In addition to the deficiency rate, civil and/or monetary sanctions may be applied by the State agency responsible for licensing the facility when a facility is found not to have provided the quality of service or level of care required. The Department will reimburse at 90% of the provider's per diem rate, unless otherwise specified. This "deficiency rate" will be applied following written notification to the facility of the effective date of the reduced rate for any of the following service deficiencies:
7000.1 Staffing over a period of two weeks or more does not meet the Federal Certification and State Licensing requirements;7000.2 Food service does not meet the Federal Certification and State Licensing requirements;7000.3 Specific, documented evidence that the care provided does not meet the Federal Certification and State Licensing requirements. Such penalty to be effective no sooner than 30 days from written notification that such deficiencies exist;7000.4 Failure to correct, within the time frames of an accepted Plan of Correction, deficiencies in meeting the Federal Certification and State Licensing requirements, which cause a threat to the health and safety of residents in a facility or the surrounding community;7000.5 Failure to submit a cost report, financial statements, and other schedules as requested by the Division of Audit, and to maintain auditable records as required by these Principles and other relevant regulations may result in application of the deficiency per diem rate, suspension, withholding of, or recoupment of MaineCare reimbursement. The deficiency per diem rate for these items will go into effect immediately upon receipt of written notification from the Department.7000.6 Failure to complete acceptable assessments, as defined in Appendix C. A reduction in rate because of deficiencies will remain in effect until the deficiencies have been corrected, as defined in the applicable Appendix, or as verified by representatives of the Department, following written notification by the provider that the deficiencies no longer exist. No retroactive adjustments to the full rate will be made for the period that the deficiency rate is in effect unless the provider demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department that there was no just cause for the reduction in payment.
C.M.R. 10, 144, ch. 101, ch. III, 144-101-III-97, subsec. 144-101-III-97-7000