TITLE 53. SOCIAL SERVICES AND INSTITUTIONS

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF INSTITUTIONS

Part 4. Per Diem Payments for Institutional Care

Definitions

53-1-401. Definitions. As used in this part, unless the context requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:

(1) "All-inclusive rate" means a fixed charge that is computed on a daily basis or on the basis of another time period for inpatients, that is computed on a per visit basis for outpatients, and that is applicable uniformly to each patient without regard to the extent of the services required by the patient and without regard to a distinction between physician services and hospital services.

(2) "Ancillary charge" means the expense of providing identifiable, direct, resident services, including but not limited to:

(a) physicians' services;

(b) x-ray and laboratory services;

(c) dental services;

(d) speech-language pathology and audiology services;

(e) occupational and physical therapy;

(f) medical supplies;

(g) prescribed drugs; and

(h) specialized medical equipment.

(3) "Care" means the care, treatment, support, maintenance, and other services rendered by the department to a resident.

(4) "Cost of care" means the applicable all-inclusive rate charges or per diem charges and ancillary charges for a resident's care that are determined as provided in this part.

(5) "Department" means the department of public health and human services provided for in 2-15-2201.

(6) "Financially responsible person" means a spouse of a resident, the natural or adoptive parents of a resident under 18 years of age, or a guardian or conservator to the extent of the guardian's or conservator's responsibility for the financial affairs of the person who is a resident under applicable Montana law establishing the duties and limitations of guardianships or conservatorships.

(7) "Full-time equivalent resident load" means the total daily resident count for the fiscal year divided by the number of days in the year.

(8) "Gross daily budgeted cost" means the total cost of operating a facility as budgeted through the legislative appropriation process less the budgeted amount of federal grant revenue for the institution for a fiscal year.

(9) "Long-term resident" means a resident in an institution listed in 53-1-402 for a continuous period in excess of 120 days. The absence of a resident from the institution due to a temporary or trial visit may not be counted as interrupting the accrual of the 120 days required to attain the status of a long-term resident.

(10) "Per diem charge" means the gross daily budgeted cost of operating an institution or an individual unit of an institution (including but not limited to contracted medical services, depreciation, and associated department costs but excluding the cost of educational programs, ancillary charges, and costs not directly identified with patient care) divided by the full-time equivalent resident load for the previous state fiscal year.

(11) "Resident" means any person who is receiving care from or who is a resident of an institution listed in 53-1-402.

(12) (a) "Third party" means any third-party individual or entity that is or may be liable to pay all or part of the charges for a resident's cost of care, including but not limited to applicable medicare, medicaid, and personal insurance or other similar health care benefits.

(b) Third party does not include:

(i) a managed care organization administering a mental health managed care program under contract with the department; or

(ii) a financially responsible person.

History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 199, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 336, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 450, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 80-1602; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 594, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 283, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 413, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 262, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 405, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 590, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 190, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 207, L. 2003.