Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 14126.023

(a) The methodology developed pursuant to this article shall be facility specific and reflect the sum of the projected cost of each cost category and passthrough costs, as follows:
1. (1) Labor costs limited as specified in subdivisions (d) and (e).
2. (2) Indirect care nonlabor costs limited to the 75th percentile.
3. (3)
  1. (A) Administrative costs limited to the 50th percentile.
  2. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), beginning with the 2010–11 rate year and in each subsequent rate or calendar year, the administrative cost category shall exclude any legal and consultant fees in connection with a fair hearing or other litigation against or involving any governmental agency or department until all issues related to the fair hearing or litigation issues are ultimately decided or resolved.
  3. (C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), beginning with the 2010–11 rate year and in each subsequent rate or calendar year, the department shall not allow any cost associated with legal or consultant fees in connection with a fair hearing or other litigation against any governmental agency or department if any of the following apply:
    1. (i) A decision has been rendered in favor of the governmental agency or department.
    2. (ii) The determination of the governmental agency or department otherwise stands.
    3. (iii) A settlement or similar resolution has been reached on any citation issued under subdivision (c), (d), or (e) of Section 1424 of the Health and Safety Code or on any remedy imposed under Subpart F of Part 489 of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
    4. (iv) A settlement or similar resolution has been reached under Section 14123 or 14171.
  4. (D) Facilities shall report supplemental data required to disallow costs described in subparagraph (C) in a format and by the deadline determined by the department.
4. (4) Capital costs based on a fair rental value system (FRVS) limited as specified in subdivision (f).
5. (5)
  1. (A) Direct passthrough of proportional Medi-Cal costs for property taxes, facility license fees, new state and federal mandates, caregiver training costs, and liability insurance projected on the prior year’s costs.
    1. (i) Eligible caregiver training costs include any and all trainings that enhance the skills, education, or career advancement for nursing home workers.
    2. (ii) Trainings provided through a joint labor-management Taft-Hartley fund are eligible for the direct pass through of proportional Medi-Cal costs.
  2. (B)
    1. (i) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), for the 2010–11 rate year and each rate or calendar year thereafter, professional liability insurance costs, including any insurance deductible costs paid by the facility, shall be limited to the 75th percentile computed on a specific geographic peer group basis.
    2. (ii) Facilities shall report supplemental data described in this subparagraph in a format and by the deadline determined by the department, or the insurance deductible costs shall continue to be reimbursed in the administrative cost category.
(b)
1. (1) The percentiles in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subdivision (a) shall be based on annualized costs divided by total resident days and computed on a specific geographic peer group basis. Costs within a specific cost category shall not be shifted to any other cost category.
2. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), for the 2010–11 rate year, and each rate or calendar year thereafter, the percentiles in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a) shall be based on annualized audited costs divided by total resident days and computed on a specific geographic peer group basis. Costs within a specific category shall not be shifted to any other cost category.
3. (3) Effective August 1, 2020, the department shall continue to establish the specific geographic peer groups on the basis of, but need not be limited to, similar or common facility characteristics as determined by the department in consultation with stakeholders. The department may periodically review and change the number and assignment of peer groups and the peer group placement of an individual facility. Peer group assignments shall be effective for the duration of the rate or calendar year.
