1. (a) Except as provided in (b) of this section, the department will pay for reserving a bed during a planned temporary absence of a recipient from a nursing facility if the absence is not more than 12 consecutive days and the time of departure and return of the recipient are recorded in the nursing facility's records. A planned temporary absence of not more than 12 consecutive days for which the department will pay for reserving a bed includes

   1. (1) a visit with relatives and friends; and

   2. (2) leave to participate in therapeutic or rehabilitative programs, including

      1. (A) trial visits to alternative care settings to determine if permanent placement is feasible;
      2. (B) gradually increasing lengths of visits to prepare recipients for return to their home or community; and
      3. (C) an extended absence to participate in workshop evaluation for rehabilitative programs.
2. (b) The department will not pay for reserving a bed during a temporary absence of more than 12 consecutive days, unless the department gives prior authorization for the absence. The department will not pay for reserving a bed if the recipient has total absences in excess of 12 days during a 12-month period, unless the department gives prior authorization for the absence. The facility must submit a request in writing and receive written approval from the department before the recipient leaves the nursing facility.
3. (c) In the recipient's plan of care, the nursing facility shall document the purpose and plan of a therapeutic or rehabilitative absence.
4. (d) If a recipient leaves a nursing facility for hospitalization, the department will not pay to reserve the recipient's bed at the nursing facility.

(Eff. 2/1/2010, Register 193)

Authority: AS 47.05.010, AS 47.07.030, AS 47.07.040