UPDATED: HHS Nursing Facility Payment Add-ons and Required Provider Attestation
Date: 11/24/20
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted temporary emergency payment rate add-ons for Nursing Facility providers to support access and safety during the emergency declaration related to COVID-19. The emergency payment rate add-ons have a retroactive effective of April 1, 2020, and are assumed to conclude on January 21, 2021*, or the end of the federally approved public health emergency.
Superior began reimbursing providers for the add-on payment for new claims processed on July 1, 2020. Adjustment of claims processed prior to that date, beginning with claims for service dates April 1, 2020 and after, will be re-processed to include the add-on payment by January 21, 2021*. No action is required from nursing facility providers to facilitate the adjustment for those claims.
Nursing Facility providers receiving the add-on payment for COVID-19 must submit an attestation to HHS affirming that the rate increase will be used for COVID-related expenses in the manner prescribed by HHS; including direct care staff salary and wages, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and dietary needs/supplies.
Additional details related to the required attestation are included below:
- HHS Notice: Temporary Emergency Rate Increases for the Nursing Facility program, including Hospice services provided in the Nursing Facility setting, Effective April 1, 2020
- Nursing Facility providers who receive an add-on payment must complete and submit the following attestation form online as soon as possible**:
- HHS LBB Rate Increase Attestation Form (Preferred Browser is Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).
- HHS will coordinate posting and collection of the attestation.
- HHS will identify and notify Superior of any Nursing Facility that fails to complete a notification.
- Nursing Facility providers who receive the add-on payment, but fail to complete the required attestation, will be subject to recoupment of the associated payment increase.
- Nursing Facility providers who receive an add-on payment must complete and submit the following attestation form online as soon as possible**:
If you have questions about this communication, please contact your Superior Account Manager.
*Please note: Previously, the end date for this guidance was August 31, 2020. Per HHS, guidance dates that previously have been extended through January 21, 2021, or the end of the federally approved public health emergency.
**The previous deadline to submit this attestation was September 30, 2020, but has since been extended.