Req. No. 3575 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 1417 By: Thompson (Roger) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE An Act relating to the state Medicaid program; amending 56 O.S. 2021, Section 1011.5 , which relates to the nursing facility incentive reimbursement rate plan; modifying conditions for change s to certain quality measures; clarifying and updating statutory language; modifying certain method of reporting; amending 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1 -1925.2, which relates to reimbursements from the Nursing Facility Quality of Care Fund ; requiring certain transition t o price-based methodology; directing certain adjustment to direct care payments ; requiring the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to implement certain scholarship program subject to available funding; updating statutory language; updating statutory reference; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 56 O. S. 2021, Section 1011.5, is amended to read as follows: Section 1011.5. A. 1. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall develop an incentive reimbursement rate plan for nursing facilities focused on improving resident outcomes an d resident quality of life. Req. No. 3575 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Under the current rate methodology, the Authority shall reserve Five Dollars ($5.00) per patient day designated for the quality assurance component that nursing facilities can earn for improvement or performance achievement of resident-centered outcomes metrics. To fund the quality assurance component, Two Dollars ($2.00) shall be deducted from each nursing facility ’s per diem rate, and matched with Three Dollars ($3.00) per day funded by the Authority. Payments to nursing facilities that achieve spe cific metrics shall be treated as an “add back” to their net reimbursem ent per diem. Dollar values assigned to each metric shall be determined so that an average of the five -dollar-quality incentive is made to qualifying nursing facilities. 3. Pay-for-performance payments may be earned quarterly and based on facility-specific performance achievement of four equally- weighted, equally weighted Long-Stay Quality Measures , as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 4. Contracted Medicaid long -term care providers may earn payment by achieving eithe r five percent (5%) rela tive improvement each quarter from baseline or by achie ving the National Average Benchmark or better for each individual quality metric. 5. Pursuant to federal Medicaid approval, any funds that remain as a result of providers failing to meet th e quality assurance metrics shall be pooled and redistributed to those who achieve the quality assurance metrics each quarter. If federal approval is not Req. No. 3575 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 received, any remaining funds shall be de posited in the Nursing Facility Quality of Care Fund authorized in Sect ion 2002 of this title. 6. The Authority shall establi sh an advisory group with consumer, provider and state agency representation to recom mend quality measures other than those specified in paragraph 7 of this subsection to be included in the pay-for-performance program and t o provide feedback on program performance and recommendat ions for improvement. The quality measures shall be reviewed annually and shall be subject to change every three (3) years through the agency’s promulgation of rules as funding is available. The Authority shall insure ensure adherence to the following criteria in determining the quality measures: a. provides direct benefit to resident care outcomes, b. applies to long-stay residents, and c. addresses a need for quali ty improvement using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ranking for Oklahoma. 7. The Authority shall begin the pay -for-performance program focusing on improving the following CMS nursing home long-stay quality measures: a. percentage of long-stay, percent of high-risk residents with pressure ulcer s, Req. No. 3575 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. percentage of long-stay percent of residents who lose too much weight, c. percentage of long-stay percent of residents with a urinary tract infection, and d. percentage of long-stay percent of residents who got received an antipsychotic medication. B. The Oklahoma Health Care Authorit y shall negotiate with the Centers for Medicare and Me dicaid Services to include the authority to base provider reimbursement rates for nursing facilities on the criteria specified in subsection A of this section. C. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall audit the program to ensure transparency and integr ity. D. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall provide electronically submit an annual report of the i ncentive reimbursement rate plan to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate by December 31 of each year. The report shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of the pre vious fiscal year including incentive payments, ratings, and notable trends. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 63 O.S. 2021, Section 1-1925.2, is amended to read as follows: Section 1-1925.2. A. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall fully recalculate an d reimburse nursing facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intell ectual Disabilities Req. No. 3575 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 intermediate care facilities for individ uals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) from the Nursing Facility Quality of Care Fund beginning October 1, 2000, the avera ge actual, audited costs reflected in previously submitted cost reports for the cost - reporting period that began July 1, 19 98, and ended June 30, 1999, inflated by the federally published inflationary factors for the two (2) years appropriate to reflect present-day costs at the midpoint of the July 1, 2000, through June 30, 20 01, rate year. 1. The recalculations provided for in this subsection shall be consistent for both nursing facilities and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care faci lities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID). 