Library: Policy
317:30-5-131.2. Quality of care fund requirements and report
Revised 9-1-21
(a) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this Section, have the following meaning, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Annualize" means that the calculations, including, for example, total patient days, gross revenue, or contractual allowances and discounts, is divided by the total number of applicable days in the relevant time period.
(2) "Direct-Care Staff" means any nursing or therapy staff who provides direct, hands-on care to residents in a nursing facility and intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities pursuant to Section 1-1925.2 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, pursuant to OAC 310:675-1 et seq., and as defined in subsection (c) of this Section.
(3) "Major Fraction Thereof" means an additional threshold for direct-care-staff-to-resident ratios at which another direct-care staff person(s) is required due to the peak in-house resident count exceeding one-half of the minimum direct-care-staff-to-resident ratio pursuant to Section 1-1925.2 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
(4) "Nursing Facility and Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities" means any home, establishment, or institution or any portion thereof, licensed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) as defined in Section 1-1902 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
(5) "Peak In-House Resident Count" means the maximum number of in-house residents at any point in time during the applicable shift.
(6) "Quality of Care Fee" means the fee assessment created for the purpose of quality care enhancements pursuant to Section 2002 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes upon each nursing facility and intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities licensed in this state.
(7) "Quality of Care Fund" means a revolving fund established in the State Treasury pursuant to Section 2002 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
(8) "Quality of Care Report" means the monthly report developed by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to document the staffing ratios, total patient gross receipts, total patient days, and minimum wage compliance for specified staff for each nursing facility and intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities licensed in the state.
(9) "Service Rate" means the minimum direct-care-staff-to-resident rate pursuant to Section 1-1925.2 of Title 63 of Oklahoma Statutes and pursuant to OAC 310:675-1 et seq.
(10) "Staff Hours Worked by Shift" means the number of hours worked during the applicable shift by direct-care staff.
(11) "Staffing Ratios" means the minimum direct-care-staff-to-resident ratios pursuant to Section 1-1925.2 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and pursuant to OAC 310:675-1 et seq.
(12) "Total Gross Receipts" means all cash received in the current Quality of Care Report month for services rendered to all residents in the facility. Receipts should include all Medicaid, Medicare, private pay, and insurance including receipts for items not in the normal per diem rate. Charitable contributions received by the nursing facility are not included.
(13) "Total Patient Days" means the monthly patient days that are compensable for the current monthly Quality of Care Report.
(b) Quality of care fund assessments.
(1) The OHCA was mandated by the Oklahoma Legislature to assess a monthly service fee to each licensed nursing facility in the state. The fee is assessed on a per patient day basis. The amount of the fee is uniform for each facility type. The fee is determined as six percent (6%) of the average total gross receipts divided by the total days for each facility type.
(2) Annually, the Nursing Facilities Quality of Care Fee shall be determined by using the daily patient census and patient gross receipts report received by the OHCA for the most recent available twelve months and annualizing those figures. Also, the fee will be monitored to never surpass the federal maximum.
(3) The fee is authorized through the Medicaid State Plan and by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding waiver of uniformity requirements related to the fee.
(4) Monthly reports of Gross Receipts and Census are included in the monthly Quality of Care Report. The data required includes, but is not limited to, the Total Gross Receipts and Total Patient Days for the current monthly report.
(5) The method of collection is as follows:
(A) The OHCA assesses each facility monthly based on the reported patient days from the Quality of Care Report filed two months prior to the month of the fee assessment billing. As defined in this subsection, the total assessment is the fee times the total days of service. The OHCA notifies the facility of its assessment by the end of the month of the Quality of Care Report submission date.
(B) Payment is due to the OHCA by the 15th of the following month. Failure to pay the amount by the 15th or failure to have the payment mailing postmarked by the 13th will result in a debt to the State of Oklahoma and is subject to penalties of 10 percent (10%) of the amount and interest of 1.25 percent (1.25%) per month. The Quality of Care Fee must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month. If the 15th falls upon a holiday or weekend (Saturday-Sunday), the fee is due by 5 p.m., Central Standard Time (CST), of the following business day (Monday-Friday).
(C) The monthly assessment, including applicable penalties and interest, must be paid regardless of any appeals action requested by the facility. If a provider fails to pay the OHCA the assessment within the time frames noted on the second invoice to the provider, the assessment, applicable penalty, and interest will be deducted from the facility's payment. Any change in payment amount resulting from an appeals decision will be adjusted in future payments. Adjustments to prior months' reported amounts for gross receipts or patient days may be made by filing an amended part C of the Quality of Care Report.
(D) The Quality of Care fee assessments excluding penalties and interest are an allowable cost for OHCA cost reporting purposes.
