medicaid certification and approval of skilled nursing facilities

medicaid certification and approval of skilled nursing facilities Sec. 249A. (a) Title XIX of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end thereof (after the new section 1909 added by this Act) the following new section: 86 Stat. 1427 “certification and approval of skilled nursing facilities “Sec. 1910. (a) Whenever the Secretary certifies an institution in a State to be qualified as a skilled nursing facility under title XVIII, such institution shall be deemed to meet the standards for certification as a skilled nursing facility for purposes of section 1902(a) (28). “(b) The Secretary shall notify the State agency administering the medical assistance plan of his approval or disapproval of any institution which has applied for certification by him as a qualified skilled nursing facility.” (b) Section 1866(a) (1) of the Social Security Act is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sentence: “An agreement under tills paragraph with an extended care facility shall be for a term of not exceeding 12 months, except that the Secretary may extend such term for a period not exceeding 2 months, where the health and safety of patients will not be jeopardized thereby, if he finds that such extension is necessary to prevent irreparable harm to such facility or hardship to the individuals being furnished items or services by such facility or if he finds it impracticable within such 12-month period to determine whether such facility is complying with the provisions of this title and regulations thereunder.” (c) Section 1866(b) of such Act is amended by— (1) striking out, in the material which precedes clause (1), “terminated-” and inserting in lieu thereof “terminated (and in the case of an extended care facility, prior to the end of the term specified in subsection (a)(1))-”; and (2) by striking out all of clause (3) appearing after the phrase “Any termination shall be applicable—” and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “(3) in the case of inpatient hospital services (including tuberculosis hospital services and inpatient psychiatric hospital services) or post-hospital extended care services, with respect to services furnished after the effective date of such termination, except that payment may be made for up to thirty days with respect to inpatient institutional services furnished to any eligible individual who was admitted to such institution prior to the effective date of such termination,”. (d) Section 1866(c) of such Act is amended by inserting “(1)” after “(c)” and by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: “(2) In the case of a skilled nursing facility participating in the programs established by this title and title XIX, the Secretary may enter into an agreement under this section only if such facility has been approved pursuant to section 1910, and the term of any such agreement shall be in accordance with the period of approval of eligibility specified by the Secretary pursuant to such section.” (e) The provisions of this section shall be effective with respect to agreements filed with the Secretary under section 1866 of the Social Security Act by skilled nursing facilities (as defined in section 1861 (j) of such Act) before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act, but accepted by him on or after such date. (f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any agreement, filed by a skilled nursing facility (as defined in section 1861 (j) of the Social Security Act) with the Secretary under section 1866 of such Act and accepted by him prior to the date of enactment of this Act, which was in effect on such date shall be deemed to be for a specified term ending on December 31, 1973.