CHAPTER 319y*
LONG-TERM CARE

      Sec. 17b-337. Long-term elderly care planning committee. Long-term care plan for elderly persons. Membership. (a) There shall be established a Long-Term Care Planning Committee for the purpose of exchanging information on long-term care issues, coordinating policy development and establishing a long-term care plan for all persons in need of long-term care. Such policy and plan shall provide that individuals with long-term care needs have the option to choose and receive long-term care and support in the least restrictive, appropriate setting. Such plan shall integrate the three components of a long-term care system including home and community-based services, supportive housing arrangements and nursing facilities. Such plan shall include: (1) A vision and mission statement for a long-term care system; (2) the current number of persons receiving services; (3) demographic data concerning such persons by service type; (4) the current aggregate cost of such system of services; (5) forecasts of future demand for services; (6) the type of services available and the amount of funds necessary to meet the demand; (7) projected costs for programs associated with such system; (8) strategies to promote the partnership for long-term care program; (9) resources necessary to accomplish goals for the future; (10) funding sources available; and (11) the number and types of providers needed to deliver services. The plan shall address how changes in one component of such long-term care system impact other components of such system.

      (b) The Long-Term Care Planning Committee shall, within available appropriations, study issues relative to long-term care including, but not limited to, the case-mix system of Medicaid reimbursement, community-based service options, access to long-term care and geriatric psychiatric services. The committee shall evaluate issues relative to long-term care in light of the United States Supreme Court decision, Olmstead v. L.C., 119 S. Ct. 2176 (1999), requiring states to place persons with disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions when such placement is appropriate, the transfer to a less restrictive setting is not opposed by such persons and such placement can be reasonably accommodated.

      (c) The Long-Term Care Planning Committee shall consist of: (1) The chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing and select committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, public health, elderly services and long-term care; (2) the Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee; (3) one member of the Office of Policy and Management appointed by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management; (4) one member from the Department of Social Services appointed by the Commissioner of Social Services; (5) one member from the Department of Public Health appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health; (6) one member from the Department of Economic and Community Development appointed by the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development; (7) one member from the Office of Health Care Access appointed by the Commissioner of Health Care Access; (8) one member from the Department of Mental Retardation appointed by the Commissioner of Mental Retardation; (9) one member from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services appointed by the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services; (10) one member from the Department of Transportation appointed by the Commissioner of Transportation; (11) one member from the Department of Children and Families appointed by the Commissioner of Children and Families; and (12) the executive director of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities or the executive director's designee. The committee shall convene no later than ninety days after June 4, 1998. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority. The chairperson shall be elected from among the members of the committee. The committee shall seek the advice and participation of any person, organization or state or federal agency it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

      (d) Not later than January 1, 1999, and every three years thereafter, the Long-Term Care Planning Committee shall submit a long-term care plan pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to the joint standing and select committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, public health, elderly services and long-term care, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, and such plan shall serve as a guide for the actions of state agencies in developing and modifying programs that serve persons in need of long-term care.

      (e) Any state agency, when developing or modifying any program that, in whole or in part, provides assistance or support to persons with long-term care needs, shall, to the maximum extent feasible, include provisions that support care-giving provided by family members and other informal caregivers and promote consumer-directed care.

      (P.A. 98-175, S. 1, 2; 98-239, S. 27, 35; P.A. 99-28, S. 1, 2; P.A. 01-119, S. 1, 2; P.A. 03-19, S. 44; P.A. 05-14, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 98-175 effective June 4, 1998; P.A. 98-239 inserted new language in Subsec. (b), requiring committee to study issues relative to long-term care and renumbered remaining Subsecs. accordingly, and amended Subsec. (c) to authorize committee to seek the advice and participation of any person, organization or state or federal agency it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-28 amended Subsec. (c) to add Subdivs. (8), (9) and (10) re members appointed by the Commissioners of Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Addiction Services, and Transportation, and substituted "the commissioner's" for "his", effective May 27, 1999; P.A. 01-119 amended Subsec. (a) to extend long-term care plan to include all persons in need of long-term care, amended Subsec. (b) to require long-term care committee to evaluate long-term care issues in light of the requirement to place persons with disabilities in community settings, amended Subsec. (c) to expand membership of committee to include one member from the Department of Children and Families and the executive director of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, amended Subsec. (d) to require committee to submit plan to the General Assembly every three years and require state agencies to use the long-term care plan as a guide and added Subsec. (e) re modifying or developing program providing assistance to person with long-term care needs to include provisions that support care giving by family members, effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-19 made a technical change in Subsec. (b), effective May 12, 2003; P.A. 05-14 amended Subsec. (a) to require that state long-term care policy and plan provide that individuals with long-term care needs have the option to choose and receive long-term care and support in the least restrictive, appropriate setting.

      Sec. 17b-338. Long-Term Care Advisory Council. Membership. Duties. (a) There is established a Long-Term Care Advisory Council which shall consist of the following: (1) The executive director of the Commission on Aging, or the executive director's designee; (2) the State Nursing Home Ombudsman, or the ombudsman's designee; (3) the president of the Coalition of Presidents of Resident Councils, or the president's designee; (4) the executive director of the Legal Assistance Resource Center of Connecticut, or the executive director's designee; (5) the state president of AARP, or the president's designee; (6) one representative of a bargaining unit for health care employees, appointed by the president of the bargaining unit; (7) the president of the Connecticut Association of Not-For-Profit Providers for the Aging, or the president's designee; (8) the president of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, or the president's designee; (9) the president of the Connecticut Association of Residential Care Homes, or the president's designee; (10) the president of the Connecticut Hospital Association or the president's designee; (11) the executive director of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association or the executive director's designee; (12) the executive director of the Connecticut Association for Homecare or the executive director's designee; (13) the president of Connecticut Community Care, Inc. or the president's designee; (14) one member of the Connecticut Association of Area Agencies on Aging appointed by the agency; (15) the president of the Connecticut chapter of the Connecticut Alzheimer's Association; (16) one member of the Connecticut Association of Adult Day Centers appointed by the association; (17) the president of the Connecticut Chapter of the American College of Health Care Administrators, or the president's designee; (18) the president of the Connecticut Council for Persons with Disabilities, or the president's designee; (19) the president of the Connecticut Association of Community Action Agencies, or the president's designee; (20) a personal care attendant appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; (21) the president of the Family Support Council, or the president's designee; (22) a person who, in a home setting, cares for a person with a disability and is appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; (23) three persons with a disability appointed one each by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate and the minority leader of the House of Representatives; (24) a legislator who is a member of the Long-Term Care Planning Committee; and (25) one member who is a nonunion home health aide appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.

      (b) The council shall advise and make recommendations to the Long-Term Care Planning Committee established under section 17b-337.

      (c) The Long-Term Care Advisory Council shall seek recommendations from persons with disabilities or persons receiving long-term care services who reflect the socio-economic diversity of the state.

      (P.A. 98-239, S. 29, 35; P.A. 00-135, S. 20, 21; P.A. 02-100, S. 1, 2.)

      History: P.A. 98-239 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-135 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical changes and adding new Subdivs. (10) to (19) re additional members of the council, effective May 26, 2000; P.A. 02-100 amended Subsec. (a) to reflect proper names of organizations in Subdivs. (5), (9), (12), (15) and (16), changing "president of the chapter" to "state president" and adding "or the president's designee" in Subdiv. (5) and changing "executive director" to "president" and deleting "or the executive director's designee" in Subdiv. (15), and to add Subdivs. (20) to (25) re additional members of the council and added new Subsec. (c) re recommendations from persons with disabilities or persons receiving long-term care services.

      Sec. 17b-339. Nursing Home Financial Advisory Committee. Duties. Membership. (a) There is established a Nursing Home Financial Advisory Committee to examine the financial solvency of nursing homes on an ongoing basis and to support the Departments of Social Services and Public Health in their mission to provide oversight to the nursing home industry which promotes the financial solvency of and quality of care provided by nursing homes. The committee shall consist of seven members: The Commissioner of Social Services, or his designee; the Commissioner of Public Health, or his designee; the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, or his designee; the director of the Office of Fiscal Analysis, or his designee; the executive director of the Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority, or his designee; and one representative of nonprofit nursing homes and one representative of for-profit nursing homes appointed by the Governor.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services and the Commissioner of Public Health shall be the chairpersons of the committee. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority.

      (c) The committee, upon receipt of a report relative to the financial solvency of and quality of care provided by nursing homes in the state, shall recommend appropriate action for improving the financial condition of any nursing home that is in financial distress to the Commissioner of Social Services.

      (d) Not later than January 1, 1999, and annually thereafter, the committee shall submit a report on its activities to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and public health and to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.

      (P.A. 98-239, S. 26, 35.)

      History: P.A. 98-239 effective July 1, 1998.

      Sec. 17b-340. (Formerly Sec. 17-314). Rates of payment to nursing homes, chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent homes, rest homes with nursing supervision, residential care homes and residential facilities for the mentally retarded. (a) The rates to be paid by or for persons aided or cared for by the state or any town in this state to licensed chronic and convalescent nursing homes, to chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent nursing homes, to rest homes with nursing supervision, to licensed residential care homes, as defined by section 19a-490, and to residential facilities for the mentally retarded which are licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 and certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid program as intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, for room, board and services specified in licensing regulations issued by the licensing agency shall be determined annually, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, after a public hearing, by the Commissioner of Social Services, to be effective July first of each year except as otherwise provided in this subsection. Such rates shall be determined on a basis of a reasonable payment for such necessary services, which basis shall take into account as a factor the costs of such services. Cost of such services shall include reasonable costs mandated by collective bargaining agreements with certified collective bargaining agents or other agreements between the employer and employees, provided "employees" shall not include persons employed as managers or chief administrators or required to be licensed as nursing home administrators, and compensation for services rendered by proprietors at prevailing wage rates, as determined by application of principles of accounting as prescribed by said commissioner. Cost of such services shall not include amounts paid by the facilities to employees as salary, or to attorneys or consultants as fees, where the responsibility of the employees, attorneys, or consultants is to persuade or seek to persuade the other employees of the facility to support or oppose unionization. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit inclusion of amounts paid for legal counsel related to the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, the settlement of grievances or normal administration of labor relations. The commissioner may, in his discretion, allow the inclusion of extraordinary and unanticipated costs of providing services which were incurred to avoid an immediate negative impact on the health and safety of patients. The commissioner may, in his discretion, based upon review of a facility's costs, direct care staff to patient ratio and any other related information, revise a facility's rate for any increases or decreases to total licensed capacity of more than ten beds or changes to its number of licensed rest home with nursing supervision beds and chronic and convalescent nursing home beds. The commissioner may so revise a facility's rate established for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, and thereafter for any bed increases, decreases or changes in licensure effective after October 1, 1989. Effective July 1, 1991, in facilities which have both a chronic and convalescent nursing home and a rest home with nursing supervision, the rate for the rest home with nursing supervision shall not exceed such facility's rate for its chronic and convalescent nursing home. All such facilities for which rates are determined under this subsection shall report on a fiscal year basis ending on the thirtieth day of September. Such report shall be submitted to the commissioner by the thirty-first day of December. The commissioner may reduce the rate in effect for a facility which fails to report on or before such date by an amount not to exceed ten per cent of such rate. The commissioner shall annually, on or before the fifteenth day of February, report the data contained in the reports of such facilities to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations. For the cost reporting year commencing October 1, 1985, and for subsequent cost reporting years, facilities shall report the cost of using the services of any nursing pool employee by separating said cost into two categories, the portion of the cost equal to the salary of the employee for whom the nursing pool employee is substituting shall be considered a nursing cost and any cost in excess of such salary shall be further divided so that seventy-five per cent of the excess cost shall be considered an administrative or general cost and twenty-five per cent of the excess cost shall be considered a nursing cost, provided if the total nursing pool costs of a facility for any cost year are equal to or exceed fifteen per cent of the total nursing expenditures of the facility for such cost year, no portion of nursing pool costs in excess of fifteen per cent shall be classified as administrative or general costs. The commissioner, in determining such rates, shall also take into account the classification of patients or boarders according to special care requirements or classification of the facility according to such factors as facilities and services and such other factors as he deems reasonable, including anticipated fluctuations in the cost of providing such services. The commissioner may establish a separate rate for a facility or a portion of a facility for traumatic brain injury patients who require extensive care but not acute general hospital care. Such separate rate shall reflect the special care requirements of such patients. If changes in federal or state laws, regulations or standards adopted subsequent to June 30, 1985, result in increased costs or expenditures in an amount exceeding one-half of one per cent of allowable costs for the most recent cost reporting year, the commissioner shall adjust rates and provide payment for any such increased reasonable costs or expenditures within a reasonable period of time retroactive to the date of enforcement. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the Department of Social Services to adjust rates and provide payment for any increases in costs resulting from an inspection of a facility by the Department of Public Health. Such assistance as the commissioner requires from other state agencies or departments in determining rates shall be made available to him at his request. Payment of the rates established hereunder shall be conditioned on the establishment by such facilities of admissions procedures which conform with this section, section 19a-533 and all other applicable provisions of the law and the provision of equality of treatment to all persons in such facilities. The established rates shall be the maximum amount chargeable by such facilities for care of such beneficiaries, and the acceptance by or on behalf of any such facility of any additional compensation for care of any such beneficiary from any other person or source shall constitute the offense of aiding a beneficiary to obtain aid to which he is not entitled and shall be punishable in the same manner as is provided in subsection (b) of section 17b-97. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, rates for licensed residential care homes and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded may receive an increase not to exceed the most recent annual increase in the Regional Data Resources Incorporated McGraw-Hill Health Care Costs: Consumer Price Index (all urban)-All Items. Rates for newly certified intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded shall not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the median rate of rates in effect on January 31, 1991, for intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded certified prior to February 1, 1991. Notwithstanding any provision of this section, the Commissioner of Social Services may, within available appropriations, provide an interim rate increase for a licensed chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision for rate periods no earlier than April 1, 2004, only if the commissioner determines that the increase is necessary to avoid the filing of a petition for relief under Title 11 of the United States Code; imposition of receivership pursuant to sections 19a-541 to 19a-549, inclusive; or substantial deterioration of the facility's financial condition that may be expected to adversely affect resident care and the continued operation of the facility, and the commissioner determines that the continued operation of the facility is in the best interest of the state. The commissioner shall consider any requests for interim rate increases on file with the department from March 30, 2004, and those submitted subsequently for rate periods no earlier than April 1, 2004. When reviewing a rate increase request the commissioner shall, at a minimum, consider: (1) Existing chronic and convalescent nursing home or rest home with nursing supervision utilization in the area and projected bed need; (2) physical plant long-term viability and the ability of the owner or purchaser to implement any necessary property improvements; (3) licensure and certification compliance history; (4) reasonableness of actual and projected expenses; and (5) the ability of the facility to meet wage and benefit costs. No rate shall be increased pursuant to this subsection in excess of one hundred fifteen per cent of the median rate for the facility's peer grouping, established pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of this section, unless recommended by the commissioner and approved by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management after consultation with the commissioner. Such median rates shall be published by the Department of Social Services not later than April first of each year. In the event that a facility granted an interim rate increase pursuant to this section is sold or otherwise conveyed for value to an unrelated entity less than five years after the effective date of such rate increase, the rate increase shall be deemed rescinded and the department shall recover an amount equal to the difference between payments made for all affected rate periods and payments that would have been made if the interim rate increase was not granted. The commissioner may seek recovery from payments made to any facility with common ownership. With the approval of the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the commissioner may waive recovery and rescission of the interim rate for good cause shown that is not inconsistent with this section, including, but not limited to, transfers to family members that were made for no value. The commissioner shall provide written quarterly reports to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies and to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging, that identify each facility requesting an interim rate increase, the amount of the requested rate increase for each facility, the action taken by the commissioner and the secretary pursuant to this subsection, and estimates of the additional cost to the state for each approved interim rate increase. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the commissioner from increasing the rate of a licensed chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision for allowable costs associated with facility capital improvements or increasing the rate in case of a sale of a licensed chronic and convalescent nursing home or a rest home with nursing supervision, pursuant to subdivision (16) of subsection (f) of this section, if receivership has been imposed on such home.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to specify other allowable services. For purposes of this section, other allowable services means those services required by any medical assistance beneficiary residing in such home or hospital which are not already covered in the rate set by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section.

      (c) No facility subject to the requirements of this section shall accept payment in excess of the rate set by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of this section for any medical assistance patient from this or any other state. No facility shall accept payment in excess of the reasonable and necessary costs of other allowable services as specified by the commissioner pursuant to the regulations adopted under subsection (b) of this section for any public assistance patient from this or any other state. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the commissioner may authorize a facility to accept payment in excess of the rate paid for a medical assistance patient in this state for a patient who receives medical assistance from another state.

      (d) In any instance where the Commissioner of Social Services finds that a facility subject to the requirements of this section is accepting payment for a medical assistance beneficiary in violation of subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall proceed to recover through the rate set for the facility any sum in excess of the stipulated per diem and other allowable costs, as provided for in regulations adopted pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section. The commissioner shall make the recovery prospectively at the time of the next annual rate redetermination.

      (e) Except as provided in this subsection, the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall not apply to any facility subject to the requirements of this section, which on October 1, 1981, (1) was accepting payments from the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, (2) was accepting medical assistance payments from another state for at least twenty per cent of its patients, and (3) had not notified the commissioner of any intent to terminate its provider agreement, in accordance with section 17b-271, provided no patient residing in any such facility on May 22, 1984, shall be removed from such facility for purposes of meeting the requirements of this subsection. If the commissioner finds that the number of beds available to medical assistance patients from this state in any such facility is less than fifteen per cent the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall apply to that number of beds which is less than said percentage.

      (f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, the rates paid by or for persons aided or cared for by the state or any town in this state to facilities for room, board and services specified in licensing regulations issued by the licensing agency, except intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and residential care homes, shall be based on the cost year ending September 30, 1989. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1993, and June 30, 1994, such rates shall be based on the cost year ending September 30, 1990. Such rates shall be determined by the Commissioner of Social Services in accordance with this section and the regulations of Connecticut state agencies promulgated by the commissioner and in effect on April 1, 1991, except that:

      (1) Allowable costs shall be divided into the following five cost components: Direct costs, which shall include salaries for nursing personnel, related fringe benefits and nursing pool costs; indirect costs, which shall include professional fees, dietary expenses, housekeeping expenses, laundry expenses, supplies related to patient care, salaries for indirect care personnel and related fringe benefits; fair rent, which shall be defined in accordance with subsection (f) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies; capital-related costs, which shall include property taxes, insurance expenses, equipment leases and equipment depreciation; and administrative and general costs, which shall include maintenance and operation of plant expenses, salaries for administrative and maintenance personnel and related fringe benefits. The commissioner may provide a rate adjustment for nonemergency transportation services required by nursing facility residents. Such adjustment shall be a fixed amount determined annually by the commissioner based upon a review of costs and other associated information. Allowable costs shall not include costs for ancillary services payable under Part B of the Medicare program.

      (2) Two geographic peer groupings of facilities shall be established for each level of care, as defined by the Department of Social Services for the determination of rates, for the purpose of determining allowable direct costs. One peer grouping shall be comprised of those facilities located in Fairfield County. The other peer grouping shall be comprised of facilities located in all other counties.