2. The recalculated reimbursement rate shall be implemented September 1, 2000. B. 1. From September 1, 2000, through August 31 , 2001, all nursing facilities subject to the Nursing Home Car e Act, in addition to other state and federal requirements related to the staffing of nursing facilities, shall maintain the following minimum direct - care-staff-to-resident ratios: a. from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., one di rect-care staff to every eight residents, or major fraction thereof, b. from 3:00 p.m. to 11:0 0 p.m., one direct-care staff to every twelve residen ts, or major fraction thereof, and Req. No. 3575 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 c. from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., one direct -care staff to every seventeen residents, or major fraction thereof. 2. From September 1, 2001, through August 31, 2003, nursing facilities subject to the N ursing Home Care Act and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) with seventeen or more beds shall maintain, in addition to other sta te and federal requir ements related to the staffing of nursing facilities, the following minimum direct -care- staff-to-resident ratios: a. from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., one direct -care staff to every seven residents, or major fraction thereof, b. from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., one direct-care staff to every ten residents, or major fraction thereof, and c. from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., one direct-care staff to every seventeen residents, or maj or fraction thereof. 3. On and after October 1, 2019, nursing facili ties subject to the Nursing Home Care Act an d Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellect ual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) with seventeen or more beds shall maintain, in addition to other state and federal requirements related to the staffing of nursing facilities, the following mi nimum direct-care-staff-to-resident ratios: Req. No. 3575 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 a. from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., one direct-care staff to every six residents, or major fraction ther eof, b. from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., one direct -care staff to every eight residents, or major fraction t hereof, and c. from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., one direct-care staff to every fifteen residents, or major fraction thereof. 4. Effective immediately, fa cilities shall have the option of varying the starting times fo r the eight-hour shifts by one (1) hour before or one (1) hour after the times designated in this secti on without overlapping shifts. 5. a. On and after January 1, 2020, a facility may implemen t twenty-four-hour-based staff scheduling; provided, however, such facility shall continue to maintain a direct-care service rate of at least two and nine tenths nine-tenths (2.9) hours of direct -care service per resident per day, the same to be calculated based on average direct care staff maintained over a twenty- four-hour period. b. At no time shall direct-care staffing ratios in a facility with twenty-four-hour-based staff-scheduling privileges fall below one direct-care staff to every fifteen residents or major fraction th ereof, and at least two direct-care staff shall be on duty and awake at all times. Req. No. 3575 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 c. As used in this paragraph, “twenty-four-hour-based- scheduling” “twenty-four-hour-based staff scheduling” means maintaining: (1) a direct-care-staff-to-resident ratio based on overall hours of direct -care service per resident per day rate of not less than two and ninety one- hundredths (2.90) two and nine-tenths (2.9) hours per day, (2) a direct-care-staff-to-resident ratio of at least one direct-care staff person on duty to every fifteen residents or major fraction thereof at all times, and (3) at least two direct-care staff persons on duty and awake at all times. 6. a. On and after January 1, 2004, the State Department of Health shall require a facility to maintain the shift - based, staff-to-resident ratios provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection if the facility has been determined by the Department to b e deficient with regard to: (1) the provisions of paragraph 3 of this subsection, (2) fraudulent reporting of staffing on the Quality of Care Report, or Req. No. 3575 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (3) a complaint or survey investigation that has determined substandard quality of care as a result of insufficient staffing. b. The Department shall require a facility described in subparagraph a of this paragraph to achieve and maintain the shift-based, staff-to-resident ratios provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection for a minimum of three (3) months b efore being considered eligible to implement twenty-four-hour-based staff scheduling as defined in s ubparagraph c of paragraph 5 of this subsection. c. Upon a subsequent determination by the Department tha t the facility has achieved and maintained for at least three (3) months the shift -based, staff-to-resident ratios described in paragraph 3 of this subsection, and has corrected any deficiency described in subparagraph a of this paragraph, the Department shall notify the facility of its eligibility to impl ement twenty-four-hour-based staff-scheduling privileges. 