DHS Provides Update on Delayed Care Center Rate Notices

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Jeff Bostic

This week the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) provided LeadingAge Minnesota with an update on the status of care center rate notices for the rate year that began on Jan. 1. As expected, they will be releasing metro-area care center rate notices first and then sending out other rate notices as audits are finished.

DHS anticipates posting most of the metro-area facility rate notices on April 28 or 29. DHS indicates that no other facilities are likely to receive rate notices until at least June 1.

Once care centers receive a rate notice, depending on their notice to private pay residents back in Dec., care centers must proceed in one of two ways. If you plan to bill retroactively, you need to bill the difference back to Jan. 1. If you are charging an estimated rate, you need to compare that against the actual rate for each client and charge or refund the difference. If you must give any refunds, you need to include the 3% interest required by state law. DHS will be settling up your Medicaid payments based on your current rate plus the add-on payments implemented in Feb. compared to the actual rate effective Jan. 1.