      (3) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, per diem maximum allowable costs for each cost component shall be as follows: For direct costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred forty per cent of the median allowable cost of that peer grouping; for indirect costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred thirty per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost; for fair rent, the amount shall be calculated utilizing the amount approved by the Office of Health Care Access pursuant to section 19a-638; for capital-related costs, there shall be no maximum; and for administrative and general costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred twenty-five per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, per diem maximum allowable costs for each cost component shall be as follows: For direct costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred forty per cent of the median allowable cost of that peer grouping; for indirect costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred twenty-five per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost; for fair rent, the amount shall be calculated utilizing the amount approved by the Office of Health Care Access pursuant to section 19a-638; for capital-related costs, there shall be no maximum; and for administrative and general costs the maximum shall be equal to one hundred fifteen per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, per diem maximum allowable costs for each cost component shall be as follows: For direct costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred thirty-five per cent of the median allowable cost of that peer grouping; for indirect costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred twenty per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost; for fair rent, the amount shall be calculated utilizing the amount approved by the Office of Health Care Access pursuant to section 19a-638; for capital-related costs, there shall be no maximum; and for administrative and general costs the maximum shall be equal to one hundred ten per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, per diem maximum allowable costs for each cost component shall be as follows: For direct costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred thirty-five per cent of the median allowable cost of that peer grouping; for indirect costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred twenty per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost; for fair rent, the amount shall be calculated utilizing the amount approved by the Office of Health Care Access pursuant to section 19a-638; for capital-related costs, there shall be no maximum; and for administrative and general costs the maximum shall be equal to one hundred five per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, except for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2001, for facilities with an interim rate in one or both periods, per diem maximum allowable costs for each cost component shall be as follows: For direct costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred thirty-five per cent of the median allowable cost of that peer grouping; for indirect costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred fifteen per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost; for fair rent, the amount shall be calculated utilizing the amount approved pursuant to section 19a-638; for capital-related costs, there shall be no maximum; and for administrative and general costs the maximum shall be equal to the state-wide median allowable cost. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2001, for facilities with an interim rate in one or both periods, per diem maximum allowable costs for each cost component shall be as follows: For direct costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred forty-five per cent of the median allowable cost of that peer grouping; for indirect costs, the maximum shall be equal to one hundred twenty-five per cent of the state-wide median allowable cost; for fair rent, the amount shall be calculated utilizing the amount approved pursuant to section 19a-638; for capital-related costs, there shall be no maximum; and for administrative and general costs, the maximum shall be equal to the state-wide median allowable cost and such medians shall be based upon the same cost year used to set rates for facilities with prospective rates. Costs in excess of the maximum amounts established under this subsection shall not be recognized as allowable costs, except that the Commissioner of Social Services (A) may allow costs in excess of maximum amounts for any facility with patient days covered by Medicare, including days requiring coinsurance, in excess of twelve per cent of annual patient days which also has patient days covered by Medicaid in excess of fifty per cent of annual patient days; (B) may establish a pilot program whereby costs in excess of maximum amounts shall be allowed for beds in a nursing home which has a managed care program and is affiliated with a hospital licensed under chapter 368v; and (C) may establish rates whereby allowable costs may exceed such maximum amounts for beds approved on or after July 1, 1991, which are restricted to use by patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or traumatic brain injury.

      (4) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, (A) no facility shall receive a rate that is less than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1991; (B) no facility whose rate, if determined pursuant to this subsection, would exceed one hundred twenty per cent of the state-wide median rate, as determined pursuant to this subsection, shall receive a rate which is five and one-half per cent more than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1991; and (C) no facility whose rate, if determined pursuant to this subsection, would be less than one hundred twenty per cent of the state-wide median rate, as determined pursuant to this subsection, shall receive a rate which is six and one-half per cent more than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1991. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, no facility shall receive a rate that is less than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1992, or six per cent more than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1992. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, no facility shall receive a rate that is less than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1993, or six per cent more than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1993. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, no facility shall receive a rate that is more than five per cent less than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1994, or six per cent more than the rate it received for the rate year ending June 30, 1994. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, no facility shall receive a rate that is more than three per cent more than the rate it received for the prior rate year. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, a facility shall receive a rate increase that is not more than two per cent more than the rate that the facility received in the prior year. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, a facility shall receive a rate increase that is not more than three per cent more than the rate that the facility received in the prior year and that is not less than one per cent more than the rate that the facility received in the prior year, exclusive of rate increases associated with a wage, benefit and staffing enhancement rate adjustment added for the period from April 1, 1999, to June 30, 1999, inclusive. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, each facility, except a facility with an interim rate or replaced interim rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, and a facility having a certificate of need or other agreement specifying rate adjustments for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, shall receive a rate increase equal to one per cent applied to the rate the facility received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, exclusive of the facility's wage, benefit and staffing enhancement rate adjustment. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, no facility with an interim rate, replaced interim rate or scheduled rate adjustment specified in a certificate of need or other agreement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, shall receive a rate increase that is more than one per cent more than the rate the facility received in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, each facility, except a facility with an interim rate or replaced interim rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and a facility having a certificate of need or other agreement specifying rate adjustments for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, shall receive a rate increase equal to two per cent applied to the rate the facility received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, subject to verification of wage enhancement adjustments pursuant to subdivision (15) of this subsection. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, no facility with an interim rate, replaced interim rate or scheduled rate adjustment specified in a certificate of need or other agreement for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, shall receive a rate increase that is more than two per cent more than the rate the facility received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, each facility shall receive a rate that is two and one-half per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, each facility shall receive a rate that is two per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, except that such increase shall be effective January 1, 2003, and such facility rate in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, shall be paid for services provided until December 31, 2002, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2002, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2002, and have such rate increased two per cent effective June 1, 2003. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2003, shall remain in effect, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2003, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2003. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2004, shall remain in effect until December 31, 2004, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2004, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2004. Effective January 1, 2005, each facility shall receive a rate that is one per cent greater than the rate in effect December 31, 2004. Effective upon receipt of all the necessary federal approvals to secure federal financial participation matching funds associated with the rate increase provided in this subdivision, but in no event earlier than July 1, 2005, and provided the user fee imposed under section 17b-320 is required to be collected, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, the department shall compute the rate for each facility based upon its 2003 cost report filing or, a subsequent cost year filing for facilities having an interim rate for the period ending June 30, 2005, as provided under section 17-311-55 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies. For each facility not having an interim rate for the period ending June 30, 2005, the rate for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall be determined beginning with the higher of the computed rate based upon its 2003 cost report filing or the rate in effect for the period ending June 30, 2005. Such rate shall then be increased by eleven dollars and eighty cents per day except that in no event shall the rate for the period ending June 30, 2006, be thirty-two dollars more than the rate in effect for the period ending June 30, 2005, and for any facility with a rate below one hundred ninety-five dollars per day for the period ending June 30, 2005, such rate for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall not be greater than two hundred seventeen dollars and forty-three cents per day and for any facility with a rate equal to or greater than one hundred ninety-five dollars per day for the period ending June 30, 2005, such rate for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall not exceed the rate in effect for the period ending June 30, 2005, increased by eleven and one-half per cent. For each facility with an interim rate for the period ending June 30, 2005, the interim replacement rate for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall not exceed the rate in effect for the period ending June 30, 2005, increased by eleven dollars and eighty cents per day plus the per day cost of the user fee payments made pursuant to section 17b-320 divided by annual resident service days, except for any facility with an interim rate below one hundred ninety-five dollars per day for the period ending June 30, 2005, the interim replacement rate for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall not be greater than two hundred seventeen dollars and forty-three cents per day and for any facility with an interim rate equal to or greater than one hundred ninety-five dollars per day for the period ending June 30, 2005, the interim replacement rate for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall not exceed the rate in effect for the period ending June 30, 2005, increased by eleven and one-half per cent. Such July 1, 2005, rate adjustments shall remain in effect unless (i) the federal financial participation matching funds associated with the rate increase are no longer available; or (ii) the user fee created pursuant to section 17b-320 is not in effect. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, each facility shall receive a rate that is three per cent greater than the rate in effect for the period ending June 30, 2006, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2006, than for the rate period ending June 30, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2006. The Commissioner of Social Services shall add fair rent increases to any other rate increases established pursuant to this subdivision for a facility which has undergone a material change in circumstances related to fair rent. Interim rates may take into account reasonable costs incurred by a facility, including wages and benefits.

      (5) For the purpose of determining allowable fair rent, a facility with allowable fair rent less than the twenty-fifth percentile of the state-wide allowable fair rent shall be reimbursed as having allowable fair rent equal to the twenty-fifth percentile of the state-wide allowable fair rent, provided for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, the reimbursement may not exceed the twenty-fifth percentile of the state-wide allowable fair rent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995. On and after July 1, 1998, the Commissioner of Social Services may allow minimum fair rent as the basis upon which reimbursement associated with improvements to real property is added. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, any facility with a rate of return on real property other than land in excess of eleven per cent shall have such allowance revised to eleven per cent. Any facility or its related realty affiliate which finances or refinances debt through bonds issued by the State of Connecticut Health and Education Facilities Authority shall report the terms and conditions of such financing or refinancing to the Commissioner of Social Services within thirty days of completing such financing or refinancing. The Commissioner of Social Services may revise the facility's fair rent component of its rate to reflect any financial benefit the facility or its related realty affiliate received as a result of such financing or refinancing, including but not limited to, reductions in the amount of debt service payments or period of debt repayment. The commissioner shall allow actual debt service costs for bonds issued by the State of Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority if such costs do not exceed property costs allowed pursuant to subsection (f) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, provided the commissioner may allow higher debt service costs for such bonds for good cause. For facilities which first open on or after October 1, 1992, the commissioner shall determine allowable fair rent for real property other than land based on the rate of return for the cost year in which such bonds were issued. The financial benefit resulting from a facility financing or refinancing debt through such bonds shall be shared between the state and the facility to an extent determined by the commissioner on a case-by-case basis and shall be reflected in an adjustment to the facility's allowable fair rent.

      (6) A facility shall receive cost efficiency adjustments for indirect costs and for administrative and general costs if such costs are below the state-wide median costs. The cost efficiency adjustments shall equal twenty-five per cent of the difference between allowable reported costs and the applicable median allowable cost established pursuant to this subdivision.

      (7) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, allowable operating costs, excluding fair rent, shall be inflated using the Regional Data Resources Incorporated McGraw-Hill Health Care Costs: Consumer Price Index (all urban)-All Items minus one and one-half per cent. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, allowable operating costs, excluding fair rent, shall be inflated using the Regional Data Resources Incorporated McGraw-Hill Health Care Costs: Consumer Price Index (all urban)-All Items minus one and three-quarters per cent. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 1994, and June 30, 1995, allowable operating costs, excluding fair rent, shall be inflated using the Regional Data Resources Incorporated McGraw-Hill Health Care Costs: Consumer Price Index (all urban)-All Items minus two per cent. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, allowable operating costs, excluding fair rent, shall be inflated using the Regional Data Resources Incorporated McGraw-Hill Health Care Costs: Consumer Price Index (all urban)-All Items minus two and one-half per cent. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, allowable operating costs, excluding fair rent, shall be inflated using the Regional Data Resources Incorporated McGraw-Hill Health Care Costs: Consumer Price Index (all urban)-All Items minus three and one-half per cent. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, and any succeeding fiscal year, allowable fair rent shall be those reported in the annual report of long-term care facilities for the cost year ending the immediately preceding September thirtieth. The inflation index to be used pursuant to this subsection shall be computed to reflect inflation between the midpoint of the cost year through the midpoint of the rate year. The Department of Social Services shall study methods of reimbursement for fair rent and shall report its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services on or before January 15, 1993.

      (8) On and after July 1, 1994, costs shall be rebased no more frequently than every two years and no less frequently than every four years, as determined by the commissioner. The commissioner shall determine whether and to what extent a change in ownership of a facility shall occasion the rebasing of the facility's costs.

      (9) The method of establishing rates for new facilities shall be determined by the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

      (10) Rates determined under this section shall comply with federal laws and regulations.

      (11) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, and any succeeding fiscal year, one-half of the initial amount payable in June by the state to a facility pursuant to this subsection shall be paid to the facility in June and the balance of such amount shall be paid in July.

      (12) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, interim rates issued for facilities on and after July 1, 1991, shall be subject to applicable fiscal year cost component limitations established pursuant to subdivision (3) of this subsection.

      (13) A chronic and convalescent nursing home having an ownership affiliation with and operated at the same location as a chronic disease hospital may request that the commissioner approve an exception to applicable rate-setting provisions for chronic and convalescent nursing homes and establish a rate for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1992, and June 30, 1993, in accordance with regulations in effect June 30, 1991. Any such rate shall not exceed one hundred sixty-five per cent of the median rate established for chronic and convalescent nursing homes established under this section for the applicable fiscal year.

      (14) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, and any succeeding fiscal year, for purposes of computing minimum allowable patient days, utilization of a facility's certified beds shall be determined at a minimum of ninety-five per cent of capacity, except for new facilities and facilities which are certified for additional beds which may be permitted a lower occupancy rate for the first three months of operation after the effective date of licensure.

      (15) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adjust facility rates from April 1, 1999, to June 30, 1999, inclusive, by a per diem amount representing each facility's allocation of funds appropriated for the purpose of wage, benefit and staffing enhancement. A facility's per diem allocation of such funding shall be computed as follows: (A) The facility's direct and indirect component salary, wage, nursing pool and allocated fringe benefit costs as filed for the 1998 cost report period deemed allowable in accordance with this section and applicable regulations without application of cost component maximums specified in subdivision (3) of this subsection shall be totalled; (B) such total shall be multiplied by the facility's Medicaid utilization based on the 1998 cost report; (C) the resulting amount for the facility shall be divided by the sum of the calculations specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision for all facilities to determine the facility's percentage share of appropriated wage, benefit and staffing enhancement funding; (D) the facility's percentage share shall be multiplied by the amount of appropriated wage, benefit and staffing enhancement funding to determine the facility's allocated amount; and (E) such allocated amount shall be divided by the number of days of care paid for by Medicaid on an annual basis including days for reserved beds specified in the 1998 cost report to determine the per diem wage and benefit rate adjustment amount. The commissioner may adjust a facility's reported 1998 cost and utilization data for the purposes of determining a facility's share of wage, benefit and staffing enhancement funding when reported 1998 information is not substantially representative of estimated cost and utilization data for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, due to special circumstances during the 1998 cost report period including change of ownership with a part year cost filing or reductions in facility capacity due to facility renovation projects. Upon completion of the calculation of the allocation of wage, benefit and staffing enhancement funding, the commissioner shall not adjust the allocations due to revisions submitted to previously filed 1998 annual cost reports. In the event that a facility's rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, is an interim rate or the rate includes an increase adjustment due to a rate request to the commissioner or other reasons, the commissioner may reduce or withhold the per diem wage, benefit and staffing enhancement allocation computed for the facility. Any enhancement allocations not applied to facility rates shall not be reallocated to other facilities and such unallocated amounts shall be available for the costs associated with interim rates and other Medicaid expenditures. The wage, benefit and staffing enhancement per diem adjustment for the period from April 1, 1999, to June 30, 1999, inclusive, shall also be applied to rates for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2001, except that the commissioner may increase or decrease the adjustment to account for changes in facility capacity or operations. Any facility accepting a rate adjustment for wage, benefit and staffing enhancements shall apply payments made as a result of such rate adjustment for increased allowable employee wage rates and benefits and additional direct and indirect component staffing. Adjustment funding shall not be applied to wage and salary increases provided to the administrator, assistant administrator, owners or related party employees. Enhancement payments may be applied to increases in costs associated with staffing purchased from staffing agencies provided such costs are deemed necessary and reasonable by the commissioner. The commissioner shall compare expenditures for wages, benefits and staffing for the 1998 cost report period to such expenditures in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 cost report periods to verify whether a facility has applied additional payments to specified enhancements. In the event that the commissioner determines that a facility did not apply additional payments to specified enhancements, the commissioner shall recover such amounts from the facility through rate adjustments or other means. The commissioner may require facilities to file cost reporting forms, in addition to the annual cost report, as may be necessary, to verify the appropriate application of wage, benefit and staffing enhancement rate adjustment payments. For the purposes of this subdivision, "Medicaid utilization" means the number of days of care paid for by Medicaid on an annual basis including days for reserved beds as a percentage of total resident days.

      (16) The interim rate established to become effective upon sale of any licensed chronic and convalescent home or rest home with nursing supervision for which a receivership has been imposed pursuant to sections 19a-541 to 19a-549, inclusive, shall not exceed the rate in effect for the facility at the time of the imposition of the receivership, subject to any annual increases permitted by this section; provided if such rate is less than the median rate for the facility's peer grouping, as defined in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Commissioner of Social Services may, in the commissioner's discretion, establish an increased rate for the facility not to exceed such median rate unless the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, after review of area nursing facility bed availability and other pertinent factors, authorizes the Commissioner of Social Services to establish a rate higher than the median rate. In the event the rate in effect for the facility at the time of imposition of the receivership is greater than the median rate for the facility's peer grouping, as defined in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, after review of area nursing facility bed availability and other pertinent factors, may authorize the Commissioner of Social Services to establish an increased interim rate.

      (g) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded with an operating cost component of its rate in excess of one hundred forty per cent of the median of operating cost components of rates in effect January 1, 1992, shall not receive an operating cost component increase. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded with an operating cost component of its rate that is less than one hundred forty per cent of the median of operating cost components of rates in effect January 1, 1992, shall have an allowance for real wage growth equal to thirty per cent of the increase determined in accordance with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, provided such operating cost component shall not exceed one hundred forty per cent of the median of operating cost components in effect January 1, 1992. Any facility with real property other than land placed in service prior to October 1, 1991, shall, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, receive a rate of return on real property equal to the average of the rates of return applied to real property other than land placed in service for the five years preceding October 1, 1993. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, the rate of return on real property for property items shall be revised every five years. The commissioner shall, upon submission of a request, allow actual debt service, comprised of principal and interest, in excess of property costs allowed pursuant to section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, provided such debt service terms and amounts are reasonable in relation to the useful life and the base value of the property. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, and any succeeding fiscal year, the inflation adjustment made in accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies shall not be applied to real property costs. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, the allowance for real wage growth, as determined in accordance with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, shall not be applied. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, no rate shall exceed three hundred seventy-five dollars per day unless the commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Mental Retardation, determines after a review of program and management costs, that a rate in excess of this amount is necessary for care and treatment of facility residents. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, rate period, the Commissioner of Social Services shall increase the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies to update allowable fiscal year 2000 costs to include a three and one-half per cent inflation factor. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, rate period, the commissioner shall increase the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies to update allowable fiscal year 2001 costs to include a one and one-half per cent inflation factor, except that such increase shall be effective November 1, 2002, and such facility rate in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, shall be paid for services provided until October 31, 2002, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2002, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2002, and have such rate updated effective November 1, 2002, in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2003, shall remain in effect, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2003, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2003. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2004, shall remain in effect until September 30, 2004. Effective October 1, 2004, each facility shall receive a rate that is five per cent greater than the rate in effect September 30, 2004. Effective upon receipt of all the necessary federal approvals to secure federal financial participation matching funds associated with the rate increase provided in subdivision (4) of subsection (f) of this section, but in no event earlier than October 1, 2005, and provided the user fee imposed under section 17b-320 is required to be collected, each facility shall receive a rate that is four per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective October 1, 2005, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective October 1, 2005. Such rate increase shall remain in effect unless: (A) The federal financial participation matching funds associated with the rate increase are no longer available; or (B) the user fee created pursuant to section 17b-320 is not in effect. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall remain in effect until September 30, 2006, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2006, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2006. Effective October 1, 2006, no facility shall receive a rate that is more than three per cent greater than the rate in effect for the facility on September 30, 2006, except for any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective October 1, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective October 1, 2006.