7. a. For facilities that utilize twenty -four-hour-based staff-scheduling privileges, the Department shall monitor and evaluate facility compliance with the twenty-four-hour-based staff-scheduling staffing provisions of paragraph 5 of this su bsection through Req. No. 3575 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 reviews of monthly staffing reports, results of complaint investigations and inspections. b. If the Department identifies any quali ty-of-care problems related to insufficient staffing in such facility, the Department shall issue a directed plan of correction to the facility found to be out of compliance with the provisions of this subsection. c. In a directed plan of correction, the Department sha ll require a facility described in sub paragraph b of this paragraph to maintain shift -based, staff-to-resident ratios for the following periods of time: (1) the first determination shall require that shift - based, staff-to-resident ratios be ma intained until full compliance is achieved, (2) the second determination within a two-year period shall require that shift -based, staff-to-resident ratios be maintained for a minimum period of twelve (12) months, and (3) the third determination within a two -year period shall require that shift-based, staff-to-resident ratios be maintained. The facility may appl y for permission to use twenty-four-hour staffing methodology after two (2) years. Req. No. 3575 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. Effective September 1, 2 002, facilities shall post the names and titles of direct-care staff on duty each day in a conspicuou s place, including the name and titl e of the supervising nurse. D. The State Commissioner of Health shall promulgate rules prescribing staffing requirements for Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual d isabilities serving six or fewer clients (ICFs/IID-6) and for Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care fa cilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities serving sixteen or fewer clients (ICFs/IID -16). E. Facilities shall have the right to appeal and to the informal dispute resolution process with regard to pena lties and sanctions imposed due to staffing noncompliance. F. 1. When the sta te Medicaid program reimbursement rate reflects the sum of Ninety-four Dollars and eleven cents ($94.11 ), plus the increases in actual audited costs over and above the actual audited costs reflected in the cos t reports submitted for the most current cost-reporting period and the costs estimated by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to increase the direct -care, flexible staff-scheduling staffing level from two and eighty -six one- hundredths (2.86) hours p er day per occupied bed to three and two- tenths (3.2) hours per day per occupied bed, all nursing facilities subject to the provisions of the Nursing Home Car e Act and Req. No. 3575 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) with seventeen or more beds, in addition to other state and federal requirements related to t he staffing of nursing faci lities, shall maintain direct -care, flexible staff-scheduling staffing levels based on an overall three and two- tenths (3.2) hours per day per occupied bed. 2. When the state Medicaid program reimbursement rate r eflects the sum of Ninety-four Dollars and eleven cents ($94.11), plus the increases in actual audited costs over and above the actual audited costs reflected in the cost r eports submitted for the most current cost-reporting period and the costs estimated by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to in crease the direct-care flexible staff-scheduling staffing level from three and two-tenths (3.2) hours per day per occupied bed to three and eight-tenths (3.8) hours per day pe r occupied bed, all nursing facilities subject to the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) with seventeen or more beds, in addition to other state and federal requirements related to the staffing of nursing facilities, shall maintain direct-care, flexible staff-scheduling staffing levels based on an overall three and eight-tenths (3.8) hours per day per occupied bed. Req. No. 3575 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. When the state Medicaid program reimbursement rate reflects the sum of Ninety-four Dollars and eleven cents ($94.11), plus the increases in actual audited costs over and above th e actual audited costs reflected in the cost re ports submitted for the most current cost-reporting period and the costs estimated by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to increase the direct -care, flexible staff- scheduling staffing level from three and eight-tenths (3.8) hours per day per occupied bed to four and one-tenth (4.1) hours per day per occupied bed, all nursing facilities subject to the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disa bilities intermediate care facilities for individu als with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) with seventeen or more beds , in addition to other state and federal requirements related to the staffing of nursing facilities, shall maintain direct-care, flexible staff -scheduling staffing levels based on an overall four and one-tenth (4.1) hours per day per occupied bed. 4. The Commissioner shall promulgate rules f or shift-based, staff-to-resident ratios for noncompliant facilities denotin g the incremental increases reflected in direct-care, flexible staff - scheduling staffing levels. 