(c)
1. (1) Facilities newly certified to participate in the Medi-Cal program shall receive a reimbursement rate based on the peer group weighted average Medi-Cal reimbursement rate. Facilities shall continue to receive the peer group weighted average Medi-Cal reimbursement rate until either of the following conditions is met:
  1. (A) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Skilled Nursing Facility-B facility specific rate when a minimum of six months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility specific rate shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
  2. (B) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Subacute Skilled Nursing Facility-B facility specific rate when a cost report with a minimum of 12 months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility specific rate shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
2. (2) Facilities that have been decertified for less than six months and upon recertification shall continue to receive the facility per diem reimbursement rate in effect prior to decertification. Facilities shall continue to receive the facility per diem reimbursement rate until either of the following conditions is met:
  1. (A) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Skilled Nursing Facility-B facility specific rate when a minimum of six months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility specific rate based on the audited six months of Medi-Cal cost data shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
  2. (B) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Subacute Skilled Nursing Facility-B facility specific rate when a cost report with a minimum of 12 months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility-specific rate shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
3. (3) Facilities that have been decertified for six months or longer and upon recertification shall receive a reimbursement rate based on the peer group weighted average Medi-Cal reimbursement rate. Facilities shall continue to receive the peer group weighted average Medi-Cal reimbursement rate until either of the following conditions is met:
  1. (A) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Skilled Nursing Facility-B facility specific rate when a minimum of six months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility-specific rate shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
  2. (B) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Subacute Skilled Nursing Facility-B facility specific rate when a cost report with a minimum of 12 months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility-specific rate shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
4. (4) Facilities that have a change of ownership or change of the licensed operator shall continue to receive the facility per diem reimbursement rate in effect with the previous owner. Facilities shall continue to receive the facility per diem reimbursement rate until either of the following conditions is met:
  1. (A) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Skilled Nursing Facility-B facility specific rate when a minimum of six months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility-specific rate shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
  2. (B) The department shall calculate the Freestanding Subacute Skilled Nursing Facility B facility-specific rate when a cost report with a minimum of 12 months of Medi-Cal cost data has been audited. The facility-specific rate shall be calculated prospectively and shall be effective on August 1 of each rate year or January 1 of each calendar year period, as applicable, pursuant to Section 14126.021.
(d) The labor costs category shall be comprised of a direct resident care labor cost category, an indirect care labor cost category, and a labor-driven operating allocation cost category, as follows:
1. (1) Direct resident care labor cost category, which shall include all labor costs related to routine nursing services including all nursing, social services, activities, and other direct care personnel. These costs shall be limited to the 90th percentile through the conclusion of the 2019–20 rate year. Beginning for the rate period of August 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, inclusive, and each subsequent calendar year thereafter, these costs shall be limited to the 95th percentile.
2. (2) Indirect care labor cost category, which shall include all labor costs related to staff supporting the delivery of patient care including, but not limited to, housekeeping, laundry and linen, dietary, medical records, inservice education, and plant operations and maintenance. These costs shall be limited to the 90th percentile through the conclusion of the 2019–20 rate year. Beginning for the rate period of August 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020, inclusive, and each subsequent calendar year thereafter for which this article is operative, these costs shall be limited to the 95th percentile.
3. (3) Labor-driven operating allocation shall include an amount equal to 8 percent of labor costs, minus expenditures for temporary staffing, which may be used to cover allowable Medi-Cal expenditures. In no instance shall the operating allocation exceed 5 percent of the facility’s total Medi-Cal reimbursement rate.
(e) Notwithstanding subdivision (d), beginning with the 2010–11 rate year and each rate or calendar year thereafter, the labor cost category shall not include the labor-driven operating allocation and shall be comprised only of a direct resident care labor cost category and an indirect care labor cost category.
(f) The capital cost category shall be based on a FRVS that recognizes the value of the capital related assets necessary to care for Medi-Cal residents. The capital cost category includes mortgage principal and interest, leases, leasehold improvements, depreciation of real property, equipment, and other capital related expenses. The FRVS methodology shall be based on the formula developed by the department that assesses facility value based on age and condition and uses a recognized market interest factor. Capital investment and improvement expenditures included in the FRVS formula shall be documented in cost reports or supplemental reports required by the department. The capital costs based on FRVS shall be limited as follows:
1. (1) For the 2005–06 rate year, the capital cost category for all facilities in the aggregate shall not exceed the department’s estimated value for this cost category for the 2004–05 rate year.