      (h) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any residential care home with an operating cost component of its rate in excess of one hundred thirty per cent of the median of operating cost components of rates in effect January 1, 1992, shall not receive an operating cost component increase. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any residential care home with an operating cost component of its rate that is less than one hundred thirty per cent of the median of operating cost components of rates in effect January 1, 1992, shall have an allowance for real wage growth equal to sixty-five per cent of the increase determined in accordance with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, provided such operating cost component shall not exceed one hundred thirty per cent of the median of operating cost components in effect January 1, 1992. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, for the purpose of determining allowable fair rent, a residential care home with allowable fair rent less than the twenty-fifth percentile of the state-wide allowable fair rent shall be reimbursed as having allowable fair rent equal to the twenty-fifth percentile of the state-wide allowable fair rent. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, a residential care home with allowable fair rent less than three dollars and ten cents per day shall be reimbursed as having allowable fair rent equal to three dollars and ten cents per day. Property additions placed in service during the cost year ending September 30, 1996, or any succeeding cost year shall receive a fair rent allowance for such additions as an addition to three dollars and ten cents per day if the fair rent for the facility for property placed in service prior to September 30, 1995, is less than or equal to three dollars and ten cents per day. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, the allowance for real wage growth, as determined in accordance with subsection (q) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, shall not be applied. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year, the inflation adjustment made in accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies shall not be applied to real property costs. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, minimum allowable patient days for rate computation purposes for a residential care home with twenty-five beds or less shall be eighty-five per cent of licensed capacity. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, for the purposes of determining the allowable salary of an administrator of a residential care home with sixty beds or less the department shall revise the allowable base salary to thirty-seven thousand dollars to be annually inflated thereafter in accordance with section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies. The rates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, shall be based upon the increased allowable salary of an administrator, regardless of whether such amount was expended in the 2000 cost report period upon which the rates are based. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with subsection (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies shall be increased by two per cent, and beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with subsection (c) of said section shall be increased by one per cent. Beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, for the purpose of determining the allowable salary of a related party, the department shall revise the maximum salary to twenty-seven thousand eight hundred fifty-six dollars to be annually inflated thereafter in accordance with section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies and beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, such allowable salary shall be computed on an hourly basis and the maximum number of hours allowed for a related party other than the proprietor shall be increased from forty hours to forty-eight hours per work week. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, each facility shall receive a rate that is two and one-quarter per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2004, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2004. Effective upon receipt of all the necessary federal approvals to secure federal financial participation matching funds associated with the rate increase provided in subdivision (4) of subsection (f) of this section, but in no event earlier than October 1, 2005, and provided the user fee imposed under section 17b-320 is required to be collected, each facility shall receive a rate that is determined in accordance with applicable law and subject to appropriations, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective October 1, 2005, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective October 1, 2005. Such rate increase shall remain in effect unless: (A) The federal financial participation matching funds associated with the rate increase are no longer available; or (B) the user fee created pursuant to section 17b-320 is not in effect. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, rates in effect for the period ending June 30, 2006, shall remain in effect until September 30, 2006, except any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective July 1, 2006, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective July 1, 2006. Effective October 1, 2006, no facility shall receive a rate that is more than four per cent greater than the rate in effect for the facility on September 30, 2006, except for any facility that would have been issued a lower rate effective October 1, 2006, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, shall be issued such lower rate effective October 1, 2006.

      (2) The commissioner shall, upon determining that a loan to be issued to a residential care home by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority is reasonable in relation to the useful life and property cost allowance pursuant to section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, allow actual debt service, comprised of principal, interest and a repair and replacement reserve on the loan, in lieu of allowed property costs whether actual debt service is higher or lower than such allowed property costs.

      (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commissioner of Social Services shall establish a fee schedule for payments to be made to chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent nursing homes to be effective on and after July 1, 1995. The fee schedule may be adjusted annually beginning July 1, 1997, to reflect necessary increases in the cost of services.

      (1957, P.A. 336, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 98, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 474, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 237; P.A. 73-25, S. 3, 4; 73-117, S. 27, 31; P.A. 77-574, S. 5, 6; 77-614, S. 323, 610; P.A. 79-560, S. 30, 39; P.A. 80-364, S. 4; P.A. 81-122; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-39, S. 14; P.A. 84-135, S. 2, 3; 84-360, S. 1; P.A. 85-524; 85-528; P.A. 87-27, S. 2; P.A. 88-156, S. 20; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 17, 22, 61, 63; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 29-31, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-406, S. 3, 6; 93-418, S. 22, 33, 41; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-5, S. 12, 30; P.A. 95-160, S. 24, 69; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 39, 58; 95-351, S. 4, 30; P.A. 96-137; 96-139, S. 12, 13; 96-268, S. 13, 20, 34; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 127, 165; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11, S. 50, 65; P.A. 98-156, S. 1, 2; 98-239, S. 25, 35; P.A. 99-279, S. 19-21, 45; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2, S. 21, 53; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 38, 52, 62, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 95, 129, 131; P.A. 02-89, S. 32; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 17, 18; P.A. 03-2, S. 17; 03-19, S. 45; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 50; P.A. 04-5, S. 1; 04-16, S. 11; 04-258, S. 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2, S. 86; P.A. 05-251, S. 81, 83, 84; 05-280, S. 49, 51; P.A. 06-188, S. 1-5; 06-196, S. 142.)

      History: 1959 act included references to licensed homes for the aged and to boarders in such homes; 1961 act included rest homes with nursing supervision, replaced committee of various state officers with hospital cost commission, required public hearing before rates determined and required that rates consider costs of services, including compensation for services rendered by proprietors at prevailing wage rates as factor; 1965 act deleted obsolete provision for rates for licensed homes for aged when initially included in provisions, required that accounting principles be those prescribed by commission rather than "generally accepted", required homes and hospitals to report on fiscal year ending September 30 and included anticipated fluctuations in cost as factor in rate determination; P.A. 73-25 referred to Subsec. (b) of Sec. 17-83i rather than to Sec. 17-132; P.A. 73-117 replaced hospital cost commission with committee established under Sec. 17-311; P.A. 77-574 included costs mandated by collective bargaining agreements as factor in rate determination; P.A. 77-614 replaced department of health with department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-560 replaced committee with commissioner of income maintenance; P.A. 80-364 conditioned payment on admissions procedures conforming with law rather than on "priorities of accommodations for such beneficiaries as they become available"; P.A. 81-122 defined other allowable services and authorized the commissioner to adopt regulations to specify these services in new Subsec. (b) and added Subsecs. (c) and (d) prohibiting facilities from accepting payments in excess of the amount specified by the commissioner and providing a procedure for the recovery of any excess amounts; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-39 amended Subsec. (a) to include residential facilities for the mentally retarded licensed pursuant to Sec. 19a-467; P.A. 84-135 added Subsec. (e) excepting certain facilities from the requirement that no facility accept payment in excess of the rate set by the commissioner; P.A. 84-360 added the authority in Subsec. (a) for a separate rate for the treatment of traumatic brain injury patients; P.A. 85-524 added the provisions on the treatment of the costs incurred in using the services of nursing pools in Subsec. (a); P.A. 85-528 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for the adjustment of rates to reflect increased costs or expenditures due to changes in federal or state laws, regulations or standards and added the provision on costs resulting from inspections by the department of health services; P.A. 87-27 amended Subsec. (a) to exclude from "costs" amounts paid to employees, attorneys or consultants due to unionization disputes; P.A. 88-156 substituted chronic and convalescent nursing homes for chronic and convalescent hospitals and added chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent nursing homes to list of establishments for which the commissioner sets the rates in Subsec. (a); June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 amended Subsec. (a) to allow the commissioner the discretion to allow the inclusion of extraordinary and unanticipated costs of providing services to avoid a negative impact on the health and safety of the patients, amended Subsec. (e) to specify required minimum number of beds to be available for medical assistance patients, to place a cap on the number of beds available to medical assistance patients at fifteen per cent and added Subsec. (f) re rates paid by or for persons aided or cared for by the state or town for room, board and services of nursing homes, chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent nursing homes, chronic and convalescent hospitals, rest homes, homes for the aged and residential facilities for the care of the mentally retarded, allowable costs, geographic peer groupings of facilities, cost components, fair rent exclusions, cost efficiency adjustments and change of ownership and affiliations; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re revision of a facility's rate, re date by which reports shall be submitted to the commissioner, re reduction of rate for a facility which fails to report by such date, re report by commissioner to appropriations committee and re modification of method for adjusting separate rates for traumatic brain injury patients, amended Subsec. (f) by permitting the commissioner to allow costs in excess of maximum amounts for certain facilities or certain beds in a facility, requiring the exclusion of the cost efficiency adjustment for indirect costs from rate increase maximums for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, adding provisions re revision of a facility's fair rent component of its rate and providing that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, a facility may receive a cost efficiency adjustment for indirect costs if such costs are below one hundred thirty per cent of the median, and added Subsec. (g) re rates for intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and Subsec. (f) re rates for homes for the aged; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-406 amended Subdiv. (5) of Subsec. (f) to require the commissioner to allow actual debt service costs for bonds, to determine allowable fair rent for real property other than land based on rate of return for cost year in which bonds were issued, to include financing debt service in addition to refinancing and to provide that adjustments to a facilities allowable fair rent be made on a case-by-case basis, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 93-418 amended Subsec. (c) to provide that for fiscal years ending June 30, 1994, and June 30, 1995, commissioner may authorize facility to accept payment in excess of the rate paid for a medical assistance patient in this state for patient who receives medical assistance from another state and amended Subsec. (f)(3) to make existing provisions re per diem maximum allowable costs effective only for fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, adding new provision regarding such costs for fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, and any succeeding fiscal year, added provision amending Subsec. (f)(4) to prohibit a facility from receiving a rate, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, which is more than five per cent less than the rate it received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, or six per cent more than it received for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1994, made Subsec. (f)(7) applicable to any succeeding fiscal year and added new Subdiv. (14) concerning computing allowable patient days, effective July 1, 1993; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-5 amended Subsec. (g) to establish rates of return for real property for facilities with real property other than land placed in service prior to July 1, 1991, effective July 1, 1994; Sec. 17-314 transferred to Sec. 17b-340 in 1995; P.A. 95-160 amended Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (f) by providing for per diem allowable costs for each cost component for the fiscal year ending July 30, 1996, and any succeeding fiscal year and by deleting Subdivs. (A) and (B) which allowed costs in excess of maximum amounts for any facility with patient days covered by Medicare and provided for the establishment of a pilot program whereby costs in excess of maximum amounts shall be allowed for beds in a nursing home which has a managed care program and is affiliated with a hospital, amended Subdiv. (4) of Subsec. (f) by adding a provision that for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, no facility shall receive a rate that is more than three per cent more than the rate it received for the prior rate year, amended Subdiv. (5) of Subsec. (f) by adding a provision that for fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, the reimbursement may not exceed the twenty-fifth percentile of the state-wide allowable fair rent for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, by lowering a provision allowing for a rate of return of real property other than land in excess of sixteen per cent to have such allowance revised to sixteen per cent to a provision allowing such rate of return to be in excess of eleven per cent and to have such allowance revised to eleven per cent and by requiring that such provision begin with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, amended Subdiv. (6) of Subsec. (f) by replacing a requirement that a facility receive cost efficiency adjustments for indirect costs if such costs are below one hundred ten per cent of the state-wide median costs with a provision allowing for such adjustments if indirect costs are below the state-wide median costs and by changing the provision requiring that the cost efficiency adjustments shall equal twenty-five per cent of the difference between allowable reported costs and the applicable maximum allowable cost to require that such adjustments be equal to twenty-five per cent of the difference between allowable reported costs and the applicable median allowable cost, amended Subdiv. (7) of Subsec. (f) providing for the inflation of allowable operating costs for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, amended Subsecs. (g) and (h) by providing for the allowance for real growth for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996, and any succeeding year, and added Subsec. (i) providing for a fee schedule for payments to be made to chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent homes and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health and replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-351 amended Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (f) by reenacting former Subdivs. (A) and (B) providing for costs in excess of maximum amounts for any facility with patient days covered by Medicare and a pilot program for costs in excess of maximum amounts allowed for beds in a nursing home, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-137 amended Subsec. (c) to delete a reference to the fiscal year ending June 30, 1995, thereby allowing the commissioner to continue to authorize a facility to accept payment in excess of the rate paid for a medical assistance patient in this state for a patient who receives medical assistance from another state; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; P.A. 96-268 amended Subsec. (f)(1) to allow the commissioner to provide a rate adjustment for nonemergency transportation services and amended Subsec. (h) to add provision re minimum allowable patient days for rate computation purposes beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, and provision re allowable salary of an administrator beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home"; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (h) by adding a provision increasing the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with Subsec. (p) of section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies and by providing that, beginning in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, for the purpose of determining the allowable salary of a related party, the department shall revise the maximum salary to twenty-seven thousand eight hundred fifty-six dollars to be annually inflated in accordance with section 17-311-52 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, effective July 1, 1997; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-11 amended Subsec. (f)(4) to delete provisions re exclusion of fair rent from rate increase maximums for fiscal years ending June 30, 1992, and June 30, 1993, and exclusion of cost efficiency adjustment for indirect costs from rate increase maximums for fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, and to add provisions re rate increases for facilities for fiscal years ending June 30, 1998, and June 30, 1999, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-156 amended Subsec. (f)(4)(C) to increase from two to three per cent the maximum rate increase a facility shall receive for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, to make technical changes and to prohibit a facility from receiving a rate, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and any succeeding fiscal year, which is more than the rate it received in the prior year increased by the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index for the most recent calendar year, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 98-239 amended Subsec. (f)(5) to provide that on and after July 1, 1998, the Commissioner of Social Services may allow minimum fair rent as the basis upon which reimbursement re improvements to real property is added, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-279 amended Subsec. (f)(3) by adding an exception for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2001, for facilities with an interim rate in one or both periods from the per diem maximum allowable costs for each cost component and specifying the per diem maximum allowable costs for direct costs, indirect costs, fair rent, capital-related costs and for administrative and general costs for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2001, for facilities with an interim rate in one or both periods, and amended Subsec. (f)(4) by providing for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, that a facility shall receive the specified rate increase "exclusive of rate increases associated with a wage, benefit and staffing enhancement rate adjustment added for the period from April 1, 1999, to June 30, 1999, inclusive", by specifying rate increases for facilities for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000, and June 30, 2001, and maximum rate increases for facilities with an interim rate, replaced interim rate or scheduled rate adjustment specified in a certificate of need or other agreement and by extending, from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to June 30, 2002, the prohibition against facilities receiving a rate that is more than the rate it received in the prior year increased by the annual increase in the CPI for the most recent calendar year, added new Subdiv. (f)(15), requiring the Commissioner of Social Services to adjust facility rates from April 1, 1999, to June 30, 1999, inclusive, by a per diem amount representing each facility's allocation of funds appropriated for the purpose of wage, benefit and staffing enhancement, specifying the manner in which a facility's per diem allocation of such funding shall be computed, specifying the usage of enhancement payments, and requiring the commissioner to recover from a facility any amounts determined not to have been applied to specified enhancements, and amended Subsec. (h) to increase the inflation adjustment for rates for residential care homes from one to two per cent beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, effective July 1, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2 amended Subsec. (h) by adding provision re salary computation for a related party, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, effective July 1, 2000; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (f)(4) by requiring, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, that each facility receive a rate increase that is two and one-half per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, requiring, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, that each facility receive a rate increase that is two per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, deleting provision prohibiting a facility from receiving a rate, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, and any succeeding fiscal year, that is more than the rate it received in the prior year increased by the annual increase in the CPI for the most recent calendar year, and requiring that commissioner add fair rent increases to any other rate increases established for a facility which has undergone a material change in circumstances re fair rent, deleting authority of commissioner to exclude fair rent from any rate increase maximums, amended Subsec. (g) to require commissioner, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, rate period, to increase the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with regulations to update allowable fiscal year 2000 costs to include a three and one-half per cent inflation factor, and for fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, rate period, to increase the inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with regulations to update allowable fiscal year 2001 costs to include a one and one-half per cent inflation factor, and amended Subsec. (h) to increase the allowable base salary of an administrator of a residential care home from thirty to thirty-seven thousand dollars, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, require rates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, to be based upon the increased allowable salary of an administrator, regardless of whether such amount was expended in the 2000 cost report period upon which rates are based, and require inflation adjustment for rates made in accordance with Subsec. (c) to be increased by one per cent, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (f)(4) to delete reference to a rate "increase" and make a technical change, effective July 1, 2001, and revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section; P.A. 02-89 amended Subsec. (f) to delete "Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17b-344" from the prefatory provision re determination of rates, reflecting the repeal of said section by the same public act; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (f)(4)(C) by delaying from July 1, 2002, to January 1, 2003, a two per cent rate increase to Medicaid nursing homes and specifying that facilities whose rate would have been lowered on July 1, 2002, will be issued such lower rate until January 1, 2003, when a two per cent rate increase will take effect and amended Subsec. (g) by delaying from July 1, 2002, to November 1, 2002, a one and one-half per cent rate increase to intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded and specifying that facilities whose rate would have been lowered on July 1, 2002, will be issued such lower rate until November 1, 2002, at which time the rate will be updated, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 03-2 amended Subsec. (f)(4) by delaying from January 1, 2003, to June 1, 2003, a two per cent rate increase for any facility that would have been paid a lower rate effective July 1, 2002, than for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, due to interim rate status or agreement with the department, effective February 28, 2003; P.A. 03-19 made technical changes in Subsecs. (g) and (h), effective May 12, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (a) to limit authority of commissioner to adjust rates for licensed chronic and convalescent nursing homes or rest homes with nursing supervision for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, and June 30, 2005, made technical changes in Subsec. (e), amended Subsec. (f)(4)(C) to provide that, with the exception of those facilities which would have received a lower rate, rates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, remain in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, rates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, remain in effect until December 31, 2004, and effective January 1, 2005, facilities shall receive a rate that is one per cent greater than the rate in effect on December 31, 2004, added new Subsec. (f)(16) re interim rates for licensed chronic and convalescent homes or rest homes with nursing supervision for which receivership has been imposed and authority of commissioner to adjust such rates, amended Subsec. (g) to provide that, with the exception of those intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded which would have received a lower rate, rates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, remain in effect for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, and effective July 1, 2004, such facilities shall receive a rate that is three-quarters of one per cent greater than the rate in effect on June 30, 2004, amended Subsec. (h) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), making technical changes therein, and adding new Subdiv. (2) re authority of commissioner to allow actual debt service on certain loans issued to residential care homes by the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-5 amended Subsec. (a) to delete limit on commissioner's authority to adjust rates for licensed chronic and convalescent nursing homes or rest homes with nursing supervision for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, and June 30, 2005, authorize commissioner to provide, within available appropriations, an interim rate increase for rate periods no earlier than April 1, 2004, subject to enumerated conditions, provide for rescission and recovery of certain interim rates and payments, and require quarterly reports to certain committees of the General Assembly, effective March 30, 2004; P.A. 04-16 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a), (c) and (d); P.A. 04-258 amended Subsec. (g) by eliminating provision re three-quarters of one per cent rate increase to intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded effective July 1, 2004, and adding provisions re rates in effect on June 30, 2004, remaining in effect until September 30, 2004, and on October 1, 2004, each facility shall receive a rate that is five per cent greater than the rate in effect on September 30, 2004, effective July 1, 2004; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 04-2 amended Subsec. (h)(1) by providing that for fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, each residential care home shall receive a rate that is two and one-quarter per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year, except that facilities that would have been issued a lower rate effective on July 1, 2004, shall be issued such lower rate, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-251 amended Subsec. (f)(4) by adding provisions re interim rate increases for facilities for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2007, that take effect upon receipt of all necessary federal approvals and the collection of the user fee provided in Sec. 17b-320 and may take into account reasonable costs incurred by a facility including wages and benefits and amended Subsecs. (g) and (h)(1) by adding provisions re four per cent rate increase for certain facilities for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, that shall take effect not earlier than October 1, 2005, and upon receipt of all necessary federal approvals and the collection of the user fee provided in Sec. 17b-320, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 05-280 amended Subsec. (f)(4) by making a technical change and providing that the July 1, 2005, interim rate increases for facilities shall remain in effect unless federal financial participation matching funds are no longer available or the user fee established under Sec. 17b-320 is not in effect, and amended Subsec. (h)(1) by replacing "four per cent more than the rate the facility received in the prior fiscal year" with "determined in accordance with applicable law and subject to appropriations", effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-188 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision in Subdiv. (4) that prevented commissioner from considering the immediate profitability of a facility, adding Subdiv. (5) permitting commissioner to consider "the ability of the facility to meet wage and benefit costs" and deleting provision that, on and after July 1, 2005, prevented commissioner from providing interim rate increases to licensed chronic and convalescent nursing homes or rest homes with nursing supervision, amended Subsec. (f)(4) by providing that, for fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, certain facilities shall receive a rate that is three per cent greater than the rate in effect for period ending June 30, 2006, and making technical changes, amended Subsec. (f)(16) by adding provision re commissioner's authority to increase interim rates for facilities in receivership that have a rate greater than the median rate for the facility's peer grouping, amended Subsec. (g) by providing that rates in effect for period ending June 30, 2006, shall remain in effect until September 30, 2006, and adding provision re rates effective October 1, 2006, and amended Subsec. (h)(1) by providing that rates in effect for period ending June 30, 2006, shall remain in effect until September 30, 2006, and adding provision re rates effective October 1, 2006, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (f)(4), effective June 7, 2006.