5. In the event that the state Medicaid progr am reimbursement rate for facilities subject to the Nursing Home Care Act, and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individu als with Intellectual Req. No. 3575 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Disabilities intermediate care facili ties for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) having seventeen or more be ds is reduced below actual audited costs, the requirements for staffing ratio levels shall be adjust ed to the appropriat e levels provided in paragraphs 1 through 4 of this subs ection. G. For purposes of this subsection section: 1. “Direct-care staff” means any nursing or therapy staff who provides direct, hands -on care to residents in a nursing facility; 2. Prior to September 1, 2003, activity and social services staff who are not providing direct, hands -on care to residents may be included in the direct-care-staff-to-resident ratio in any shift. On and after September 1, 2003, such pe rsons shall not be inclu ded in the direct-care-staff-to-resident ratio, regardless of their licensure or certification status; and 3. The administrator shall not be co unted in the direct-care- staff-to-resident ratio regardless of the admini strator’s licensure or certification status. H. 1. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall require all nursing facilities subject to the provisions of the Nursing Home Care Act and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) with seventeen or more beds to submit a monthly report on st affing ratios on a form that the Authority shall develop. Req. No. 3575 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The report shall document the extent to whi ch such facilities are meeting or are failing to meet the minimum direct - care-staff-to-resident ratios specified by this se ction. Such report shall be available to the public upon request. 3. The Authority may assess administrative penalties for the failure of any facility to submit the report as required by the Authority. Provided, however: a. administrative penalt ies shall not accrue until the Authority notifies the facility in writing th at the report was not timely submitted as required, and b. a minimum of a one-day penalty shall be asse ssed in all instances. 4. Administrative penalties shall not be assessed for computational errors made in preparing the report. 5. Monies collected from administrative penalties shall be deposited in the Nursing Facility Quality of Care Fund established in Section 2002 of Title 56 of the Oklahoma Statutes and utilized for the purposes specified in the Oklahoma Healthcare Initiative Act such section. I. 1. All entities regulated by this state that provide long- term care services shall utilize a single asse ssment tool to determine client services needs. The tool shall be developed by the Oklahoma Health Care Author ity in consultation with the State Department of Health. Req. No. 3575 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. a. The Oklahoma Nursing Facility Funding Advisory Committee is hereby created and shall consist of the following: (1) four members selecte d by the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers Oklahoma, (2) three members selected by the Oklahoma Association of Homes and Services f or the Aging, and (3) two members selected by the Oklahoma State Council on Aging and Adult Protective Services. The Chair chair shall be elected by the committee. No state employees may be appointed to serve. b. The purpose of the adv isory committee will be to develop a new methodology for calculating state Medicaid program reimburse ments to nursing facilities by implementing facil ity-specific rates based on expenditures relating to direct care staffing. No nursing home will receive less than the current rate at the time of implementation of facility-specific rates pursuant to this subpara graph. c. The advisory committee shall be staffed and advised by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. d. The new methodology will be submitted for app roval to the Board of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority Board Req. No. 3575 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 by January 15, 2005, and shall be fina lized by July 1, 2005. The new methodology will apply only to new funds that become available for Medicaid nursing facility reimbursement after the methodology of this paragraph has been fina lized. Existing funds paid to nursing homes will not be subject to the meth odology of this paragraph. The methodology as outlined in this paragraph will only be applied to any new funding for nursing facilities appropriated above and beyond the funding amounts e ffective on January 15, 2005. e. The new methodology sha ll divide the payment into two components: (1) direct care which includes allowable costs for registered nurses, licensed practical n urses, certified medication aides and certified nurse aides. The direct care component of the rate shall be a facility-specific rate, directly related to each facility’s actual expenditure s on direct care, and (2) other costs. f. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority, in calculating t he base year prospective direct care rat e component, shall use the following criteria: Req. No. 3575 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (1) to construct an array of facility per diem allowable expenditures on direct care, the Authority shall use the most recent data available. The limit on this array shall be no less than the ninetieth p ercentile, (2) each facility’s direct care base-year component of the rate shall be the lesser of the facility’s allowable expenditures on direct care or the limit, (3) the Authority shall transition the payment rate methodology of nursing facilities to a price - based methodology when data for such a methodology becomes available and has been analyzed by the Authority. Under the price-based methodology, the direct care payment amount of each facility shall be adjusted to reflect the resident case mix of eac h facility using a percentage of funds i n the direct care pool as determined by the Authority , (4) other rate components shall be determined by t he Oklahoma Nursing Facility