It doesn't seem possible, but I have posted nothing here since last Spring. Time does go by way too fast. An update on the new 2010 Medicaid rates !!
Nothing..... Yes, Nothing has happened since the last posting. We still sit here in December of 2010 and do not have a certain rate starting in April of 2009!! Oh.... we are still getting paid by the NY Medicaid system, but at preliminary rates issued in 2009. In fact for 2010 we are getting paid at a rate higher than we will eventually receive. That means we are building up a huge payback amount that will have to be paid back when the State issues an approved rate.
So you say... Why would the State pay you more than they know they will pay when the rates are final? Good question, complicated answer. In a nutshell the rates for all 600 some facilities in the State are changing due to a recalculation of the costs used to determine the rate. Most facilities rates are going up and ours is one of the few that are going down. We are going down because we applied for and received the recalculation earlier. Now the State is saying they are broke and can not finance the recalculation of all facilities in the State so they have "Scale Back Adjustment". This reduces everyones "new" rate. Our problem is we were already receiving the "new" rate and our current payments are frozen at that level without the "Scale Back". We will owe those funds back as soon as our rate is released that includes them.
It would be nice to say we were banking those funds, but they are not excess or "Profit" they are being used every day for payroll, taxes and supplies.
When these new rates are released this may well be "The Winter of Discontent".
Enough doom and gloom. The early snowfall in this area has made a beautifull winter wonderland of the landscape and everyone is excited and looking forward to the coming Christmas festivities. I have on my list of things to do trying to get some pictures posted on this blog of what is going on. I just need to figure out how to do it.