      Annotations to former section 17-314:

      Cited. 176 C. 82. Cited. 180 C. 474. Cited. 208 C. 187.

      Cited. 42 CS 348.

      Annotations to present section:

      Cited. 242 C. 345.

      Subsec. (f):

      Department's use of the lesser value methodology is not permitted; exclusive use of fair rent, in lieu of actual property costs, required in determining allowable costs of all nursing facilities. 244 C. 378.

      Sec. 17b-341. (Formerly Sec. 17-314a). Self-pay rates regulated. Provider agreement. Rate adjustments. Appeals. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall determine annually, after a public hearing, the rates to be charged to self-pay patients in any of the following licensed facilities if the facility does not have a provider agreement with the state to provide services to recipients of benefits obtained through Title XIX of the Social Security Amendments of 1965, except a facility that did not have a provider agreement in effect as of January 1, 1991, or had entered into a limited provider agreement before January 1, 1991: Chronic and convalescent nursing homes, chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent nursing homes and rest homes with nursing supervision. Each such facility that does have such a provider agreement, each such facility that did not have a provider agreement in effect as of January 1, 1991, or had entered into a limited provider agreement before January 1, 1991, and each residential care home shall determine its own self-pay rates. Rates determined pursuant to this section shall be effective July 1, 1991, and on July first of each year thereafter through June 30, 1993, and shall be determined for each facility individually, on the basis of payment for the reasonable costs of providing all services. All self-pay patients shall be given notice of a rate increase at least thirty days prior to the effective date of such rate increase. In determining rates to be charged to self-pay patients the commissioner shall: (1) Consider the quality of care provided by each facility, based on information which the Department of Public Health shall provide to the commissioner, and any testimony or information received from other interested parties; and (2) take into account the relevant cost considerations set forth in section 17b-340 and in the regulations adopted in accordance with subsection (a) of section 17b-238. Such regulations shall include but not be limited to the establishment of a formula for allowing profit or an operating surplus, and a fair rate of return on invested capital or equity. Nothing in this section shall authorize the commissioner to set a rate lower than the rate set under section 17b-340 for comparable services. As used in this section "self-pay patient" means a patient who is not receiving state or municipal assistance to pay for the cost of care. Each facility determining its own self-pay rates shall report such rates to the commissioner upon determination and upon any modification. The commissioner shall document each rate so reported and each rate determined for a facility by the commissioner pursuant to this section. Each facility shall charge any self-pay patient who is insured under a long-term care insurance policy which is precertified pursuant to section 38a-475 a rate which is at least five per cent less than the rate charged other self-pay patients.

      (b) Any hospital, home or any self-pay patient or his guardian or conservator aggrieved by said commissioner's decision regarding the rates to be charged to self-pay patients may obtain, by written request to said commissioner, a hearing on all items of aggrievement in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-181a, inclusive, if the request is made not later than ten days after written notice of the decision is provided by said commissioner to such home or hospital. Upon receipt of such notice concerning the rate decision, the home or hospital shall immediately give written notice of said commissioner's decision to any patient affected or his guardian or conservator.

      (c) In the event of an unforeseen or material change in circumstances such hospital or home may submit an application for a rate increase at any time in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner by regulations adopted in accordance with subsection (a) of section 17b-238. All self-pay patients shall be given notice of an application for a rate increase as soon as possible after receipt of such application by the commissioner, but in no case shall such notice be provided less than ten days prior to the effective date of such increase. The commissioner may approve, modify, or deny such rate increase request with or without a public hearing thereon not less than ten nor more than thirty days after receipt of such request. Notice of such decision shall be given immediately to the hospital or home by certified mail and to the public by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the area affected. If such rate increase request is denied, modified or approved without a public hearing the applicant or any member of the public may request such a hearing not later than thirty days after the date of such decision, in which case the commissioner shall hold a public hearing. Any public hearing provided by this section shall be held not less than ten nor more than thirty days after receipt of the request for a rate increase or the request for a hearing by the applicant or a member of the public. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the hospital or home by certified mail and to the public, by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the area affected, at least one week prior to such hearing. Such hearing shall be held, at the discretion of the commissioner, in Hartford or in the area served by such hospital or home. The commissioner shall require from such hospital or home such information, data, records, studies and evaluations as he considers necessary to determine the need for such increases in accordance with the regulations adopted pursuant to section 17b-238. Such proposed increases shall take effect thirty days after such hearing or thirty days after the receipt of any data requested by the commissioner, whichever is later, unless within such period the commissioner denies the requested increase or approves such percentage of the increase as he feels is justified. If no hearing is held or requested the commissioner's decision shall take effect thirty days after the date of such decision. The applicant shall have the burden of proof that an increase is warranted.

      (d) Any party aggrieved by said commissioner's decision after a hearing conducted pursuant to subsection (b) or (c), may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183, except venue shall be in the judicial district in which the home or hospital is located. Such appeal shall have precedence in respect to order of trial over all other cases except writs of habeas corpus, actions brought by or on behalf of the state, including informations on the relation of private individuals, and appeals from awards or decisions of workers' compensation commissioners.

      (e) The Superior Court, on application of the Commissioner of Social Services or the Attorney General, may enforce any determination made by the commissioner, pursuant to subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section, by appropriate decree or process, including but not limited to the following: (1) An order requiring a hospital or home to cease and desist from charging a self-pay patient a rate in excess of the allowable rate set pursuant to this section; and (2) an order that the hospital or home refund to a self-pay patient any amount paid in excess of the allowable rate set pursuant to this section. The decree or process shall issue upon proof of the allowable rate established pursuant to this section and proof that a self-pay patient has paid any amount in excess of the allowable rate established pursuant to this section, as required by the hospital or home.

      (P.A. 79-182, S. 1, 4; P.A. 80-141; 80-203; 80-483, S. 77, 186; P.A. 88-156, S. 21; 88-317, S. 75, 107; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 23, 63; P.A. 92-231, S. 1, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 03-268, S. 9.)

      History: P.A. 80-141 required consideration of quality of care based on health services department information or on other information or testimony in determination of rates; P.A. 80-203 required thirty-day notice of impending increase to self-pay patients in Subsec. (a), required notification of application for increase to self-pay patients in Subsec. (c) and placed burden of proof that increase is necessary on applicant and added Subsec. (e) re enforcement of orders by court; P.A. 80-483 deleted reference to counties in Subsec. (d) and replaced "workmen's compensation" with "workers' compensation"; P.A. 88-156 substituted chronic and convalescent nursing homes for chronic and convalescent hospitals and added chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent nursing homes to list of establishments for which the commissioner sets the rates to be charged to self-pay patients in Subsec. (a); P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Secs. 4-177 to 4-181 in Subsec. (b) to include new sections added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 amended Subsec. (a) re rate determination and the rate of payment for nursing homes, chronic disease hospitals associated with chronic and convalescent nursing homes, chronic and convalescent hospitals, rest homes, homes for the aged and residential facilities for the care of the mentally retarded added provisions requiring facilities with provider agreements and homes for aged to determine their own self pay rates and to report rates to the commissioner and required commissioner to report rates to the human service committee on December 31, 1992; P.A. 92-231 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring facilities to charge self-pay patients insured under long-term care policies precertified pursuant to Sec. 38a-475 a rate at least five per cent less than the rate charged other self-pay patients; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-314a transferred to Sec. 17b-341 in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home"; P.A. 03-268 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision which required commissioner to report facility self-pay rates to human services committee by December 31, 1992.

      Sec. 17b-342. (Formerly Sec. 17-314b). Connecticut home-care program for the elderly. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly state-wide in order to prevent the institutionalization of elderly persons (1) who are recipients of medical assistance, (2) who are eligible for such assistance, (3) who would be eligible for medical assistance if residing in a nursing facility, or (4) who meet the criteria for the state-funded portion of the program under subsection (i) of this section. For purposes of this section, a long-term care facility is a facility which has been federally certified as a skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility. The commissioner shall make any revisions in the state Medicaid plan required by Title XIX of the Social Security Act prior to implementing the program. The annualized cost of the community-based services provided to such persons under the program shall not exceed sixty per cent of the weighted average cost of care in skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities. The program shall be structured so that the net cost to the state for long-term facility care in combination with the community-based services under the program shall not exceed the net cost the state would have incurred without the program. The commissioner shall investigate the possibility of receiving federal funds for the program and shall apply for any necessary federal waivers. A recipient of services under the program, and the estate and legally liable relatives of the recipient, shall be responsible for reimbursement to the state for such services to the same extent required of a recipient of assistance under the state supplement program, medical assistance program, temporary family assistance program or food stamps program. Only a United States citizen or a noncitizen who meets the citizenship requirements for eligibility under the Medicaid program shall be eligible for home-care services under this section, except a qualified alien, as defined in Section 431 of Public Law 104-193, admitted into the United States on or after August 22, 1996, or other lawfully residing immigrant alien determined eligible for services under this section prior to July 1, 1997, shall remain eligible for such services. Qualified aliens or other lawfully residing immigrant aliens not determined eligible prior to July 1, 1997, shall be eligible for services under this section subsequent to six months from establishing residency. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any qualified alien or other lawfully residing immigrant alien or alien who formerly held the status of permanently residing under color of law who is a victim of domestic violence or who has mental retardation shall be eligible for assistance pursuant to this section. Qualified aliens, as defined in Section 431 of Public Law 104-193, or other lawfully residing immigrant aliens or aliens who formerly held the status of permanently residing under color of law shall be eligible for services under this section provided other conditions of eligibility are met.

      (b) The commissioner shall solicit bids through a competitive process and shall contract with an access agency, approved by the Office of Policy and Management and the Department of Social Services as meeting the requirements for such agency as defined by regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, that submits proposals which meet or exceed the minimum bid requirements. In addition to such contracts, the commissioner may use department staff to provide screening, coordination, assessment and monitoring functions for the program.

      (c) The community-based services covered under the program shall include, but not be limited to, the following services to the extent that they are not available under the state Medicaid plan, occupational therapy, homemaker services, companion services, meals on wheels, adult day care, transportation, mental health counseling, care management, elderly foster care, minor home modifications and assisted living services provided in state-funded congregate housing and in other assisted living pilot or demonstration projects established under state law. Recipients of state-funded services and persons who are determined to be functionally eligible for community-based services who have an application for medical assistance pending shall have the cost of home health and community-based services covered by the program, provided they comply with all medical assistance application requirements. Access agencies shall not use department funds to purchase community-based services or home health services from themselves or any related parties.

      (d) Physicians, hospitals, long-term care facilities and other licensed health care facilities may disclose, and, as a condition of eligibility for the program, elderly persons, their guardians, and relatives shall disclose, upon request from the Department of Social Services, such financial, social and medical information as may be necessary to enable the department or any agency administering the program on behalf of the department to provide services under the program. Long-term care facilities shall supply the Department of Social Services with the names and addresses of all applicants for admission. Any information provided pursuant to this subsection shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed by the department or administering agency.

      (e) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to define "access agency", to implement and administer the program, to establish uniform state-wide standards for the program and a uniform assessment tool for use in the screening process and to specify conditions of eligibility.

      (f) The commissioner may require long-term care facilities to inform applicants for admission of the program established under this section and to distribute such forms as the commissioner prescribes for the program. Such forms shall be supplied by and be returnable to the department.

      (g) The commissioner shall report annually, by June first, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services on the program in such detail, depth and scope as said committee requires to evaluate the effect of the program on the state and program participants. Such report shall include information on (1) the number of persons diverted from placement in a long-term care facility as a result of the program, (2) the number of persons screened, (3) the average cost per person in the program, (4) the administration costs, (5) the estimated savings, and (6) a comparison between costs under the different contracts.

      (h) An individual who is otherwise eligible for services pursuant to this section shall, as a condition of participation in the program, apply for medical assistance benefits pursuant to section 17b-260 when requested to do so by the department and shall accept such benefits if determined eligible.

      (i) (1) On and after July 1, 1992, the Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available appropriations, administer a state-funded portion of the program for persons (A) who are sixty-five years of age and older; (B) who are inappropriately institutionalized or at risk of inappropriate institutionalization; (C) whose income is less than or equal to the amount allowed under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of this section; and (D) whose assets, if single, do not exceed the minimum community spouse protected amount pursuant to Section 4022.05 of the department's uniform policy manual or, if married, the couple's assets do not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of said community spouse protected amount and on and after April 1, 2007, whose assets, if single, do not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the minimum community spouse protected amount pursuant to Section 4022.05 of the department's uniform policy manual or, if married, the couple's assets do not exceed two hundred per cent of said community spouse protected amount.

      (2) Any person whose income exceeds two hundred per cent of the federal poverty level shall contribute to the cost of care in accordance with the methodology established for recipients of medical assistance pursuant to Sections 5035.20 and 5035.25 of the department's uniform policy manual.

      (3) On and after June 30, 1992, the program shall serve persons receiving state-funded home and community-based services from the department, persons receiving services under the promotion of independent living for the elderly program operated by the Department of Social Services, regardless of age, and persons receiving services on June 19, 1992, under the home care demonstration project operated by the Department of Social Services. Such persons receiving state-funded services whose income and assets exceed the limits established pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection may continue to participate in the program, but shall be required to pay the total cost of care, including case management costs.

      (4) Services shall not be increased for persons who received services under the promotion of independent living for the elderly program over the limits in effect under said program in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, unless a person's needs increase and the person is eligible for Medicaid.

      (5) The annualized cost of services provided to an individual under the state-funded portion of the program shall not exceed fifty per cent of the weighted average cost of care in nursing homes in the state, except an individual who received services costing in excess of such amount under the Department of Social Services in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1992, may continue to receive such services, provided the annualized cost of such services does not exceed eighty per cent of the weighted average cost of such nursing home care. The commissioner may allow the cost of services provided to an individual to exceed the maximum cost established pursuant to this subdivision in a case of extreme hardship, as determined by the commissioner, provided in no case shall such cost exceed that of the weighted cost of such nursing home care.

      (j) The Commissioner of Social Services may implement revised criteria for the operation of the program while in the process of adopting such criteria in regulation form, provided the commissioner prints notice of intention to adopt the regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days of implementing the policy. Such criteria shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective.

      (P.A. 85-556, S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-374, S. 4, 6; P.A. 87-363, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-296, S. 7, 9; P.A. 90-182, S. 1, 3; P.A. 91-176; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 37, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-418, S. 27, 41; P.A. 95-160, S. 7, 69; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 76, 165; P.A. 99-279, S. 12, 45; P.A. 00-83, S. 4, 5; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2, S. 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 110, 131; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 23; P.A. 04-258, S. 17; P.A. 05-280, S. 10.)

      History: P.A. 86-374 rephrased provision in Subsec. (b) re solicitation of bids and contracting processes, expanded community-based services in Subsec. (c), and inserted new Subsec. (g) re commencement of preadmission screening and community-based services program, relettering former Subsec. (g) as (h); P.A. 87-363 amended (1) Subsec. (b) to eliminate the requirement that the commissioner contract with "at least three different" coordination, assessment and monitoring agencies and (2) Subsec. (g) to remove language specifying that the program start on January 1, 1987, if the department has approval and added the language providing for implementation when the department has approval and has arranged for the provision of coordination, assessment and monitoring functions state-wide and added language on operation within available appropriations; P.A. 89-296 added Subsec. (i) re application for medical assistance benefits under Sec. 17-134a as condition of participation in program; P.A. 90-182 amended program eligibility criteria in Subsec. (a) to exclude persons who would become eligible for medical assistance within 180 days if they were placed in a long-term care facility, and to delete reference to sliding fee schedule for such persons, and to include persons receiving state-funded program services on June 30, 1990, and persons who apply for such services by June 30, 1990, and are determined eligible; amended Subsec. (c) to exclude persons who are ineligible for medical assistance from eligibility for home health services and to provide that persons determined to be functionally eligible for community-based services who have applied for medical assistance are eligible for home health and community-based services; amended Subsec. (f) to delete provision that long-term care facilities shall not be required to determine if applicants for admission who are not medical assistance recipients would become eligible for such assistance within 180 days following admission, and to delete provision that no long-term care facility shall be subject to penalty or denied reimbursement due to failure of an applicant for admission who is not a medical assistance recipient to apply for program established under section or to comply with program requirements; deleted obsolete provisions of Subsec. (g) re implementation of program and renumbered remaining Subsecs; P.A. 91-176 amended Subsec. (a) to require that the estate and legally liable relatives of a recipient of services under the program be responsible for reimbursement to the state for such services; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 changed the name of the program to the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly, added Subsec. (i) establishing a state-funded portion of the program and made technical changes for consistency; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance and commissioner and department on aging, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-418 amended Subsec. (i) to include persons whose gross income is less than or equal to the amount allowed under the federally funded portion of the program and changed the provisions of the asset test to reflect whether a person is single or married, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-314b transferred to Sec. 17b-342 in 1995; P.A. 95-160 replaced coordination, assessment and monitoring agency with access agency, amended Subsec. (e) to require the commissioner to adopt regulations defining "access agency", amended Subsec. (g) to change the reporting date from January first to June first, amended Subsec. (j) to allow the commissioner to implement revised criteria for the operation of the entire program, instead of the state-funded portion of the program, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (a) by allowing only citizens or noncitizens who meet eligibility requirements under Medicaid to qualify for services under this section, by allowing certain qualified aliens to be eligible for services under this section, by allowing any qualified alien or lawfully residing immigrant alien who is a victim of domestic violence or who has mental retardation to be eligible for services under this section and by making technical changes, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-279 amended Subsec. (a) to extend from July 1, 1999, to July 1, 2001, the eligibility of certain qualified aliens or other lawfully residing immigrant aliens for services under this section, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 00-83 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that alien who formerly held status of permanently residing under color of law who is a domestic violence victim or who has mental retardation shall be eligible for assistance under this section and to provide that qualified aliens or other lawfully residing immigrant aliens who formerly held such status shall be eligible for services under this section if other eligibility conditions are met, effective July 1, 2000; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2 amended Subsec. (a) to add new Subdiv. (3) re eligibility for elderly persons who would be eligible for medical assistance if residing in a nursing facility and to designate former Subdiv. (3) as Subdiv. (4), amended Subsec. (c) to expand community-based services covered under the program to include "care", in lieu of "case", management, minor home modifications and assisted living services provided in state-funded congregate housing and other assisted living pilot or demonstration projects, amended Subsec. (f) to make a technical change, amended Subsec. (i)(1)(C) to change income requirements from amount allowed under federally funded portion of program to amount allowed under Subsec. (a)(3), deleted former Subsec. (i)(2) re sliding scale formula for required contributions for program participants, and added new Subsec. (i)(2) requiring that persons whose income exceeds two hundred per cent of federal poverty level contribute to cost of care in accordance with methodology established for medical assistance recipients; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 amended Subsec. (a) to extend deadline for acceptance of applications by certain aliens to June 30, 2002, effective July 1, 2001; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (a) to extend the deadline for certain aliens to apply for assistance until June 30, 2003, effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 04-258 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision that prohibited Commissioner of Social Services from accepting applications for assistance pursuant to section from a qualified alien or other lawfully residing immigrant alien after June 30, 2003, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-280 amended Subsec. (i)(1) to provide that, on and after April 1, 2007, the applicable asset limit used in determining eligibility for the state-funded portion of the program, for a single person, is assets not to exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the community spouse protected amount and, for married individuals, is couple's assets not to exceed two hundred per cent of the community spouse protected amount, effective July 1, 2005.

      Sec. 17b-342a. Pilot program to provide personal care assistance under the home-care program for the elderly. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall, within available appropriations, establish and operate a state-funded pilot program to allow no more than two hundred fifty persons who are sixty-five years of age or older and meet the eligibility requirements of the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly established under section 17b-342 to receive personal care assistance provided such services are cost effective as determined by the Commissioner of Social Services. Persons who receive personal care assistance services pursuant to the pilot program established by section 47 of public act 00-2 of the June special session* shall be included as participants of the pilot program established pursuant to this section. Personal care assistance under the program may be provided by nonspousal family members of the recipient of services under the program.

      (b) In conducting the pilot program, the commissioner or the commissioner's agent (1) may require as a condition of participation that participants in the pilot program disclose if a personal care assistant is a nonspousal family member, (2) shall monitor the provision of services under the pilot program, and (3) shall ensure the cost-effectiveness of the pilot program.