Funding Advisory Committee or the Authority in accordance with federal regulations and requirements, Req. No. 3575 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (4) (5) prior to July 1, 2020, the Authori ty shall seek federal approval to calculate the upper payment limit under the authority of CMS the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) utilizing the Medicare equivalent payment rate, and (5) (6) if Medicaid payment rates t o providers are adjusted, nursing home ra tes and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) rates shall not be adj usted less favorably than the average p ercentage-rate reduction or increase applicable to the majority of other provider groups. g. (1) Effective October 1, 2019 , if sufficient funding is appropriated for a rate increase, a new average rate for nursing facilities sha ll be established. The rate shall be equal to the statewide average cost as derived from audited cost reports for SFY 201 8, ending June 30, 2018, after adjustment for inflation. After such new average rate has been estab lished, the facility specific reimbursement rate shall be as f ollows: Req. No. 3575 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) amounts up to the existing base rate amount shall continue to be distributed as a part of the base rate in acc ordance with the existing State Plan, a nd (b) to the extent the new rate exce eds the rate effective before the effective date of this act October 1, 2019, fifty percent (50%) of the resulting increase on October 1, 2019, shall be allocated toward an increase of the existing base reimbursement rate and distributed accordingly. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of t he increase shall be allocated in accordance with the currently approved 70/30 reimbursement rate methodology as outlined in the existing State Plan. (2) Any subsequent rate increases, as determined based on the provisions set forth in this subparagraph, shall be allocated in accordance with the currently approved 70/30 reimburse ment rate methodology. The rate shall not exceed the upper payment limit established by the Medicare rate equivalent establis hed by the federal CMS . Req. No. 3575 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 h. Effective October 1, 2019, in coordination with the rate adjustments identified in the precedi ng section, a portion of the funds shall be utilized as follows: (1) effective October 1, 2019, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall increase the person al needs allowance for residents of nursing homes a nd Intermediate Care Faci lities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) from Fifty Dollars ($50.00) per month to Seventy-five Dollars ($75.00) per month per resident. The increase shall be funded by Medicaid nursing home providers, by way of a r eduction of eighty-two cents ($0.82) per day deducted from the base rate. Any additional cost shall be funded by the Nursing Facility Qualit y of Care Fund, and (2) effective January 1, 2020, all c linical employees working in a licensed nursing facility shall be required to receive at least four (4) hours annually of Alzheimer ’s or dementia training, to be provided and paid for by the facilities. 3. The Department of Human Services shall expand it s statewide toll-free, Senior-Info Line Senior Info-line for senior citizen Req. No. 3575 Page 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 services to include assistance with or inf ormation on long-term care services in this state. 4. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shal l develop a nursing facility cost-reporting system that reflects the most curr ent costs experienced by nursing and speci alized facilities. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority sh all utilize the most current cost report data to estimate costs in determining daily per diem rates. 5. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall provide access to the detailed Medicaid payment audit adjustments and implement an appeal process for disputed payment audit adjustments to the provider. Additionally, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall make sufficient revisions to the nursing facility cost re porting forms and electronic data input sy stem so as to clarify what expenses are allowable and app ropriate for inclusion in cost calculations. J. 1. When the state Medicaid program reimbursement rate reflects the sum of Ninety -four Dollars and eleven cents ($94.11), plus the increases in actual audited costs, over and above the actual audited costs reflected in the cost reports submitted for the most current cost-reporting period, and the direct-care, flexible staff-scheduling staffing level has been pro spectively funded at four and one-tenth (4.1) hours per day per occupied bed, the Authority may apportion funds for the implementation of the provisions of this section. Req. No. 3575 Page 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The Authority shall make application to the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service for a waiver of the uniform requirement on health -care-related taxes as permitted by Section 433.72 of 42 C.F.R., Section 433.72. 3. Upon approval of the waiver, the Authority shall de velop a program to implement the provisions of the wa iver as it relates to all nursing faciliti es. K. Subject to the availability of funds, the Authori ty shall design and implement a sc holarship program for nurse aides who work in Medicaid-certified nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID) and who are attending a program of practical nursing approved by the Oklahoma Board of Nursing. SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024. SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservati on of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 59-2-3575 DC 2/22/2024 11:14:06 AM