WAC 246-310-390   Nursing home bed need adjustments.  (1) The department shall use the procedures described in this section to make adjustments to planning area net estimated bed need.

     (2) For planning areas for which a nursing home review is scheduled or is ongoing, the department shall use the following procedures to adjust a planning area's net estimated bed need between April tenth or the first working day thereafter and the last working day in January of the following year.

     (a) Where an increase in the bed supply of a planning area results in a reduction in net estimated bed need, the department shall use the following procedures:

     (i) When a reduction in net estimated bed need occurs prior to the date of beginning of review for the applicable concurrent review cycle, the department shall:

     (A) Inform, in writing, all persons from whom the department has received an application and/or a valid letter of intent of the reduction; and

     (B) Explain the procedures for withdrawing or amending a certificate of need application.

     (ii) When a reduction in net estimated bed need occurs after the date of beginning of review for the applicable concurrent review cycle, the department shall use the need projected at the time the review began in reaching a decision on each affected application.

     (b) Where a decrease in the bed supply of a planning area results in the increase in net estimated bed need, the department shall:

     (i) Use the following policies:

     (A) If such a decrease in the bed supply would result in a planning area being under the established ratio, the department shall:

     (I) Assign to the planning area only enough beds for the planning area to reach the established ratio in the projection year, but not to exceed the number of beds which closed; and

     (II) Redistribute any remaining beds to planning areas statewide through the next scheduled recalculation of estimated projections for all planning areas.

     (B) If such decrease in the bed supply would not make a planning area under the established ratio, the department shall redistribute any remaining beds to planning areas statewide through the next scheduled recalculation of baseline projections for all planning areas.

     (ii) Subject to the provisions of (b)(i) of this subsection, use the following procedures:

     (A) When an increase in net estimated bed need can be made prior to the last day on which the department can accept amendments to applications under review, the department shall:

     (I) Notify all affected applicants in writing; and

     (II) Explain to each affected applicant the procedures for amending a certificate of need application.

     (B) When an increase cannot be made prior to the last day on which the department can accept amendments to applications under review, the department shall include the increased net estimated bed need in any subsequent decisions on each affected application or the next applicable concurrent review cycle, whichever occurs first.

     (3) For planning areas for which a nursing home review is not scheduled or ongoing, the department shall use the following procedures to adjust a planning area's net estimated bed need between April tenth or the first working day thereafter and the last working day in January of the following year:

     (a) If a decrease in the bed supply would make a planning area under the established ratio, the department shall:

     (i) Assign to the planning area only enough beds for the planning area to reach the established ratio in the projection year; and

     (ii) Redistribute any remaining beds to planning areas statewide through the next scheduled recalculation of baseline projections for all planning areas.

     (b) If such decrease in the bed supply would not result in a planning area being under the established ratio, the department shall redistribute any remaining beds to planning areas statewide through the next scheduled recalculation of baseline projections for all planning areas.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.38 RCW. 96-24-052, § 246-310-390, filed 11/27/96, effective 12/28/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-310-390, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.38.919. 90-12-072 (Order 063), § 248-19-811, filed 6/1/90, effective 7/1/90.]