      (c) The commissioner shall establish the maximum allowable rate to be paid for such services under the pilot program and may set a separate lower rate for nonspousal family members providing services as personal care assistants in the pilot program if deemed necessary by the commissioner to ensure cost effectiveness of the pilot program and to conduct the pilot program within available appropriations.

      (d) Not later than January 1, 2007, the Commissioner of Social Services shall submit a report on the pilot program to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to appropriations and human services and to the select committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to aging. The report shall include information on the quality of services provided under the pilot program and shall be submitted in accordance with section 11-4a.

      (P.A. 04-258, S. 40; P.A. 05-209, S. 3; P.A. 06-188, S. 9.)

      *Note: Section 47 of public act 00-2 of the June special session was special in nature and therefore was not codified and has been repealed by section 5 of public act 05-209.

      History: P.A. 04-258 effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-209 amended Subsec. (a) by removing June 30, 2006, termination date for operation of pilot program, substituting "one hundred fifty" for "one hundred" re total number of participants in pilot program, deleting requirement that services be an alternative covered service to home health services in order to avoid institutionalization, replacing requirement that cost of pilot program services not exceed the average annual cost to the state per recipient of home health service under the home-care program with requirement that services be determined cost effective by commissioner and providing that persons receiving assistance under pilot program established by Sec. 47 of June Sp. Sess. Public Act 00-2 are included in pilot program established under section and amended Subsec. (d) to extend report date on pilot program from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2007, effective July 6, 2005; P.A. 06-188 amended Subsec. (a) by increasing the number of participants in the pilot program from one hundred fifty to two hundred fifty, effective July 1, 2006.

      Sec. 17b-342b. Waiver application re pilot program to provide personal care assistance under the home-care program for the elderly. Section 17b-342b is repealed, effective July 6, 2005.

      (P.A. 04-258, S. 41; P.A. 05-209, S. 5.)

      Sec. 17b-343. (Formerly Sec. 17-314c). Rates of payment for home care services, transportation and mental health counseling. The Commissioner of Social Services shall establish annually the maximum allowable rate to be paid by said agencies for homemaker services, chore person services, companion services, respite care, meals on wheels, adult day care services, case management and assessment services, transportation, mental health counseling and elderly foster care, except that the maximum allowable rates in effect July 1, 1990, shall remain in effect during the fiscal years ending June 30, 1992, and June 30, 1993. The Commissioner of Social Services shall prescribe uniform forms on which agencies providing such services shall report their costs for such services. Such rates shall be determined on the basis of a reasonable payment for necessary services rendered. The maximum allowable rates established by the Commissioner of Social Services for the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly established under section 17b-342 shall constitute the rates required under this section until revised in accordance with this section. The Commissioner of Social Services shall establish a fee schedule, to be effective on and after July 1, 1994, for homemaker services, chore person services, companion services, respite care, meals on wheels, adult day care services, case management and assessment services, transportation, mental health counseling and elderly foster care. The commissioner may annually increase any fee in the fee schedule based on an increase in the cost of services. The commissioner shall increase the fee schedule effective July 1, 2000, by not less than five per cent, for adult day care services. Nothing contained in this section shall authorize a payment by the state to any agency for such services in excess of the amount charged by such agency for such services to the general public.

      (P.A. 86-319, S. 1; P.A. 87-516, S. 4; 87-589, S. 64, 87; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 21, 63; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 32, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 38, 87; 93-418, S. 26, 41; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 95-160, S. 8, 69; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2, S. 17, 53.)

      History: P.A. 87-516 provided that the commissioner of income maintenance shall establish the maximum rates in consultation with the commissioner of human resources and the commissioner on aging, added transportation and mental health counseling to the list of services, and specified the maximum allowable rates for the preadmission screening and community-based services program; P.A. 87-589 added "until revised in accordance with this section"; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 amended the section re rate determination and the rate of payment for home care services, transportation and mental health counseling; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 provided that the maximum allowable rates in effect on July 1, 1990, shall remain in effect during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, and provided that for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1993, any rate established in a subcontact between coordination, assessment and monitoring agencies and direct care providers shall not exceed the rate in effect on June 30, 1992, increased by the most recent annual increase in the consumer price index for urban consumers; P.A. 93-262 replaced references to commissioners of income maintenance, human resources and aging with commissioner of social services and replaced the words "preadmission screening and community-based services program" with the words "Connecticut home-care program for the elderly", effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-418 required the commissioner to establish a fee schedule for home care services on and after July 1, 1994, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-435 authorized substitution of commissioner of social services for commissioner of income maintenance in P.A. 93-418, effective June 28, 1993; Sec. 17-314c transferred to Sec. 17b-343 in 1995; P.A. 95-160 deleted the reference to coordination, assessment and monitoring agencies, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2 provided that the fee schedule for adult day care services shall increase by not less than five per cent, effective July 1, 2000.

      Sec. 17b-343a. Payment of claims for home health services provided under Medicare and Medicaid. Liability. Sanctions. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, for the duration of a demonstration project established pursuant to 42 USC 1395b-1 for the purpose of improving the efficiency of the process for the payment of claims for home health services provided to individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid: (1) No eligible recipient of home health services shall be liable for reimbursement to the state for the cost of those services; and (2) the Commissioner of Social Services may impose upon a provider of home health services a sanction of up to fifty thousand dollars for each failure to file claims or medical records as required under the provisions of the demonstration project. Any sanction imposed pursuant to this section may be recouped from ongoing payments to the provider of the services.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services may, pursuant to an agreement with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, waive liability for reimbursement to the state for payment for home health services received by an otherwise liable eligible recipient to whom such services were provided during the interim period from October 1, 1997, to September 30, 2000, inclusive.

      (May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 98.)

      History: May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 effective August 15, 2002.

      Secs. 17b-344 and 17b-345. (Formerly Secs. 17-314d and 17b-314e). Rates of payment to facilities for room, board and services. Self-pay rates in licensed chronic and convalescent nursing homes and rest homes with nursing supervision based on certain cost years. Sections 17b-344 and 17b-345 are repealed, effective October 1, 2002.

      (P.A. 89-325, S. 1, 2, 26; P.A. 90-176, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 02-89, S. 90; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)

      Sec. 17b-346. (Formerly Sec. 17-314f). Chronic and convalescent nursing facility: Title XIX Medicaid program participant. Provider agreement. (a) Effective October 1, 1991, every chronic and convalescent nursing home, except those restricted to use by patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome, chronic disease hospital associated with a chronic and convalescent nursing home, and rest home with nursing supervision, that participates in the medical assistance program provided in Title XIX of the Social Security Act shall, as a condition of participation in said program, if eligible, maintain or execute a provider agreement with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to participate in the Medicare program under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to the same extent that the facility participates in the Title XIX medical assistance program.

      (b) The commissioner may issue a rate for any facility which fails to comply with the provisions of this section provided such rate may not be lower than the lowest rate paid to a facility for the same level of care.

      (P.A. 89-325, S. 4, 26; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 24; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 46.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 amended Subsec. (a) by making technical corrections and deleted Subsec. (c) which had exempted certain facilities from participating in program; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-314f transferred to Sec. 17b-346 in 1995; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 amended Subsec. (a) to add exception for chronic and convalescent nursing home restricted to use by patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and to delete provision allowing facility to seek approval to have a larger portion of facility certified for Title XIX medical assistance program, effective August 15, 2002.

      Sec. 17b-347. (Formerly Sec. 17-314g). Termination of Medicaid provider agreements by nursing home facilities. Rates to be charged self-pay patients. (a) Any nursing home facility, as defined in section 19a-521, which intends to decrease its services to persons who receive medical assistance benefits from the state by terminating its Medicaid provider agreement shall notify the Commissioner of Social Services in writing and shall transfer all patients who receive such benefits to another facility which participates in the Medicaid program within thirty days of the date of such termination. The facility terminating such agreement shall be responsible for any loss of federal financial participation arising from such termination. At least six months prior to a nursing home facility notifying the commissioner of its intention to terminate its Medicaid provider agreement the facility shall provide written notification of such intention to each patient, applicant for admission and, if known, each patient's and each applicant's legally liable relative, guardian or conservator. Failure of a nursing home to provide such notice to each patient, applicant and legally liable relative, guardian or conservator shall invalidate any notice provided to the commissioner.

      (b) The commissioner may enter into a limited provider agreement to provide Medicaid reimbursement for care rendered to eligible patients for up to ninety days following the date of termination of a facility's Medicaid provider agreement. Thereafter, the commissioner shall enter into a limited provider agreement only for patients eligible for Medicaid who are determined by the Department of Public Health to be in imminent danger of death if involuntarily transferred or discharged in accordance with section 19a-535. The commissioner shall provide no reimbursement to any facility which has terminated its Medicaid provider agreement other than the reimbursement provided under a limited provider agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection.

      (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner shall enter into a limited provider agreement with any facility which provided notice to the commissioner of its intention to terminate its Medicaid provider agreement after July 1, 1989, and before March 1, 1990, to provide Medicaid reimbursement for care rendered to (1) patients residing in such a facility who are eligible for Medicaid on or before March 31, 1990, and (2) patients residing in such a facility on or before March 31, 1990, who become eligible for Medicaid. No such patient in such a facility shall be involuntarily transferred or discharged on the basis of source of payment.

      (d) Notwithstanding any provisions of the general statutes, the public or special acts of 1989 or 1990 or the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, the Commissioner of Social Services shall determine the maximum rate to be charged self-pay patients in any nursing home facility which has notified the commissioner of its intention to terminate its Medicaid provider agreement on or after March 1, 1990, by (1) determining the rate to be paid for persons aided or cared for by the state or any town in this state pursuant to regulations in effect March 1, 1990, adopted under section 17b-238; and (2) adding to such rate a percentage of the state-wide median Medicaid rate as determined pursuant to regulations in effect March 1, 1990, adopted under section 17b-238, according to the following schedule:

If a facility terminates or fails to renew its provider agreement during a rate year, the commissioner shall revise the rate to be charged self-pay patients determined in accordance with this subsection. The revised rate shall take effect (A) on the date of termination or expiration of the provider agreement if the revision results in a decrease in the rate; or (B) upon thirty days notice to the self-pay patients if the revision results in an increase in the rate.

      (P.A. 89-325, S. 10, 26; P.A. 90-217, S. 2, 3; P.A. 92-163; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)

      History: P.A. 90-217 added provisions re notification required when a facility intends to terminate its provider agreement, terms of limited provider agreements and rates to be charged self-pay patients in a facility which has terminated its provider agreement and divided sections into Subsecs.; P.A. 92-163 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision requiring patient to be eligible for Medicaid on the date of termination of a facility's provider agreement in order to be covered under a limited provider agreement if in imminent danger of death if involuntarily transferred or discharged; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-314g transferred to Sec. 17b-347 in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.

      Secs. 17b-347a to 17b-347d. Reserved for future use.

      Sec. 17b-347e. Demonstration project for provision of subsidized assisted living services for persons residing in affordable housing. Memorandum of understanding. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, shall establish a demonstration project to provide subsidized assisted living services, as defined in section 19-13-D105 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, for persons residing in affordable housing, as defined in section 8-39a. The demonstration project shall be conducted in at least three municipalities to be determined by the Commissioner of Social Services. The demonstration project shall be limited to a maximum of three hundred subsidized dwelling units. Applicants for such subsidized assisted living services shall be subject to the same eligibility requirements as the Connecticut home care program for the elderly pursuant to section 17b-342.

      (b) Not later than January 1, 1999, the Commissioner of Social Services shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. Such memorandum of understanding shall specify that (1) the Department of Social Services apply for a Medicaid waiver to secure federal financial participation to fund assisted living services, establish a process to select nonprofit and for-profit providers and determine the number of dwelling units in the demonstration project, (2) the Department of Economic and Community Development provide rental subsidy certificates pursuant to section 8-402 or rental assistance pursuant to section 8-119kk, and (3) the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provide second mortgage loans for housing projects for which the authority has provided financial assistance in the form of a loan secured by a first mortgage pursuant to section 8-403 for the demonstration project. Not later than July 1, 1999, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority shall issue a request for proposals for persons or entities interested in participating in the demonstration project.

      (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a combination of unsubsidized dwelling units and subsidized dwelling units under the demonstration project within the same facility. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 8-402, the Department of Economic and Community Development may set the rental subsidy at any percentage of the annual aggregate family income and define aggregate family income and eligibility for subsidies in a manner consistent with such demonstration project.

      (P.A. 98-239, S. 1, 35; P.A. 99-279, S. 22, 45; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 37, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131.)

      History: P.A. 98-239 effective June 8, 1998; P.A. 99-279 amended Subsec. (a) to allow the demonstration project to be conducted in more than three municipalities and to specify that the maximum number of dwelling units be subsidized, and added a new Subsec. (c) allowing a combination of subsidized and unsubsidized dwelling units under the demonstration project within the same facility and permitting the Department of Economic and Community Development to set the rental subsidy at any percentage of the annual aggregate family income and to define aggregate family income and eligibility for subsidies, effective July 1, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision re deadline for acceptance of applications for the demonstration project, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section.

      Sec. 17b-348. (Formerly Sec. 17-314h). Demonstration project: Skilled and intermediate nursing home care for persons with AIDS. Rate. Regulations. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, the Department of Social Services shall establish rates based on reasonable costs related to patient care for a demonstration project which shall provide skilled and intermediate nursing home care for persons with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or AIDS-related complex in a facility which is located within the Connecticut metropolitan area which has the highest incidence of AIDS and which is specifically established, equipped and staffed for such purpose.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services may implement the provisions of this section prior to adopting or amending regulations.

      (P.A. 89-325, S. 11, 26; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-314h transferred to Sec. 17b-348 in 1995.

      Sec. 17b-349. (Formerly Sec. 17-314i). Adjustment of rates of payment to community health centers and free-standing medical clinics participating in Medicaid program. (a) The rates paid by the state to community health centers and free-standing medical clinics participating in the Medicaid program may be adjusted annually on the basis of the cost reports submitted to the Commissioner of Social Services, except that rates effective July 1, 1989, shall remain in effect through June 30, 1990.

      (b) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be equivalent to base grant awards made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (c) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be equivalent to base grant awards made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1997, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (d) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be equivalent to base grant awards made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be equivalent to base grant awards made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (f) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be in the same proportion to its grant award made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, as the total appropriation for such grant awards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, is to the total appropriation for such grant awards for the prior fiscal year, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (g) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be in the same proportion to its grant award made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, as the total appropriation for such grant awards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, is to the total appropriation for such grant awards for the prior fiscal year, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (h) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be in the same proportion to its grant award made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, as the total appropriation for such grant awards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, is to the total appropriation for such grant awards for the prior fiscal year, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (i) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, any grant awards made to a community health center or its successor for the purpose of supporting the community health center infrastructure services to the uninsured or expansion initiative projects shall be in the same proportion to its grant award made in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, as the total appropriation for such grant awards for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, is to the total appropriation for such grant awards for the prior fiscal year, provided, if any portion of the amount is not required by a given community health center, the differential shall be distributed among all the other health centers according to their share of total funding.

      (P.A. 89-325, S. 16, 26; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8, S. 21, 88; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2, S. 24, 72; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4, S. 10, 58; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 86; P.A. 04-16, S. 12.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-314i transferred to Sec. 17b-349 in 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-8 added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re grants to community health centers for specified services and projects, for 1998 and 1999, respectively, effective July 1, 1997; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2 added Subsecs. (d) and (e) re grants to community health centers for specified services and projects, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2000 and June 30, 2001, respectively, effective July 1, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-4 added Subsecs. (f) and (g) re grants to community health centers for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2002, and June 30, 2003, respectively, effective July 1, 2001; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 added Subsecs. (h) and (i) re grants to community health centers for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2004, and June 30, 2005, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 04-16 made a technical change in Subsecs. (h) and (i).

      See Sec. 19a-490a for definition of "community health center".

      Secs. 17b-349a to 17b-349d. Reserved for future use.

      Sec. 17b-349e. Demonstration program for provision of respite care services for caretakers of Alzheimer's patients. Definitions. Requirements. Regulations. (a) As used in this section:

      (1) "Respite care services" means support services which provide short-term relief from the demands of ongoing care for an individual with Alzheimer's disease.

      (2) "Caretaker" means a person who has the responsibility for the care of an individual with Alzheimer's disease or has assumed the responsibility for such individual voluntarily, by contract or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

      (3) "Copayment" means a payment made by or on behalf of an individual with Alzheimer's disease for respite care services.

      (4) "Individual with Alzheimer's disease" means an individual with Alzheimer's disease or related disorders.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall establish a demonstration program, within available appropriations, to provide respite care services for caretakers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, provided such individuals with Alzheimer's disease meet the requirements set forth in subsection (c) of this section. Such respite care services may include, but need not be limited to (1) homemaker services; (2) adult day care; (3) temporary care in a licensed medical facility; (4) home-health care; or (5) companion services. Such respite care services may be administered directly by the department, or through contracts for services with providers of such services, or by means of direct subsidy to caretakers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease to purchase such services.

      (c) (1) No individual with Alzheimer's disease may participate in the program if such individual (A) has an annual income of more than thirty thousand dollars or liquid assets of more than eighty thousand dollars, or (B) is covered by Medicaid.

      (2) No individual with Alzheimer's disease who participates in the program may receive more than three thousand five hundred dollars for services under the program in any fiscal year or receive more than thirty days of out-of-home respite care services other than adult day care services under the program in any fiscal year.

      (3) The commissioner may require an individual with Alzheimer's disease who participates in the program to pay a copayment for respite care services under the program, except the commissioner may waive such copayment upon demonstration of financial hardship by such individual.

      (d) The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall include, but need not be limited to (1) standards for eligibility for respite care services; (2) the basis for priority in receiving services; (3) qualifications and requirements of providers, which shall include specialized training in Alzheimer's disease, dementia and related disorders; (4) a requirement that providers accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, when available, receive preference in contracting for services; (5) provider reimbursement levels; (6) limits on services and cost of services; and (7) a fee schedule for copayments.

      (e) The Commissioner of Social Services may allocate any funds appropriated in excess of five hundred thousand dollars for the demonstration program among the five area agencies on aging according to need, as determined by said commissioner.

      (P.A. 98-239, S. 14, 35; P.A. 99-162, S. 1, 2; 99-279, S. 23, 45.)

      History: P.A. 98-239 effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 99-162 amended Subsec. (c) to increase, from twenty-one to thirty, the maximum number of days of out-of-home respite care services available under the program in any fiscal year, to provide that adult day care services are not subject to such maximum and to make technical changes, and Subsec. (d) to delete requirement in Subdiv. (1) that regulations include in standards accreditation by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and to add in Subdiv. (4) a requirement that providers accredited by said commission, when available, receive preference in contracting for services and renumbered remaining Subdivs. accordingly, effective July 1, 1999; P.A. 99-279 added a new Subsec. (e) allowing allocation of funds appropriated in excess of five hundred thousand dollars for the demonstration program among the five area agencies on aging based on need, as determined by the commissioner, effective July 1, 1999.

      Sec. 17b-350. (Formerly Sec. 17-314n). Demonstration program for respite care in nursing homes for self-pay patients. The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Public Health, shall establish a demonstration program for respite care in nursing homes for self-pay patients. The program shall offer a financial incentive for a nursing home to reserve beds for respite care.

      (P.A. 92-231, S. 7, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of public health and addiction services for commissioner and department of health services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-314n transferred to Sec. 17b-350 in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.

      Sec. 17b-351. (Formerly Sec. 19a-155a). Nursing homes: Title XVIII and Title XIX participants. Increased bed capacity. Capital construction project. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 17b-8 or 17b-9, any nursing home participating in the Title XVIII and Title XIX programs may, on a one-time basis, increase its licensed bed capacity and implement a capital construction project to accomplish such an increase without being required to request or obtain approval of the increase in services, licensed bed capacity or the capital expenditures program from the Department of Social Services provided that the project (1) shall not require licensure by the Department of Public Health of more than ten additional nursing home beds, and (2) the total capital cost of said program shall not exceed thirty thousand dollars per bed, adjusted for inflation annually by said department.