(E) The Quality of Care fund, which contains assessments collected including penalties and interest as described in this subsection and any interest attributable to investment of any money in the fund, must be deposited in a revolving fund established in the State Treasury. The funds will be used pursuant to Section 2002 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
(c) Quality of care direct-care-staff-to resident-ratios.
(1) All nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) subject to the Nursing Home Care Act, in addition to other state and federal staffing requirements, must maintain the minimum direct-care-staff-to-resident ratios or direct-care service rates as cited in Section 1-1925.2 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and pursuant to OAC 310:675-1 et seq.
(2) For purposes of staff-to-resident ratios, direct-care staff are limited to the following employee positions:
(A) Registered Nurse;
(B) Licensed Practical Nurse;
(C) Nurse Aide;
(D) Certified Medication Aide;
(E) Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional (ICFs/IID only);
(F) Physical Therapist;
(G) Occupational Therapist;
(H) Respiratory Therapist;
(I) Speech Therapist; and
(J) Therapy Aide/Assistant.
(3) The hours of direct care rendered by persons filling non-direct care positions may be used when those persons are certified and rendering direct care in the positions listed in OAC 317:30-5-131.2(c)(2) when documented in the records and time sheets of the facility.
(4) In any shift when the direct-care-staff-to-resident ratio computation results in a major fraction thereof, direct-care staff is rounded to the next higher whole number.
(5) To document and report compliance with the provisions of this subsection, nursing facilities and ICFs/IID must submit the monthly Quality of Care Report pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section.
(d) Quality of care reports. All nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities must submit a monthly report developed by the OHCA, the Quality of Care Report, for the purposes of documenting the extent to which such facilities are compliant with the minimum direct-care-staff-to-resident ratios or direct-care service rates.
(1) The monthly report must be signed by the preparer and by the owner, authorized corporate officer, or administrator of the facility for verification and attestation that the reports were compiled in accordance with this section.
(2) The owner or authorized corporate officer of the facility must retain full accountability for the report's accuracy and completeness regardless of report submission method.
(3) Penalties for false statements or misrepresentation made by or on behalf of the provider are provided at 42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b.
(4) The Quality of Care Report must be submitted by 5 p.m. (CST) on the 15th of the following month. If the 15th falls upon a holiday or a weekend (Saturday-Sunday), the report is due by 5 p.m. (CST) of the following business day (Monday - Friday).
(5) The Quality of Care Report will be made available in an electronic version for uniform submission of the required data elements.
(6) Facilities must submit the monthly report through the OHCA Provider Portal.
(7) Should a facility discover an error in its submitted report for the previous month only, the facility must provide to the Long-term Care Financial Management Unit written notification with adequate, objective, and substantive documentation within five business days following the submission deadline. Any documentation received after the five business day period will not be considered in determining compliance and for reporting purposes by the OHCA.
(8) An initial administrative penalty of $150.00 is imposed upon the facility for incomplete, unauthorized, or non-timely filing of the Quality of Care Report. Additionally, a daily administrative penalty will begin upon the OHCA notifying the facility in writing that the report was not complete or not timely submitted as required. The $150.00 daily administrative penalty accrues for each calendar day after the date the notification is received. The penalties are deducted from the Medicaid facility's payment. For 100 percent (100%) private pay facilities, the penalty amount(s) is included and collected in the fee assessment billings process. Imposed penalties for incomplete reports or non-timely filing are not considered for OHCA cost reporting purposes.
(9) The Quality of Care Report includes, but is not limited to, information pertaining to the necessary reporting requirements in order to determine the facility's compliance with subsections (b) and (c) of this Section. Such reported information includes, but is not limited to: total gross receipts, patient days, available bed days, direct care hours, Medicare days, Medicaid days, number of employees, monthly resident census, and tenure of certified nursing assistants, nurses, directors of nursing, and administrators.
(10) Audits may be performed to determine compliance pursuant to subsections (b), and (c) of this Section. Announced/unannounced on-site audits of reported information may also be performed.
(11) Direct-care-staff-to-resident information and on-site audit findings pursuant to subsection (c), will be reported to the OSDH for their review in order to determine "willful" non-compliance and assess penalties accordingly pursuant to Title 63 Section 1-1912 through Section 1-1917 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The OSHD informs the OHCA of all final penalties as required in order to deduct from the Medicaid facility's payment. Imposed penalties are not considered for OHCA Cost Reporting purposes.
(12) Under OAC 317:2-1-2, long-term care facility providers may appeal the administrative penalty described in (b)(5)(B) and (d)(8) of this section.
(13) Facilities that have been authorized by the OSDH to implement flexible staff scheduling must comply with OAC 310:675-1 et seq. The authorized facility is required to complete the flexible staff scheduling section of Part A of the Quality of Care Report. The owner, authorized corporate officer, or administrator of the facility must complete the flexible staff scheduling signature block, acknowledging their OSDH authorization for flexible staff scheduling.
