HSC Regulation 200M Residential Care Facility (RCF)
Methodology (03/04)
I.
Residential Care. Definition.
All references to "Residential Care" and "Residential Care
facilities" refer to facilities that meet the definition contained in Act 1238
of 1993, which states:
"
(14)
'Residential care facility' means a building or structure which is used or
maintained to provide, for pay on a twenty-four hour basis, a place of
residence and board for three (3) or more individuals whose functional
capabilities may have been impaired but do not require hospital or nursing home
care on a daily basis But could require other assistance in activities of daily
living."
Residential Care facilities also include:
Any other facility, which meets the statutory definition
regardless of licensure category or the existence of a licensure
category.
II.
Service Area will be the county.
III. Bed need will be determined by a
Population Based methodology and a Utilization Based methodology.
A. Population Based
1.
a.
Numerical Formula. At 90% optimum occupancy the following number of RCF beds
are projected by Age group:
|
Age Group
|
Beds per 1000
|
|
Under 65
|
.5545
|
|
65-74
|
2.3014
|
|
75-84
|
5.1090
|
|
85+
|
17.4996
|
Bed need will be projected five years forward each July 1st,
e.g., in 2003 bed need will be projected for the year 2008.
1.
b. An exception to the population based
formula exists when occupied beds in all facilities in a county are 75%
occupied by residents who are documented to be under the age of 65 years old.
In this instance, beds in those facilities will not be counted in the county
bed need.
2. Review
Priorities. Applicants will be approved in the following ranked order:
a. Applicants with high occupancy will have a
priority for an increase of 10% or 10 beds whichever is greater. (For
definition of "high" see "B. Utilization Based" below.)
b. Applicants replacing "older" facilities
will have a priority for a 20% increase.
c. Applicants wanting to expand will have a
priority for an increase of 5% or five beds whichever is greater.
The above priorities may not be combined i.e., an older facility
with "high" occupancy will be eligible for either a 10% or a ten bed increase
or a 20% increase but not both.
No additional beds will be approved for a county showing a need
under the Population Based Methodology where:
(1) there is a valid POA for the first RCF in
the county which has yet to be licensed; or
(2) if the county has had its first and only
RCF licensed within the last calendar year. After the initial RCF has been
licensed for six months, the Commission will review the situation and determine
if additional beds will be approved for the county.
3. The Commission may exceed
"need", when a need exists and is less than ten (10) beds in order to approve
one applicant for up to a ten (10) bed facility.
B. Utilization Based.
This methodology would apply in those service areas where a
Population Based Need is not projected. Beds may be approved if:
1. a facility has had a "high" occupancy for
the previous calendar year. "High" occupancy shall be at least an average of
85% for facilities of ten beds or less, 90% for facilities of 20 beds or less
and 95% for facilities over 20 beds. Proof of occupancy will be based upon
resident occupancy. Proof of occupancy is derived from the DHS, OLTC occupancy
reported at the last two (2) site visits and is averaged with the occupancy
reported on the site visit conducted by the HSPA. Occupancy is defined as
including any individual for whom the facility has agreed to provide room or
board, or services or assistance, regardless of whether they are physically
present at the time the occupancy is counted.
Eligible applicants may be approved for a ten bed
increase.
C.
Unfavorable Review
a. No Residential Care
Facility will be awarded a permit of approval if the existing facility has had
more than two (2) Class A or Class B violations pursuant to ACA §
20-10-205
in any inspection within the last 12 months preceding the date the application
is placed under review or from the date the application is placed under review
until the final decision of the Health Services Permit Commission.
IV. Act 1230 of 2001
Conversions
A. If a Residential Care Facility
elects to convert any or all of its beds to Assisted Living beds:
1. The facility may, no later than
twenty-four (24) months from April 24, 2002, apply to convert any of the
Assisted Living beds originally converted from RCF beds back to RCF beds,
subject to the provisions of section (IV)(B), below. Re-conversion from
Assisted Living beds back to RCF beds shall not be permitted if applied for
more than twenty-four (24) months after the effective date of this regulation.
After the 24 month period, facilities that converted RCF beds to ALF beds and
wish to reconvert to RCF beds, must apply for a POA. A facility shall have a
maximum of six (6) months to complete Residential Care Facility
Licensure.
2. Conversion of RCF
beds to Assisted Living beds shall not reduce the RCF bed count in the county
in which the RCF is or was located at the time of conversion under the
population-based methodology for the twenty-four (24) month period set forth in
(IV)(A)(1), above. At the expiration of the twenty-four (24) month period set
forth in (IV)(A)(1), above, the bed count for the county of which the RCF is or
was located at the time of conversion shall be reduced by the number of RCF
beds in the county that were converted to Assisted Living beds, and that were
not converted back to RCF beds or that have not applied for conversion back,
within the twenty- four month period permitted by this regulation.
B. Any RCF bed that is converted
to an Assisted Living bed may be allowed to return to an RCF bed within 24
months of the effective date of this regulation without obtaining a new POA
when:
1. The Assisted Living facility from
which the beds will be converted is in compliance with all applicable state
laws, and regulations of the Office of Long Term Care. For purposes of this
section, compliance includes but is not limited to:
a. No outstanding or unpaid fines
2. The RCF to which the beds will
be converted is in compliance with all applicable state laws, and regulations
of the Office of Long Term Care, including but not limited to performance of
any corrective actions, or payment of any fines or sanctions, imposed against
the facility by the Office of Long Term Care prior to the conversion of any or
all of the RCF's beds to Assisted Living beds.
2. The entity or facility wishing to return
Assisted Living beds to RCF beds must submit a written request to, and receive
written approval from, the Agency prior to the conversion.
V. MORATORIUM
No applications for Residential Care Facilities (New, Utilization
or Replacement) will be accepted from the effective date of this rule until
December 31, 2005.