      (b) The General Assembly finds evidence of insufficient need for all the nursing home beds permitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, but not licensed by the Department of Public Health and finds allowing unnecessary beds to be licensed will result in severely damaging economic consequences to the state and to consumers. An addition of beds initiated pursuant to this section shall be licensed no later than June 9, 1993. A facility which has initiated the addition of beds but has not obtained licensure of such beds, may, no later than July 15, 1993, apply to the Office of Health Care Access for authorization to proceed with completion of the additional beds and application for licensure, provided (A) plans for the additional beds have been approved by the Department of Public Health pursuant to section 19-13-D-8t(v)(4) of the Public Health Code no later than June 1, 1993, and (B) twenty-five per cent of estimated project costs have been expended no later than June 9, 1993, provided project costs may not exceed thirty-one thousand two hundred eleven dollars per bed. The office shall issue a decision on such application within forty-five days of receipt of documentation necessary to determine expended project costs. Evidence of project costs expended shall be submitted in the form of a report prepared by a certified public accountant having no affiliation with the owner of the facility or the developer of the project. The owner of a facility for which completion of additional beds is not so authorized may apply to the Commissioner of Social Services for compensation on or after June 29, 1993, but no later than September 1, 1993, provided plans for the additional beds have been approved by the Department of Public Health no later than June 1, 1993. Such compensation shall be limited to actual verifiable losses which directly result from the failure to gain authorization pursuant to this subsection and which cannot be otherwise recouped through the mitigating efforts of the owner, excluding consequential and incidental losses such as lost profits. In no event may such compensation exceed project costs. An owner aggrieved by the amount of compensation determined by the commissioner may request a hearing in accordance with the provisions of sections 17b-60 and 17b-61. This subsection shall not apply to any addition of beds pursuant to this section which is part of a construction project that also includes an addition of beds authorized pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (f) of section 19a-638.

      (P.A. 89-325, S. 3, 26; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 19, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-406, S. 2, 6; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 39, 58; P.A. 98-150, S. 12, 17; P.A. 04-76, S. 53.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 and P.A. 93-435 replaced commission on hospitals and health care and commissioner of income maintenance with commissioner of social services and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 and P.A. 93-435 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-406 added Subsec. (b) re deadline for licensure of additional beds, effective June 29, 1993; Sec. 19a-155a transferred to Sec. 17b-351 in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health and replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-150 made a technical correction to Subsec. (b) re reference to Sec. 19a-638, effective June 5, 1998; P.A. 04-76 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to Sec. 17b-7 that was repealed by the same act and by making a technical change.

      Cited. 235 C. 128.

      Sec. 17b-352. Certificate of need for nursing home facilities; transfer of ownership or control; introduction of additional function or service; termination or decrease of service. Notice to Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Notice and public hearing requirements. Regulations. (a) For the purposes of this section and section 17b-353, "facility" means a residential facility for the mentally retarded licensed pursuant to section 17a-277 and certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid program as an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, a nursing home, rest home or residential care home, as defined in section 19a-490.

      (b) Any facility which intends to (1) transfer all or part of its ownership or control prior to being initially licensed; (2) introduce any additional function or service into its program of care or expand an existing function or service; or (3) terminate a service or decrease substantially its total bed capacity, shall submit a complete request for permission to implement such transfer, addition, expansion, increase, termination or decrease with such information as the department requires to the Department of Social Services, provided no permission or request for permission to close a facility is required when a facility in receivership is closed by order of the Superior Court pursuant to section 19a-545. The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman pursuant to section 17b-400 shall be notified by the facility of any proposed actions pursuant to this subsection at the same time the request for permission is submitted to the department and when a facility in receivership is closed by order of the Superior Court pursuant to section 19a-545.

      (c) An applicant, prior to submitting a certificate of need application, shall request, in writing, application forms and instructions from the department. The request shall include: (1) The name of the applicant or applicants; (2) a statement indicating whether the application is for (A) a new, additional, expanded or replacement facility, service or function, (B) a termination or reduction in a presently authorized service or bed capacity or (C) any new, additional or terminated beds and their type; (3) the estimated capital cost; (4) the town where the project is or will be located; and (5) a brief description of the proposed project. Such request shall be deemed a letter of intent. No certificate of need application shall be considered submitted to the department unless a current letter of intent, specific to the proposal and in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, has been on file with the department for not less than ten business days. For purposes of this subsection, "a current letter of intent" means a letter of intent on file with the department for not more than one hundred eighty days. A certificate of need application shall be deemed withdrawn by the department, if a department completeness letter is not responded to within one hundred eighty days. The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman shall be notified by the facility at the same time as the letter of intent is submitted to the department.

      (d) Any facility acting pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section shall provide written notice, at the same time it submits its letter of intent, to all patients, guardians or conservators, if any, or legally liable relatives or other responsible parties, if known, and shall post such notice in a conspicuous location at the facility. The notice shall state the following: (A) The projected date the facility will be submitting its certificate of need application, (B) that only the department has the authority to either grant, modify or deny the application, (C) that the department has up to ninety days to grant, modify or deny the certificate of need application, (D) a brief description of the reason or reasons for submitting a request for permission, (E) that no patient shall be involuntarily transferred or discharged within or from a facility pursuant to state and federal law because of the filing of the certificate of need application, (F) that all patients have a right to appeal any proposed transfer or discharge, and (G) the name, mailing address and telephone number of the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and local legal aid office.

      (e) The department shall review a request made pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to the extent it deems necessary, including, but not limited to, in the case of a proposed transfer of ownership or control prior to initial licensure, the financial responsibility and business interests of the transferee and the ability of the facility to continue to provide needed services, or in the case of the addition or expansion of a function or service, ascertaining the availability of the function or service at other facilities within the area to be served, the need for the service or function within the area and any other factors the department deems relevant to a determination of whether the facility is justified in adding or expanding the function or service. The commissioner shall grant, modify or deny the request within ninety days of receipt thereof, except as otherwise provided in this section. Upon the request of the applicant, the review period may be extended for an additional fifteen days if the department has requested additional information subsequent to the commencement of the commissioner's review period. The director of the office of certificate of need and rate setting may extend the review period for a maximum of thirty days if the applicant has not filed in a timely manner information deemed necessary by the department. The applicant may request and shall receive a hearing in accordance with section 4-177 if aggrieved by a decision of the commissioner.

      (f) The Commissioner of Social Services shall not approve any requests for beds in residential facilities for the mentally retarded which are licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 and are certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Program as intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded, except those beds necessary to implement the residential placement goals of the Department of Mental Retardation which are within available appropriations.

      (g) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. The commissioner shall implement the standards and procedures of the Office of Health Care Access concerning certificates of need established pursuant to section 19a-643, as appropriate for the purposes of this section, until the time final regulations are adopted in accordance with said chapter 54.

      (P.A. 93-262, S. 21, 87; P.A. 94-236, S. 1, 10; P.A. 95-257, S. 39, 58; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 147, 165; P.A. 02-135, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 78.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-236 amended Subsec. (c) to permit the director of the office of certificate of need and rate setting to extend the review period instead of the commissioner, to provide for a hearing and made technical changes in the section, effective June 7, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home" in Subsec. (a); June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 added a new Subsec. (c) concerning requirements for the application procedure prior to submitting a certificate of need application, and redesignated existing Subsecs. accordingly, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 02-135 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) by adding provision re notification to the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, added new Subsec. (d) re requirements of notification and redesignated existing Subsecs. (d) to (f) as Subsecs. (e) to (g); June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that permission from Department of Social Services is not required to close a facility in receivership which has been ordered closed by the court, to require notification of Office of Long-Term Care Ombudsmen when a facility in receivership is ordered closed by the court and to make a technical change, effective August 20, 2003.

      Sec. 17b-353. Certificate of need; capital expenditure or acquisition of major medical equipment. Hearings. Regulations. (a) Any facility, as defined in subsection (a) of section 17b-352, which proposes (1) a capital expenditure exceeding one million dollars, which increases facility square footage by more than five thousand square feet or five per cent of the existing square footage, whichever is greater, (2) a capital expenditure exceeding two million dollars, or (3) the acquisition of major medical equipment requiring a capital expenditure in excess of four hundred thousand dollars, including the leasing of equipment or space, shall submit a request for approval of such expenditure, with such information as the department requires, to the Department of Social Services. Any such facility which proposes to acquire imaging equipment requiring a capital expenditure in excess of four hundred thousand dollars, including the leasing of such equipment, shall obtain the approval of the Office of Health Care Access in accordance with section 19a-639, subsequent to obtaining the approval of the Commissioner of Social Services. Prior to the facility's obtaining the imaging equipment, the Commissioner of the Office of Health Care Access, after consultation with the Commissioner of Social Services, may elect to perform a joint or simultaneous review with the Department of Social Services.

      (b) An applicant, prior to submitting a certificate of need application, shall request, in writing, application forms and instructions from the department. The request shall include: (1) The name of the applicant or applicants; (2) a statement indicating whether the application is for (A) a new, additional, expanded or replacement facility, service or function, (B) a termination or reduction in a presently authorized service or bed capacity or (C) any new, additional or terminated beds and their type; (3) the estimated capital cost; (4) the town where the project is or will be located; and (5) a brief description of the proposed project. Such request shall be deemed a letter of intent. No certificate of need application shall be considered submitted to the department unless a current letter of intent, specific to the proposal and in accordance with the provisions of this subsection, has been on file with the department for not less than ten business days. For purposes of this subsection, "a current letter of intent" means a letter of intent on file with the department for not more than one hundred eighty days. A certificate of need application shall be deemed withdrawn by the department if a department completeness letter is not responded to within one hundred eighty days.

      (c) In conducting its activities pursuant to this section, section 17b-352 or both, the commissioner or said commissioner's designee may hold a public hearing on an application or on more than one application, if such applications are of a similar nature with respect to the request. At least two weeks' notice of the hearing shall be given to the facility by certified mail and to the public by publication in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the area served by the facility. Such hearing shall be held at the discretion of the commissioner in Hartford or in the area so served. The commissioner or said commissioner's designee shall consider such request in relation to the community or regional need for such capital program or purchase of land, the possible effect on the operating costs of the facility and such other relevant factors as the commissioner or said commissioner's designee deems necessary. In approving or modifying such request, the commissioner or said commissioner's designee may not prescribe any condition, such as, but not limited to, any condition or limitation on the indebtedness of the facility in connection with a bond issued, the principal amount of any bond issued or any other details or particulars related to the financing of such capital expenditure, not directly related to the scope of such capital program and within the control of the facility. If the hearing is conducted by a designee of the commissioner, the designee shall submit any findings and recommendations to the commissioner. The commissioner shall grant, modify or deny such request within ninety days, except as provided for in this section. Upon the request of the applicant, the review period may be extended for an additional fifteen days if the commissioner or said commissioner's designee has requested additional information subsequent to the commencement of the review period. The commissioner or said commissioner's designee may extend the review period for a maximum of thirty days if the applicant has not filed in a timely manner information deemed necessary by the commissioner or said commissioner's designee.

      (d) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. The commissioner shall implement the standards and procedures of the Office of Health Care Access concerning certificates of need established pursuant to section 19a-643, as appropriate for the purposes of this section, until the time final regulations are adopted in accordance with said chapter 54.

      (P.A. 93-262, S. 22, 87; P.A. 94-236, S. 2, 10; P.A. 95-257, S. 39, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 148, 165; P.A. 98-150, S. 13, 17; P.A. 02-135, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-236 made technical changes and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that a hearing shall be in accordance with Sec. 4-177 and to add "or his designee" after commissioner, effective June 7, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing a capital expenditure exceeding one million dollars with a capital expenditure exceeding one million dollars which increases facility square footage by more than five thousand square feet or five per cent of the existing square footage, whichever is greater, and by adding a capital expenditure exceeding two million dollars to those facilities required to submit a request for approval of such expenditure, added Subsec. (b) outlining an applicant's required procedure prior to submitting a certificate of need application and redesignated existing Subsecs. accordingly, effective July 1, 1997; (Revisor's note: A reference in Subsec. (a) to "subsection (b) of" Sec. 19a-639, deleted by vetoed P.A. 97-204 and so reflected in June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, was codified since purported deletion was void); P.A. 98-150 amended Subsec. (a) to allow joint or simultaneous review and made a technical change, effective June 5, 1998 (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a) a reference to "Commissioner of the Department of Social Services" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Social Services" for consistency with customary statutory language); P.A. 02-135 amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision allowing the commissioner or a designee to hold a public hearing on one or more applications, deleting provisions re mandatory hearing pursuant to Sec. 4-177, re waiver of hearing upon showing of emergency nature and re ten business day time periods, and making technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality.

      Sec. 17b-354. Requests for additional nursing home beds. Continuing care facility. Construction. Financing. Regulations. (a) Except for applications deemed complete as of August 9, 1991, the Department of Social Services shall not accept or approve any requests for additional nursing home beds or modify the capital cost of any prior approval for the period from September 4, 1991, through June 30, 2007, except (1) beds restricted to use by patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or traumatic brain injury; (2) beds associated with a continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents; (3) Medicaid certified beds to be relocated from one licensed nursing facility to another licensed nursing facility, provided (A) the availability of beds in an area of need will not be adversely affected; (B) no such relocation shall result in an increase in state expenditures; and (C) the relocation results in a reduction in the number of nursing facility beds in the state; (4) a request for no more than twenty beds submitted by a licensed nursing facility that participates in neither the Medicaid program nor the Medicare program, admits residents and provides health care to such residents without regard to their income or assets and demonstrates its financial ability to provide lifetime nursing home services to such residents without participating in the Medicaid program to the satisfaction of the department, provided the department does not accept or approve more than one request pursuant to this subdivision; and (5) a request for no more than twenty beds associated with a free standing facility dedicated to providing hospice care services for terminally ill persons operated by an organization previously authorized by the Department of Public Health to provide hospice services in accordance with section 19a-122b. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any provision of the general statutes or any decision of the Office of Health Care Access, (i) the date by which construction shall begin for each nursing home certificate of need in effect August 1, 1991, shall be December 31, 1992, (ii) the date by which a nursing home shall be licensed under each such certificate of need shall be October 1, 1995, and (iii) the imposition of such dates shall not require action by the Commissioner of Social Services. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a nursing home certificate of need in effect August 1, 1991, shall expire if construction has not begun or licensure has not been obtained in compliance with the dates set forth in subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this subsection.

      (b) For the purposes of subsection (a) of this section, "a continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents" means: (1) A facility which does not participate in the Medicaid program; (2) a facility which establishes its financial stability by submitting to the commissioner documentation which (A) demonstrates in financial statements compiled by certified public accountants that the facility and its direct or indirect owners have (i) on the date of the certificate of need application and for five years preceding such date, net assets or reserves equal to or greater than the projected operating revenues for the facility in its first two years of operation or (ii) assets or other indications of financial stability determined by the commissioner to be sufficient to provide for the financial stability of the facility based on its proposed financial structure and operations, (B) demonstrates in financial statements compiled by certified public accountants that the facility, on the date of the certificate of need application, has a projected debt coverage ratio at ninety-five per cent occupancy of at least one and twenty-five one-hundredths, (C) details the financial operation and projected cash flow of the facility on the date of the certificate of need application, to be updated every five years thereafter, and demonstrates that fees payable by residents and the assets, income and insurance coverage of residents, in combination with other sources of facility funding, are sufficient to provide for the expenses of life care services for the life of the residents to be made available within a continuum of care which shall include the provision of health services in the independent living units, and (D) provides that any transfer of ownership of the facility to take place within a five-year period from the date of approval of its certificate of need shall be subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Social Services in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-355; (3) a facility which establishes to the satisfaction of the commissioner that it can provide for the expenses of the continuum of care to be made available to residents by complying with the provisions of chapter 319f and demonstrating sufficient assets, income, financial reserves or long-term care insurance to provide for such expenses and maintain financially viable operation of the facility for a thirty-year period based on generally accepted accounting practices and actuarial principles, which demonstration (A) may include making available to prospective residents long-term care insurance policies which are substantially equivalent in value and coverage to policies precertified pursuant to section 38a-475, (B) shall include establishing eligibility criteria and screening each resident prior to admission and annually thereafter to ensure that his assets, income and insurance coverage are sufficient in combination with other sources of facility funding to cover such expenses, (C) shall include entering into contracts with residents concerning monthly or other periodic fees payable by residents for services provided, and (D) allowing residents whose expenses are not covered by insurance to pledge or transfer income, assets or proceeds from the sale of assets in amounts sufficient to cover such expenses; (4) a facility which demonstrates it will establish a contingency fund, prior to becoming operational, in an initial amount of five hundred thousand dollars which shall be increased in equal annual increments to at least one million dollars by the start of the facility's sixth year of operation and which shall be replenished within twelve months of any expenditure, provided the amount to be replenished shall not exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars annually until one million dollars is reached, to provide for the expenses of the continuum of care to be made available to residents which may not be covered by residents' assets, income or insurance, provided the commissioner may approve the establishment of a contingency fund in a lesser amount upon the application of a facility for which a lesser amount is appropriate based on the size of the facility; and (5) a facility which is operated by management with demonstrated experience and ability in the operation of similar facilities. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a facility may be deemed a continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents if (A) the facility meets the criteria set forth in subdivisions (2) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection, was Medicaid certified prior to October 1, 1993, and has been deemed qualified to enter into a continuing care contract under chapter 319hh for at least two consecutive years prior to filing its certificate of need application under this section, provided (i) no additional bed approved pursuant to this section shall be Medicaid certified; (ii) no patient in such a bed shall be involuntarily transferred to another bed due to his eligibility for Medicaid and (iii) the facility shall pay the cost of care for a patient in such a bed who is Medicaid eligible and does not wish to be transferred to another bed or (B) the facility is operated exclusively by and for a religious order which is committed to the care and well-being of its members for the duration of their lives and whose members are bound thereto by the profession of permanent vows. On and after July 1, 1997, the Department of Social Services shall give priority to a request for modification of a certificate of need from a continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.

      (c) For the purposes of this section and sections 17b-352 and 17b-353, construction shall be deemed to have begun if the following have occurred and the department has been so notified in writing within the thirty days prior to the date by which construction is to begin: (1) All necessary town, state and federal approvals required to begin construction have been obtained, including all zoning and wetlands approvals; (2) all necessary town and state permits required to begin construction or site work have been obtained; (3) financing approval, as defined in subsection (d) of this section, has been obtained; and (4) construction of a structure approved in the certificate of need has begun. For the purposes of this subsection, commencement of construction of a structure shall include, at a minimum, completion of a foundation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, upon receipt of an application filed at least thirty days prior to the date by which construction is to begin, the commissioner may deem construction to have begun if: (A) An owner of a certificate of need has fully complied with the provisions of subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection; (B) such owner submits clear and convincing evidence that he has complied with the provisions of this subsection sufficiently to demonstrate a high probability that construction shall be completed in time to obtain licensure by the Department of Public Health on or before the date required pursuant to subsection (a) of this section; (C) construction of a structure cannot begin due to unforseeable circumstances beyond the control of the owner; and (D) at least ten per cent of the approved total capital expenditure or two hundred fifty thousand dollars, whichever is greater, has been expended.

      (d) For the purposes of subsection (c) of this section, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, financing shall be deemed to have been obtained if the owner of the certificate of need receives a commitment letter from a lender indicating an affirmative interest in financing the project subject to reasonable and customary conditions, including a final commitment from the lender's loan committee or other entity responsible for approving loans. If a lender which has issued a commitment letter subsequently refuses to finance the project, the owner shall notify the department in writing within five business days of the receipt of the refusal. The owner shall, if so requested by the department, provide the commissioner with copies of all communications between the owner and the lender concerning the request for financing. The owner shall have one further opportunity to obtain financing which shall be demonstrated by submitting another commitment letter from a lender to the department within thirty days of the owner's receipt of the refusal from the first lender.

      (e) On and after March 1, 1993, financing shall be deemed to have been obtained for the purposes of this section and sections 17b-352 and 17b-353 if the owner of the certificate of need has (1) received a final commitment for financing in writing from a lender or (2) provided evidence to the department that the owner has sufficient funds available to construct the project without financing.