2. (2) For the 2006–07 rate year and subsequent rate years, the maximum annual increase for the capital cost category for all facilities in the aggregate shall not exceed 8 percent of the prior rate year’s FRVS cost component.
3. (3) If the total capital costs for all facilities in the aggregate for the 2005–06 rate year exceeds the value of the capital costs for all facilities in the aggregate for the 2004–05 rate year, or if that capital cost category for all facilities in the aggregate for the 2006–07 rate year or any rate year thereafter exceeds 8 percent of the prior rate year’s value, the department shall reduce the capital cost category for all facilities in equal proportion in order to comply with paragraphs (1) and (2).
(g) For the 2005–06 and 2006–07 rate years, the facility specific Medi-Cal reimbursement rate calculated under this article shall not be less than the Medi-Cal rate that the specific facility would have received under the rate methodology in effect as of July 31, 2005, plus Medi-Cal’s projected proportional costs for new state or federal mandates for rate years 2005–06 and 2006–07, respectively.
(h) The department shall annually update each facility specific rate calculated under this methodology. The update process shall be prescribed in the Medicaid State Plan, regulations, and the provider bulletins or similar instructions described in Section 14126.027, and shall be adjusted in accordance with the results of facility specific audit and review findings in accordance with subdivisions (i), (j), and (k).
(i)
1. (1) The department shall establish rates pursuant to this article on the basis of facility cost data reported in the integrated long-term care disclosure and Medi-Cal cost report required by Section 128730 of the Health and Safety Code for the most recent reporting period available, and cost data reported in other facility financial disclosure reports or supplemental information required by the department in order to implement this article.
2. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), or any other law, beginning with the 2010–11 rate year, and each rate or calendar year thereafter, the department shall establish rates pursuant to this article on the basis of facility audited cost data pursuant to subdivision (c), reported in the integrated long-term care disclosure and Medi-Cal cost report described in Section 128730 of the Health and Safety Code and audited cost data reported in other facility financial disclosure reports or audited supplemental information required by the department in order to implement this article.
3. (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), or any other law, beginning with the 2010–11 rate year through December 31, 2022, the department may determine a facility ineligible to receive supplemental payments pursuant to Section 14126.022 if a facility fails to provide supplemental data as requested by the department.
(j) The department shall conduct financial audits of facility and home office cost data as follows:
1. (1) The department shall audit facilities a minimum of once every three years to ensure accuracy of reported costs.
2. (2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department develop and implement limited scope audits of key cost centers or categories to assure that the rate paid in the years between each full scope audit required in paragraph (1) accurately reflects actual costs.
3. (3) For purposes of updating facility specific rates, the department shall adjust or reclassify costs reported consistent with applicable requirements of the Medicaid state plan as required by Part 413 (commencing with Section 413.1) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
4. (4) Overpayments to any facility shall be recovered in a manner consistent with applicable recovery procedures and requirements of state and federal laws and regulations.
(k)
1. (1) On an annual basis, the department shall use the results of audits performed pursuant to subdivisions (i) and (j), the results of any federal audits, and facility cost reports, including supplemental reports of actual costs incurred in specific cost centers or categories as required by the department, to determine any difference between reported costs used to calculate a facility’s rate and audited facility expenditures in the rate year.
2. (2) If the department determines that there is a difference between reported costs and audited facility expenditures pursuant to paragraph (1), the department shall adjust a facility’s reimbursement prospectively over the intervening years between audits by an amount that reflects the difference, consistent with the methodology specified in this article.
(l) For nursing facilities that obtain an audit appeal decision that results in revision of the facility’s allowable costs, the facility shall be entitled to seek a retroactive adjustment in its facility specific reimbursement rate.
(m) Except as provided in Section 14126.022, compliance by each facility with state laws and regulations on staffing levels shall be documented annually either through facility cost reports, including supplemental reports, or through the annual licensing inspection process specified in Section 1422 of the Health and Safety Code.