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Provider Notice Issued 03/13/2018
Date: March 13, 2018
To: Long Term Care (Nursing Facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Facilities) and Supportive Living Providers
Re: Incorrect Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) Report Effective January 1, 2018
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This notice informs providers that a report titled “LTC Central Budgeting of SSA COLA Adjustment” contained incorrect January 2018 Patient Credit amounts. This report was generated and sent to providers in December 2017 as a result of an increase in the amount of Social Security payments to Medicaid-eligible residents who receive these benefits.
This report utilized incorrect SSA benefit amounts to calculate the January 2018 Patient Credit amount. In addition to the incorrect SSA benefit amount, the COLA Report contained only resident income increases resulting from the COLA and did not reflect any increases in Medicare Part B insurance premiums.
Both incorrect SSA benefit and excluded Medicare Part B premium calculations will be corrected by Department of Human Services (DHS) caseworkers with no action required by the provider. No corrected COLA Report will be generated and sent to providers.
Providers should continue to submit claims even if incorrect Patient Credit amounts are indicated in the Healthcare and Family Services data system. Payments will be made based on the amounts indicated in the system. Once the Patient Credit amounts are corrected by DHS caseworkers, an automated system adjustment will be run to correct claims pricing. A new adjustment system is being developed for this process and is currently in testing.
If you have questions, contact the Bureau of Long Term Care toll free at 844-528-8444.
Felicia F. Norwood
Director