      (f) Any decision of the Office of Health Care Access issued prior to July 1, 1993, as to whether construction has begun or financing has been obtained for nursing home beds approved by the office prior to said date shall be deemed to be a decision of the Commissioner of Social Services for the purposes of this section and sections 17b-352 and 17b-353.

      (g) (1) A continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, (A) shall arrange for a medical assessment to be conducted by an independent physician or an access agency approved by the Office of Policy and Management and the Department of Social Services as meeting the requirements for such agency as defined by regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (e) of section 17b-342, prior to the admission of any resident to the nursing facility and shall document such assessment in the resident's medical file and (B) may transfer or discharge a resident who has intentionally transferred assets in a sum which will render the resident unable to pay the cost of nursing facility care in accordance with the contract between the resident and the facility.

      (2) A continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, may, for the seven-year period immediately subsequent to becoming operational, accept nonresidents directly as nursing facility patients on a contractual basis provided any such contract shall include, but not be limited to, requiring the facility (A) to document that placement of the patient in such facility is medically appropriate; (B) to apply to a potential nonresident patient the financial eligibility criteria applied to a potential resident of the facility pursuant to said subsection (b); and (C) to at least annually screen each nonresident patient to ensure the maintenance of assets, income and insurance sufficient to cover the cost of at least forty-two months of nursing facility care. A facility may transfer or discharge a nonresident patient upon the patient exhausting assets sufficient to pay the costs of his care or upon the facility determining the patient has intentionally transferred assets in a sum which will render the patient unable to pay the costs of a total of forty-two months of nursing facility care from the date of initial admission to the nursing facility. Any such transfer or discharge shall be conducted in accordance with section 19a-535. The commissioner may grant up to a three-year extension of the period during which a facility may accept nonresident patients, provided the facility is in compliance with the provisions of this section.

      (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, if an owner of an approved certificate of need for additional nursing home beds has notified the Office of Health Care Access or the Department of Social Services on or before September 30, 1993, of his intention to utilize such beds for a continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and has filed documentation with the Department of Social Services on or before September 30, 1994, demonstrating the requirements of said subsection (b) have been met, the certificate of need shall not expire.

      (i) The Commissioner of Social Services may waive or modify any requirement of this section, except subdivision (1) of subsection (b) which prohibits participation in the Medicaid program, to enable an established continuing care facility registered pursuant to chapter 319hh prior to September 1, 1991, to add nursing home beds provided the continuing care facility agrees to no longer admit nonresidents into any of the facility's nursing home beds except for spouses of residents of such facility and provided the addition of nursing home beds will not have an adverse impact on the facility's financial stability, as defined in subsection (b) of this section, and are located within a structure constructed and licensed prior to July 1, 1992.

      (j) The Commissioner of Social Services shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. The commissioner shall implement the standards and procedures of the Office of Health Care Access concerning certificates of need established pursuant to section 19a-643, as appropriate for the purposes of this section, until the time final regulations are adopted in accordance with said chapter 54.

      (P.A. 93-262, S. 23, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 94-236, S. 3, 10; P.A. 95-160, S. 9, 15, 16, 69; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 39, 58; 95-351, S. 18, 30; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; P.A. 98-250, S. 27, 39; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 53, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131; P.A. 02-135, S. 2; P.A 05-280, S. 41; P.A. 06-196, S. 143.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 and P.A. 93-435 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of public health and addiction services for commissioner and department of health services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-236 amended Subsec. (a) to extend moratorium from June 30, 1994, to June 30, 1997, Subsec. (b) to prohibit continuing care facilities from participating in Medicaid, require facilities to arrange for medical screening of prospective patients, revise the way the facility demonstrates its ability to cover its expenses, increase the amounts that must be deposited in contingency funds from initially one to five hundred thousand and increments from two hundred fifty thousand to one million dollars and allow exceptions from these amounts, clarify the definition of services and benefits that facilities provide, added new Subsec. (g) to allow transfers and discharges of continuing care facility residents in certain circumstances and allow facilities to accept nonresidents into their nursing facilities, added new Subsec. (h) to specify the conditions under which a certificate of need for continuing care facilities beds will not expire, added new Subsec. (i) to permit commissioner to waive or modify the continuing care facility requirements except the Medicaid prohibition to enable development of up to three facilities, and relettered Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (j), effective June 7, 1994; P.A. 95-160 extended the moratorium on requests for additional nursing home beds or requests for modifying the capital cost of any prior approval in Subsec. (a) from June 30, 1997, to June 30, 2002, added Subdiv. (3) providing for Medicaid certified beds to be relocated and made technical changes, amended Subdiv. (5) of Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (A) outlining criteria by which a facility may be deemed a continuing care facility which guarantees life care for its residents and replaced coordination, assessment and monitoring agency with access agency under Subsec. (g), effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health and replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-351 amended Subdiv. (3) of Subsec. (a) deleting "a proposed nursing facility" and therefore allowing Medicaid certified beds to be relocated only to another licensed nursing facility, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; P.A. 98-250 amended Subsec. (i) to replace waiver to enable "the development of up to three continuing care facilities which provide life care for their residents" with waiver to enable an established facility registered prior to September 1, 1991, and to add beds under specified conditions, effective July 1, 1998; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 amended Subsec. (a) to extend the moratorium on requests for additional nursing home beds or to modify the capital cost of any prior approval from June 30, 2002, to June 30, 2007, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section; P.A. 02-135 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (4) re request for no more than twenty beds; P.A. 05-280 amended Subsec. (a) by adding Subdiv. (5) allowing Department of Social Services to accept a request of not more than twenty beds from a free standing facility providing hospice care services to terminally ill persons, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (a), effective June 7, 2006.

      Sec. 17b-354a. Judicial enforcement. The Superior Court on application of the Commissioner of Social Services or the Attorney General, may enforce, by appropriate decree or process any provision of section 17b-352, 17b-353 or 17b-354, respectively, or any act or any order of the commissioner rendered in pursuance of any such provision.

      (P.A. 94-236, S. 6, 10.)

      History: P.A. 94-236 effective June 7, 1994.

      Sec. 17b-354b. Relocation of Medicaid certified nursing home beds. The Commissioner of Social Services may approve the relocation of Medicaid certified nursing home beds from a licensed nursing home to a continuing care facility registered with the Department of Social Services in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-520 to 17b-535, inclusive, and may approve Medicaid participation for any such nursing home beds transferred to a continuing care facility as part of the approval of any such relocation, provided the relocation of beds complies with the requirements of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 17b-354 and provided further that: (1) Beds are transferred and eliminated from existing four-bed rooms licensed prior to July 1, 1992; (2) the Medicaid per diem rate does not exceed the rate in place at the facility that is transferring beds, and increases in such rate are limited annually thereafter to any rate increase limits under section 17b-340; and (3) any such nursing home bed transfer is to a continuing care facility under the same ownership or a subsidiary of the nursing home transferring such bed.

      (P.A. 98-250, S. 28, 39.)

      History: P.A. 98-250 effective July 1, 1998.

      Sec. 17b-354c. Conversion of intermediate care facility beds to nursing home beds. Regulations. (a) Except for applications filed on or before May 1, 2001, which shall not be subject to the restrictions set forth in this section, for the period from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2007, rest homes with nursing supervision beds under common ownership with chronic and convalescent nursing home beds in the same or an immediately adjacent building may be converted to chronic and convalescent nursing home beds in accordance with the provisions of section 17b-352, provided that such conversion shall not result in an increase in cost to the state of more than twelve per cent of the amount previously paid to the facility annually for both levels of care. This limitation shall apply only to conversion of rest homes with nursing supervision beds under common ownership with chronic and convalescent nursing home beds or in the same or an immediately adjacent building. Rest homes with nursing supervision beds in freestanding facilities and rest homes with nursing supervision beds transferred to another licensed and Medicaid-certified nursing home may be converted to chronic and convalescent nursing home beds pursuant to section 17b-352 and subsection (a) of section 17b-354 as applicable.

      (b) No later than December 31, 2001, the commissioner shall publish proposed regulations pursuant to subsections (a) to (e), inclusive, of section 4-168 implementing this section.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 54, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section.

      Sec. 17b-355. Certificate of need for capital expenditures; transfer of ownership or control; criteria. In determining whether a request submitted pursuant to sections 17b-352 to 17b-354, inclusive, will be granted, modified or denied, the Commissioner of Social Services shall consider the following: The relationship of the request to the state health plan, the financial feasibility of the request and its impact on the applicant's rates and financial condition, the contribution of the request to the quality, accessibility and cost-effectiveness of health care delivery in the region, whether there is clear public need for the request, the relationship of any proposed change to the applicant's current utilization statistics, the business interests of all owners, partners, associates, incorporators, directors, sponsors, stockholders and operators and the personal background of such persons, and any other factor which the department deems relevant. Whenever the granting, modification or denial of a request is inconsistent with the state health plan, a written explanation of the reasons for the inconsistency shall be included in the decision. In considering whether there is clear public need for any request for additional nursing home beds associated with a continuing care facility submitted pursuant to section 17b-354, the commissioner shall only consider the need for beds for current and prospective residents of the continuing care facility. In considering whether there is clear public need for any request for the relocation of beds, the commissioner shall consider whether there is a demonstrated bed need in the towns within a fifteen-mile radius of the town in which the beds are proposed to be located. Bed need shall be based on the recent occupancy percentage of area nursing facilities and the projected bed need for no more than five years into the future at ninety-seven and one-half per cent occupancy using the latest official population projections by town and age as published by the Office of Policy and Management and the latest available state-wide nursing facility utilization statistics by age cohort from the Department of Public Health. The commissioner may also consider area specific utilization and reductions in utilization rates to account for the increased use of less institutional alternatives.

      (P.A. 93-262, S. 24, 87; P.A. 94-236, S. 4, 10; P.A. 95-160, S. 17, 69; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2, S. 63, 69; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9, S. 129, 131.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-262 made technical change to replace commissioner with department, effective June 7, 1994; P.A. 95-160 added a provision prohibiting the commissioner from granting a request for additional nursing facility beds unless there is a demonstrated bed need in the towns within twenty miles of the town in which the beds are proposed, including the town of the proposed location, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 96-139 changed effective date of P.A. 95-160 but without affecting this section; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 made extensive changes throughout section, adding provisions re consideration of need, changing provision re demonstrated bed need from "within twenty miles" to "within a fifteen-mile radius" of town where beds are proposed to be located, requiring bed need to be "based on the recent occupancy percentage of area nursing facilities", and authorizing commissioner to consider area specific utilization and reductions in utilization rates to account for the increased use of less institutional alternatives, effective July 1, 2001; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-9 revised effective date of June Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-2 but without affecting this section.

      Sec. 17b-356. Health care facility proposing to expand services by adding nursing home beds. Procedures. Any health care facility or institution, as defined in subsection (a) of section 19a-490, except a nursing home, rest home, residential care home or residential facility for the mentally retarded licensed pursuant to section 17a-227 and certified to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid program as an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded, proposing to expand its services by adding nursing home beds shall obtain the approval of the Commissioner of Social Services in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to sections 17b-352, 17b-353 and 17b-354 for a facility, as defined in section 17b-352, prior to obtaining the approval of the Office of Health Care Access pursuant to section 19a-638 or 19a-639, or both.

      (P.A. 93-262, S. 15, 87; P.A. 95-257, S. 39, 58; P.A. 97-112, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commission on Hospitals and Health Care with Office of Health Care Access, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home".

      Sec. 17b-357. (Formerly Sec. 17-134v). Nursing facility: Compliance with federal law. Summary order. Temporary manager. Remedies. Regulations. Penalties. Hearing. (a) For purposes of this section and sections 17b-358 to 17b-360, inclusive, a "nursing facility" means a chronic and convalescent home or a rest home with nursing supervision as defined in section 19a-521, which participates in the Medicaid program through a provider agreement with the Department of Social Services.

      (b) If the Department of Public Health finds, through the results of a survey, that a nursing facility is not in compliance with one or more of the requirements of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r and that such noncompliance poses an immediate and serious threat to patient health or safety, the Department of Public Health shall issue a statement of charges to the facility and shall file a copy of the charges with the Department of Social Services with a request for a summary order from the Department of Social Services. The summary order which the Department of Social Services may issue shall include termination of the facility's participation in Medicaid or appointment of a temporary manager to oversee the operation of the facility and may include transfer of patients to other participating facilities; denial of payment under Medicaid for new admissions; imposition of a directed plan of correction of the facility's deficiencies; imposition of civil monetary penalties; or imposition of other remedies authorized by regulations adopted by the Department of Social Services in accordance with chapter 54.

      (c) If the Department of Public Health finds, through the results of a survey, that a nursing facility is not in compliance with one or more of the requirements of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r but that such noncompliance does not pose an immediate and obvious threat to patient health or safety, the Department of Public Health shall issue a statement of charges to the facility and shall file a copy of the charges with the Department of Social Services with a request for an order imposing one or more alternative remedies under this subsection. If the Department of Social Services finds, based on a statement of charges filed by the Department of Public Health, that a nursing facility is not in compliance with one or more of the requirements of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r, but does not issue a summary order, it may impose one or more of the following alternative remedies: Termination of the facility's participation in Medicaid; appointment of a temporary manager to oversee the operation of the facility; transfer of patients to other participating facilities; denial of payment under Medicaid for new admissions; imposition of a directed plan of correction of the facility's deficiencies; imposition of civil monetary penalties; or imposition of other remedies authorized by regulations adopted by the Department of Social Services in accordance with chapter 54. The civil monetary penalties imposed may be in the range of three thousand two hundred fifty dollars to ten thousand dollars per day for each day the facility is found to be out of compliance with one or more requirements of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r if the failure to comply with such requirements is found to constitute an immediate and serious threat to resident health or safety, or in the range of two hundred dollars to three thousand dollars per day for each day the facility is found to be out of compliance with a requirement of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r that is found not to constitute an immediate and serious threat to resident health or safety. The exact civil monetary penalty will be set depending on such factors as the existence of repeat deficiencies or uncorrected deficiencies and the overall compliance history of the provider. The remedies available to the Department of Social Services for violations of the requirements of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r are cumulative and are in addition to the remedies available to the Department of Public Health under chapter 368v for violations of state licensure requirements. Any penalties collected by the Department of Social Services pursuant to this section shall be deposited in a special fund under the control of the Department of Social Services, which fund shall be utilized, in the discretion of the department, for the protection of the health or property of residents of nursing facilities found to be deficient, including payment for the costs of relocating residents, payment for the maintenance of operation of a facility pending correction of deficiencies or closure, and reimbursement of residents for personal funds lost. The deficient nursing facility shall be obligated to reimburse the Department of Social Services for any moneys expended by the department at the facility from the fund established pursuant to this section.

      (d) The facility may request a hearing in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 from the Department of Social Services within ten days of the issuance of the statement of charges or the summary order, as the case may be. If the facility does not request a hearing within ten days and no summary order has been issued, the Department of Social Services shall automatically adopt the Department of Public Health's findings and shall issue an order incorporating one or more of the remedies authorized by subsection (c) of this section. If the facility timely requests a hearing or the Department of Social Services issues a summary order, the Department of Social Services shall issue a notice of hearing. At such hearing the facility shall be given the opportunity to present evidence and cross-examine witnesses. The Department of Social Services shall issue a decision based on the administrative record and may, if it finds the facility not in compliance with one or more of the requirements of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r, order any of the remedies specified in this section. The Department of Social Services may impose any of the alternative remedies, except for a civil monetary penalty, during the pendency of any proceedings conducted pursuant to this subsection. In such cases, the Department of Social Services must provide the facility the opportunity to discuss the Department of Public Health's findings at an informal conference prior to the imposition of any remedy. The requirement of an informal conference does not apply to summary order proceedings.

      (P.A. 89-348, S. 6, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-134v transferred to Sec. 17b-357 in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.

      Sec. 17b-358. (Formerly Sec. 17-134w). Temporary manager: Powers and duties. Regulations. Certification. (a) Any temporary manager appointed pursuant to section 17b-357, shall operate under the authority and supervision of the Department of Social Services. A temporary manager shall have the same powers as a receiver of a corporation under section 52-507, and shall exercise such powers to remedy the conditions which constitute grounds for the imposition of the temporary manager, to assure adequate health for the patients, and to preserve the assets and property of the owner. If the temporary manager determines that the condition of the facility requires that arrangements be made for the transfer of residents in order to assure their health and safety, the temporary manager shall direct the facility's efforts in locating alternative placements and in preparing discharge plans which meet the requirements of section 19a-535 and shall supervise the transportation of residents and such residents' belongings and medical records to the places where such residents are being transferred or discharged. A temporary manager shall not be liable for injury to person or property that is attributable to the conditions of such facility and shall only be liable for his acts or omissions that constitute gross, wilful or wanton negligence. The Department of Social Services, upon application by the temporary manager or the administrator of such facility, may terminate the temporary manager if it finds that the condition of the facility no longer warrants the appointment of a temporary manager. If the department denies an application for the termination of a temporary manager brought pursuant to this section, the facility or the temporary manager may obtain review of such determination by a hearing conducted pursuant to chapter 54, provided that the hearing is requested within fifteen days of the provision of notice denying the application. Any temporary manager appointed by the Department of Social Services pursuant to section 17b-357 shall be paid a reasonable fee for his services to be determined and to be paid by the department. The facility shall be liable to the department for the cost of services of the temporary manager appointed at such facility and the department may recover the cost thereof by setting off such amount against the funds that would otherwise be paid to such facility for services rendered to recipients of assistance under the Medicaid program. The Department of Social Services shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as to the qualifications required for a temporary manager and the procedure by which a temporary manager is selected for appointment.

      (b) In order to participate in the Medicaid program and to receive payment on behalf of patients assisted under said program, a nursing facility is required to be certified by the Department of Public Health as being qualified to participate in said program by meeting the requirements of Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of 42 USC 1396r and shall execute a provider agreement with the Department of Social Services. In the event of decertification of a nursing facility and the consequent termination or nonrenewal of a Medicaid provider agreement with a facility, the Department of Social Services may continue Medicaid payments on behalf of recipients of medical assistance for a phase-down period of thirty days, provided eligibility for continued Medicaid payments during such thirty-day phase-down period shall be conditioned upon a determination by the Department of Social Services that the facility has engaged in reasonable efforts to transfer assisted patients to alternative facilities during such period. As a further condition of eligibility for continued Medicaid payments during such period, the facility shall cooperate with any temporary manager appointed for such facility by the Department of Social Services. Certification determinations as to whether a facility is qualified to participate in the program shall be made by the Department of Public Health, subject to the right of the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services under federal law to make independent, binding determinations as to whether the facility is certifiable under federal law.

      (P.A. 89-348, S. 7, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-134w transferred to Sec. 17b-358 in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.

      Sec. 17b-359. (Formerly Sec. 17-134x). Nursing facility: Preadmission screening process in the case of mentally ill persons. Appeal. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms "mentally ill" and "specialized services" shall be as defined in Subsections (e)(7)(G)(i) and (iii) of Section 1919 of the Social Security Act and federal regulations.

      (b) No nursing facility shall admit any person, irrespective of source of payment, who has not undergone a preadmission screening process by which the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services determines, based upon an independent physical and mental evaluation performed by or under the auspices of the Department of Social Services, whether the person is mentally ill and, if so, whether such person requires the level of services provided by a nursing facility and, if such person is mentally ill and does require such level of services, whether the person requires specialized services. A person who is determined to be mentally ill and not to require nursing facility level services shall not be admitted to a nursing facility. In order to implement the preadmission review requirements of this section and to identify applicants for admission who may be mentally ill and subject to the requirements of this section, nursing facilities may not admit any person, irrespective of source of payment, unless an identification screen developed, or in the case of out-of-state residents approved, by the Department of Social Services has been completed and filed in accordance with federal law.

      (c) No payment from any source shall be due to any nursing facility that admits a resident in violation of the preadmission screening requirements of this section.

      (d) A nursing facility shall notify the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services when a resident who is mentally ill undergoes a significant change in condition or when a resident who has not previously been diagnosed as mentally ill undergoes a change in condition which may require specialized services. Upon such notifications, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, under the auspices of the Department of Social Services, shall perform an evaluation to determine whether the resident requires the level of services provided by a nursing facility or requires specialized services for mental illness.

