this subdivision that otherwise would not be authorized under the moratorium in section 144A.073. Nothing in this section prevents a nursing facility participating in the alternative payment demonstration project under this section from seeking approval of an exception to the moratorium through the process established in section 144A.073, and if approved the facility's rates shall be adjusted to reflect the cost of the project. Nothing in this section prevents a nursing facility participating in the alternative payment demonstration project from seeking legislative approval of an exception to the moratorium under section 144A.071, and, if enacted, the facility's rates shall be adjusted to reflect the cost of the project.

Subd. 11.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 12.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 13.

[Repealed, 2001 c 161 s 58]

Subd. 14.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 15.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 16.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 17.

[Repealed, 1999 c 245 art 3 s 51]

Subd. 18.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 19.

[Repealed, 2014 c 262 art 4 s 9]

Subd. 19a.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 19b.

[Repealed, 2015 c 71 art 6 s 44]

Subd. 20.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

Subd. 21.

[Repealed, 2016 c 99 art 1 s 43]

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