(a) The department shall establish a pilot program to provide continuous skilled nursing care as a benefit of the Medi-Cal program, when those services are provided in accordance with an approved federal waiver meeting the requirements of subdivision (b). âContinuous skilled nursing careâ means medically necessary care provided by, or under the supervision of, a registered nurse within his or her scope of practice, seven days a week, 24 hours per day, in a health facility participating in the pilot program. This care shall include a minimum of eight hours per day provided by or under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. Each health facility providing continuous skilled nursing care in the pilot program shall have a minimum of one registered nurse or one licensed vocational nurse awake and in the facility at all times. (b) The department shall submit to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, no later than April 1, 2000, a federal waiver request developed in consultation with the State Department of Developmental Services and the Association of Regional Center Agencies, pursuant to Section 1915(b) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396n(c)) to provide continuous skilled nursing care services under the pilot program. (c) (1) The pilot program shall be conducted to explore more flexible models of health facility licensure to provide continuous skilled nursing care to developmentally disabled individuals in the least restrictive health facility setting, and to evaluate the effect of the pilot program on the health, safety, and quality of life of individuals, and the cost-effectiveness of this care. The evaluation shall include a review of the pilot program by an independent agency. (2) Participation in the pilot program shall include 10 health facilities provided that the facilities meet all eligibility requirements. The facilities shall be approved by the department, in consultation with the State Department of Developmental Services and the appropriate regional center agencies, and shall meet the requirements of subdivision (e). Priority shall be given to facilities with four to six beds, to the extent those facilities meet all other eligibility requirements. (d) Under the pilot program established in this section, a developmentally disabled individual is eligible to receive continuous skilled nursing care if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The developmentally disabled individual meets the criteria as specified in the federal waiver. (2) The developmentally disabled individual resides in a health facility that meets the provider participation criteria as specified in the federal waiver. (3) The continuous skilled nursing care services are provided in accordance with the federal waiver. (4) The continuous skilled nursing care services provided to the developmentally disabled individual do not result in costs that exceed the fiscal limit established in the federal waiver. (e) A health facility seeking to participate in the pilot program shall provide care for developmentally disabled individuals who require the availability of continuous skilled nursing care, in accordance with the terms of the pilot program. During participation in the pilot program, the health facility shall comply with all the terms and conditions of the federal waiver described in subdivision (b), and shall not be subject to licensure or inspection under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1250) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code. Upon termination of the pilot program and verification of compliance with Section 1265 of the Health and Safety Code, the department shall immediately reinstate the participating health facilityâs previous license for the balance of time remaining on the license when the health facility began participation in the pilot program. (f) The department shall implement this pilot program only to the extent it can demonstrate fiscal neutrality, as required under the terms o
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