471 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 45, § 009
Providers with greater than 1,000 Medicaid inpatient days for a full Report Period must submit cost and statistical data on Form FA-66, Report of Long Term Care Facilities for Reimbursement. Data must be compiled on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles and the accrual method of accounting for the report period. If conflicts occur between generally accepted accounting principles and requirements of this regulation, the requirements of this regulation will prevail. Financial and statistical records for the period covered by the cost report must be accurate and sufficiently detailed to substantiate the data reported. All records must be readily available upon request by the Department for verification of the reported data. If records are not accurate, sufficiently detailed, or readily available, the Department may correct, reduce, or eliminate data. Providers are notified of changes. Each facility must complete the required schedules and submit the original, signed report to the Department within 90 days of the close of the reporting period, when a change in ownership or management occurs, or when terminated from participation in Medicaid. Under extenuating circumstances, an extension not to exceed 45 days may be permitted. Requests for extensions must be made in writing before the date the cost report is due. When a provider fails to file a cost report as due, the Department will suspend payment. At the time the suspension is imposed, the Department will send a letter informing the provider that if a cost report is not filed, all payments made since the end of the cost report period will be deemed overpayments. The provider must maintain levels of care if the Department suspends payment. If the provider takes no action to comply with the obligation, the Department may refer the case for legal action. If a required cost report has not been filed, the sum of the following is due: all prospective rate payments made during the rate period to which the cost report applies; all prospective rate payments made subsequent to the accounting rate period to which the cost report applies; and costs incurred by the department in attempting to secure reports and payments. If the provider later submits an acceptable cost report, the Department will undertake the necessary audit activities. Providers will receive all funds due them reflected under the properly submitted cost reports less any costs incurred by the Department as a result of late filing. Providers must retain financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other pertinent records related to the cost report for a minimum of five years after the end of the report period or until an audit started within the five years is finalized, whichever is later. Records relating to the acquisition and disposal of fixed assets must be retained for a minimum of five years after the assets are no longer in use by the provider. The Department will retain all cost reports for at least five years after receipt from the provider. Facilities which provide any services other than certified nursing facility services must report costs separately, based on separate cost center records. As an alternative to separate cost center records and for shared costs, the provider may use a reasonable allocation basis documented with the appropriate statistics. All allocation bases must be approved by the Department before the rep ort period. A Medicare certified facility must not report costs for a level of care to the Department which have been reported for a different level of care on a Medicare cost report.
471 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 45, § 009