      (e) In the case of a mentally ill resident who is determined under subsection (d) not to require the level of services provided by a nursing facility but to require specialized services for mental illness and who has continuously resided in a nursing facility for at least thirty months before the date of the determination, the resident may elect to remain in the facility or to receive services covered by Medicaid in an alternative appropriate institutional or noninstitutional setting in accordance with the alternative disposition plan submitted by the Department of Social Services to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and consistent with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services requirements for the provision of specialized services.

      (f) In the case of a mentally ill resident who is determined under subsection (d) not to require the level of services provided by a nursing facility but to require specialized services for mental illness and who has not continuously resided in a nursing facility for at least thirty months before the date of the determination, the nursing facility in consultation with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall arrange for the safe and orderly discharge of the resident from the facility. If the department determines that the provision of specialized services requires an alternate residential placement, the discharge and transfer of the resident shall be made in accordance with the alternative disposition plan submitted by the Department of Social Services and approved by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, except if an alternate residential placement is not available, the resident shall not be transferred.

      (g) In the case of a resident who is determined under subsection (d) not to require the level of services provided by a nursing facility and not to require specialized services, the nursing facility shall arrange for the safe and orderly discharge of the resident from the facility.

      (h) Any person seeking admittance to a nursing facility or any resident of a nursing facility who is adversely affected by a determination of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services under this section may appeal such determination to the Department of Social Services within fifteen days of the receipt of the notice of a determination by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. If an appeal is taken to the Department of Social Services the determination of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall be stayed pending determination by the Department of Social Services.

      (P.A. 89-348, S. 8, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 95-257, S. 11, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 135, 165.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-134x transferred to Sec. 17b-359 in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Mental Health with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced "active treatment" with "specialized services" and amended Subsec. (d) by eliminating an annual requirement that each resident of a nursing facility who is mentally ill be reviewed by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and replacing it with a requirement that a nursing facility shall notify the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services when a resident who is mentally ill undergoes a significant change in condition or when a resident not previously diagnosed as mentally ill undergoes a change in condition which may require specialized services, effective July 1, 1997.

      Sec. 17b-360. (Formerly Sec. 17-134y). Nursing facility: Preadmission screening process in the case of persons with mental retardation or condition related thereto. Appeal. (a) For purposes of this section, the terms "mental retardation", "a condition related to mental retardation" and "specialized services" shall be as defined in Subsection (e)(7)(G)(ii) of Section 1919 of the Social Security Act and federal regulations.

      (b) No nursing facility may admit any new resident irrespective of source of payment, who has mental retardation or has a condition related to mental retardation unless the Department of Mental Retardation has determined prior to admission based upon an independent physical and mental evaluation performed by or under the auspices of the Department of Social Services that because of the physical and mental condition of the individual, the individual requires the level of services provided by a nursing facility. If the individual requires such level of services, the Department of Mental Retardation shall also determine whether the individual requires specialized services for such condition. An individual who is determined by the Department of Mental Retardation to have mental retardation or to have a related condition and is determined not to require nursing facility level of services shall not be admitted to a nursing facility. In order to implement the preadmission review requirements of this section, and to identify applicants for admission who may have mental retardation or have conditions related to mental retardation and subject to the requirements of this section, nursing facilities may not admit any individual irrespective of source of payment, unless an identification screen developed, or in the case of out-of-state residents approved, by the Department of Social Services has been completed for the applicant and filed in accordance with federal law.

      (c) No payment from any source shall be due to a nursing facility that admits a resident in violation of the preadmission screening requirements of this section.

      (d) A nursing facility shall notify the Department of Mental Retardation when a resident who has mental retardation undergoes a change in condition or when a resident who has not previously been diagnosed as having mental retardation undergoes a significant change in condition which may require specialized services. Upon such notification, the Department of Mental Retardation, under the auspices of the Department of Social Services, shall perform an evaluation to determine whether the resident requires the level of services provided by a nursing facility or requires specialized services for mental retardation.

      (e) In the case of a resident who is determined under subsection (d) of this section not to require the level of services provided by a nursing facility but to require specialized services for mental retardation or a condition related to mental retardation and who has continually resided in a nursing facility for at least thirty months before the date of the determination, the resident may elect to remain in the facility or to receive services covered by Medicaid in an alternative appropriate institutional or noninstitutional setting in accordance with the terms of the alternative disposition plan submitted by the Department of Social Services and approved by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

      (f) In the case of a resident with mental retardation or a related condition who is determined under subsection (d) of this section not to require the level of services provided by a nursing facility but to require specialized services for mental retardation or a related condition and who has not continuously resided in a nursing facility for at least thirty months before the date of the determination, the nursing facility, in consultation with the Department of Mental Retardation, shall arrange for the safe and orderly discharge of the resident from the facility. If the department determines that the provision of specialized services requires an alternative residential placement, the discharge and transfer of the patient shall be in accordance with the alternative disposition plan submitted by the Department of Social Services and approved by the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, except if an alternative residential facility is not available, the resident shall not be transferred.

      (g) In the case of a resident who is determined under subsection (d) of this section not to require the level of services provided by a nursing facility and not to require specialized services, the nursing facility shall arrange for the safe and orderly discharge of the resident from the facility.

      (h) The Department of Mental Retardation shall be the agency responsible for making the determinations required by this section on behalf of individuals who have mental retardation and on behalf of individuals with conditions related to mental retardation and may provide services to such individuals to the extent required by federal law.

      (i) Any person seeking admittance to a nursing facility or any resident of a nursing facility who is adversely affected by a determination of the Department of Mental Retardation under this section may appeal such determination to the Department of Social Services within fifteen days of the receipt of the notice of a determination by the Department of Mental Retardation. If an appeal is taken to the Department of Social Services, the determination of the Department of Mental Retardation shall be stayed pending determination by the Department of Social Services.

      (P.A. 89-348, S. 9, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 136, 165; P.A. 05-288, S. 72; P.A. 06-196, S. 239.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-134y transferred to Sec. 17b-360 in 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced "active treatment" with "specialized services" and amended Subsec. (d) by eliminating an annual requirement that the level of services each resident of a nursing home receives be evaluated and replacing it with a requirement that a nursing facility shall notify the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services when a resident who has mental retardation undergoes a change in condition or a resident who has not previously been diagnosed as having mental retardation undergoes a significant change in condition which may require specialized services, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 05-288 made a technical change in Subsecs. (e), (f) and (g), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made technical changes in Subsec. (f), effective June 7, 2006.

      Sec. 17b-361. (Formerly Sec. 17-134hh). Payment for physicians' visits to Medicaid patients in nursing homes. The Commissioner of Social Services shall pay for a physician's visit to a patient who is a Medicaid recipient in a nursing home in accordance with federal law and regulation.

      (P.A. 92-231, S. 6, 10; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87.)

      History: P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-134hh transferred to Sec. 17b-361 in 1995.

      Sec. 17b-362. (Formerly Sec. 17-134ii). Ten-day limit on first time maintenance drug prescription for Medicaid or ConnPACE recipient. Five-day supply of prescription drug may be requested for Medicaid patient. Section 17b-362 is repealed, effective July 1, 2005.

      (P.A. 92-231, S. 5, 10; P.A. 95-160, S. 27, 69; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 131, 165; P.A. 05-280, S. 104.)

      Sec. 17b-362a. Pharmacy review panel established. Section 17b-362a is repealed, effective August 20, 2003.

      (June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 134, 165; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2, S. 39, 53; P.A. 03-268, S. 12; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 96.)

      Sec. 17b-363. Demonstration program for exploring methods of returning and dispensing prescription drugs which have been dispensed in long-term care facilities. Section 17b-363 is repealed, effective October 1, 2003.

      (P.A. 95-160, S. 28, 69; P.A. 96-139, S. 12, 13; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 133, 165; P.A. 03-268, S. 13.)

      Sec. 17b-363a. Return of unused prescription drugs dispensed in long-term care facilities to vendor pharmacies. Requirements. Regulations. Fines. Annual list of drugs in program. (a) Each long-term care facility shall return to the vendor pharmacy which shall accept, for repackaging and reimbursement to the Department of Social Services, drug products that were dispensed to a patient and not used if such drug products are (1) prescription drug products that are not controlled substances, (2) sealed in individually packaged units, (3) returned to the vendor pharmacy within the recommended period of shelf life for the purpose of redispensing such drug products, (4) determined to be of acceptable integrity by a licensed pharmacist, and (5) oral and parenteral medication in single-dose sealed containers approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration, topical or inhalant drug products in units of use containers approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration or parenteral medications in multiple-dose sealed containers approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration from which no doses have been withdrawn.

      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section:

      (1) If such drug products are packaged in manufacturer's unit-dose packages, such drug products shall be returned to the vendor pharmacy for redispensing and reimbursement to the Department of Social Services if such drugs may be redispensed for use before the expiration date, if any, indicated on the package.

      (2) If such drug products are repackaged in manufacturer's unit-dose or multiple-dose blister packs, such drug products shall be returned to the vendor pharmacy for redispensing and reimbursement to the Department of Social Services if (A) the date on which such drug product was repackaged, such drug product's lot number and expiration date are indicated clearly on the package of such repackaged drug; (B) ninety days or fewer have elapsed from the date of repackaging of such drug product; and (C) a repackaging log is maintained by the pharmacy in the case of drug products repackaged in advance of immediate needs.

      (3) No drug products dispensed in a bulk dispensing container may be returned to the vendor pharmacy.

      (c) Each long-term care facility shall establish procedures for the return of unused drug products to the vendor pharmacy from which such drug products were purchased.

      (d) The Department of Social Services (1) shall reimburse to the vendor pharmacy the reasonable cost of services incurred in the operation of this section, as determined by the commissioner, and (2) may establish procedures, if feasible, for reimbursement to non Medicaid payors for drug products returned pursuant to this section.

      (e) The Department of Consumer Protection, in consultation with the Department of Social Services, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, which shall govern the repackaging and labeling of drug products returned pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section. The Department of Consumer Protection shall implement the policies and procedures necessary to carry out the provisions of this section until January 1, 2002, while in the process of adopting such policies and procedures in regulation form, provided notice of intent to adopt the regulations is published in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days after implementation.

      (f) Any long-term care facility that violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be fined not more than thirty thousand dollars for each incidence of noncompliance. The Commissioner of Social Services may offset payments due a facility to collect the penalty. Prior to imposing any penalty pursuant to this subsection, the commissioner shall notify the long-term care facility of the alleged violation and the accompanying penalty and shall permit such facility to request that the department review its findings. A facility shall request such review not later than fifteen days after receipt of the notice of violation from the department. The department shall stay the imposition of any penalty pending the outcome of the review. The commissioner may impose a penalty upon a facility pursuant to this subsection regardless of whether a change in ownership of the facility has taken place since the time of the violation, provided the department issued notice of the alleged violation and the accompanying penalty prior to the effective date of the change in ownership and record of such notice is readily available in a central registry maintained by the department. Payments of fines received pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the General Fund and credited to the Medicaid account.

      (g) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the pharmacy review panel established in section 17b-362a, shall update and expand by June 30, 2003, and annually thereafter, the list of drugs that are included in the drug return program. Such list shall include the fifty drugs with the highest average wholesale price that meet the requirements for the program, as established in subsection (a) of this section.

      (June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2, S. 37, 53; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1, S. 119; P.A. 03-116, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; 04-258, S. 28.)

      History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 00-2 effective July 1, 2000; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-1 added new Subsec. (f) re imposition of fine for violation or failure to comply with section, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-116 added Subsec. (g) re annual list of drugs included in program, effective June 18, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Department of Consumer Protection with Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 04-258 amended Subsec. (f) by changing amount of fine from "thirty thousand dollars" to "not more than thirty thousand dollars" and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2004.

      Sec. 17b-363b. Reimbursement for pharmacy services for long-term care facilities. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services may, within available appropriations, provide reimbursement to pharmacies or pharmacists for services provided to residents in long-term care facilities, including (1) residential care homes, nursing homes or rest homes, as defined in section 19a-490, (2) residential facilities for mentally retarded persons, as defined in section 17a-231, or (3) facilities served by assisted living services agencies, as defined in section 19a-490, in addition to those reimbursements provided in chapter 319v, provided such services improve the quality of care to residents of such facilities and produce cost savings to the state, as determined by the commissioner. Such services may include, but not be limited to, emergency and delivery services provided such services are offered on all medications, including intravenous therapy, twenty-four hours per day and seven days per week.

      (b) The Commissioner of Social Services may reimburse for prescription drug costs in unit dose packaging, including blister packs and other special packaging, for clients residing in nursing facilities, chronic disease hospitals and intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded.

      (P.A. 03-116, S. 2; P.A. 06-188, S. 12.)

      History: P.A. 03-116 effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 06-188 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re reimbursement for prescription drugs costs in unit dose packaging, effective July 1, 2006.

      Sec. 17b-364. Demonstration program for providing specialized long-term care. Requests for proposals. (a) For purposes of this section, "specialized long-term care" means goal-oriented, comprehensive, inpatient care designed for a patient with an acute illness, injury or exacerbation of a disease process. Most patients receiving such care shall not require high-technology monitoring or complex diagnostic procedures. Such care requires a specifically designed program of coordinated services of an interdisciplinary team, including, but not limited to, physicians, nurses and professionals in other relevant disciplines.

      (b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or the regulations of Connecticut state agencies, the Department of Social Services shall establish a demonstration project which shall provide specialized long-term care for chronically disabled and dependent patients with traumatic head, brain or spinal cord injuries, who are ventilator dependent, or suffer severe neurological dysfunction and disorders, including multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and such other similar chronic medical conditions as the Commissioner of Social Services deems appropriate.

      (c) Said demonstration project shall be conducted in no more than three facilities, involving up to seventy-five existing licensed beds, that are specifically equipped and staffed for such purpose. Said demonstration project shall supplement a facility's scope of services and, if necessary, modify its physical environment to improve access for patients with specific chronic medical conditions, provide care that meets such patient's specialized health, social and environmental needs, particularly those of children and young adults, and evaluate the optimum design for such programs.

      (d) Said demonstration project shall establish rates based on costs related to patient care. Said demonstration project shall be designed for this specific patient population and shall not necessarily require separate facilities or special units.

      (e) Said demonstration project shall address the different needs of (1) a child or young adult with specific chronic medical conditions, and (2) an elderly patient in either a hospital or a skilled nursing home.

      (f) Said demonstration project shall restrict direct patient ventilator care to appropriately licensed health care providers.

      (g) The commissioner shall issue a request for proposals for acute care hospitals, chronic disease hospitals and skilled nursing homes interested in participating in said demonstration project. Proposals shall identify: (1) The population to be served; (2) the specific services to be provided and budgeted for; (3) the number of existing licensed beds to be designated for said demonstration project; and (4) the evaluation process of said demonstration project. In approving said demonstration project, the commissioner shall consider, to the extent possible, geographic distribution.

      (h) The commissioner may increase the number of facilities participating in the demonstration project from three to four on or after January 1, 2000. The commissioner may issue a request for proposals or select from respondents to a request for proposals issued to select the initial three demonstration project facilities.

      (P.A. 97-142; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 150, 165; P.A. 99-279, S. 24, 45.)

      History: June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 amended Subsec. (c) by expanding the demonstration project from two to three facilities, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-279 amended Subsec. (c) to increase the number of licensed beds from sixty to seventy-five and added a new Subsec. (h) allowing the commissioner to increase the number of facilities participating in the demonstration project from three to four on or after January 1, 2000, and to issue a request for proposals or select from respondents to a request for proposals to select the initial three facilities, effective July 1, 1999.

      Sec. 17b-365. Assisted living services pilot program. Medicaid waiver program. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services may, within available appropriations, establish and operate a pilot program to allow individuals to receive assisted living services, provided by an assisted living services agency licensed by the Department of Public Health in accordance with chapter 368v. In order to be eligible for the program, an individual shall: (1) Reside in a managed residential community, as defined by the regulations of the Department of Public Health; (2) be ineligible to receive assisted living services under any other assisted living pilot program established by the General Assembly; and (3) be eligible for services under the Medicaid waiver portion of the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly established under section 17b-342. The total number of individuals enrolled in said pilot program, when combined with the total number of individuals enrolled in the pilot program established pursuant to section 17b-366, shall not exceed seventy-five individuals. The Commissioner of Social Services shall operate said pilot program in accordance with the Medicaid rules established pursuant to 42 USC 1396p(c), as from time to time amended.

      (b) The pilot program established pursuant to this section may begin operation on or after January 1, 2003. Not later than January 1, 2005, the Commissioner of Social Services shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, human services, appropriations and the budgets of state agencies on the pilot program.

      (May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 27; P.A. 04-258, S. 5.)

      History: May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 04-258 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the total number of individuals in pilot program, when combined with the total number of individuals enrolled in pilot program established pursuant to Sec. 17b-366, shall not exceed seventy-five individuals and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2004.

      Sec. 17b-366. Assisted living services pilot program. State-funded program. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services may, within available appropriations, establish and operate a pilot program to allow individuals to receive assisted living services, provided by an assisted living services agency licensed by the Department of Public Health, in accordance with chapter 368v. In order to be eligible for the pilot program, an individual shall: (1) Reside in a managed residential community, as defined by the regulations of the Department of Public Health; (2) be ineligible to receive assisted living services under any other assisted living pilot program established by the General Assembly; and (3) be eligible for services under the state-funded portion of the Connecticut home-care program for the elderly established under section 17b-342. The total number of individuals enrolled in said pilot program, when combined with the total number of individuals enrolled in the pilot program established pursuant to section 17b-365, shall not exceed seventy-five individuals. The Commissioner of Social Services shall operate said pilot program in accordance with the Medicaid rules established pursuant to 42 USC 1396p(c), as from time to time amended.

      (b) The pilot program established pursuant to this section may begin operation on or after January 1, 2003. Not later than January 1, 2005, the Commissioner of Social Services shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, human services, appropriations and the budgets of state agencies on the pilot program.

      (May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 28; P.A. 04-258, S. 6.)

      History: May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 effective August 15, 2002; P.A. 04-258 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that the total number of individuals in pilot program, when combined with the total number of individuals enrolled in pilot program established pursuant to Sec. 17b-365, shall not exceed seventy-five individuals and to make technical changes, effective July 1, 2004.

      Sec. 17b-367. Long-term care. Website. The Office of Policy and Management, within existing budgetary resources and in consultation with the Select Committee on Aging, the Commission on Aging and the Long-Term Care Advisory Council, shall develop a single consumer-oriented Internet website that provides comprehensive information on long-term care options that are available in Connecticut. The website shall also include direct links and referral information regarding long-term care resources, including private and nonprofit organizations offering advice, counseling and legal services.

      (May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 51.)

      History: May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7 effective August 15, 2002.

      Sec. 17b-368. Pilot project for diagnosis, care and treatment of persons with chronic or geriatric mental conditions. On or before July 1, 2004, the Department of Social Services shall, within the limits of available Medicaid funding, implement a pilot project in Greater Hartford with a chronic disease hospital colocated with a skilled nursing facility and with the facilities, medical staff and all necessary personnel for the diagnosis, care and treatment of chronic or geriatric mental conditions that require prolonged hospital or restorative care. For purposes of this section, "chronic disease hospital" means a long-term hospital with facilities, medical staff and all necessary personnel for the diagnosis, care and treatment of chronic physical and geriatric mental health conditions that require prolonged hospital or restorative care.

      (June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3, S. 87.)

      History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-3 effective August 20, 2003.

      Sec. 17b-369. Money Follows the Person demonstration project. The Commissioner of Social Services, pursuant to Section 6071 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, may submit an application to the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Money Follows the Person demonstration project. In the event the state is selected to participate in the demonstration project and the Department of Social Services elects to participate in such project, such project shall serve not more than one hundred persons and shall be designed to achieve the objectives set forth in Section 6071(a) of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Services available under the demonstration project shall include, but not be limited to, personal care assistance services. The commissioner may apply for a Medicaid research and demonstration waiver under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act, if such waiver is necessary to implement the demonstration project. The commissioner may, if necessary, modify any existing Medicaid home or community-based waiver if such modification is required to implement the demonstration project.

      (P.A. 06-188, S. 44.)

      History: P.A. 06-188 effective July 1, 2006.

      Secs. 17b-370 to 17b-399. Reserved for future use.

      Note: Chapter 319z is also reserved for future use.