Title: Section 495.4 - Application procedures.

495.4 Application procedures.

(a) The department will notify all eligible operators of the availability of funds for the Quality Incentive Payment Program, and provide all eligible operators with the forms and information necessary to submit an application for such funds including the dates by which the facility must be in compliance with applicable statutes and regulations and by which applications must be submitted.

(b) Eligible applicants who wish to receive funds under the Quality Incentive Payment Program must apply for such funds in accordance with the standards and procedures established by the department, and must submit all required information upon forms and in a manner prescribed by the department.

(c) Applications determined to be incomplete, or submitted after the filing deadline established by the department, will not be considered for funding.

(d) The application must be signed by an individual legally authorized to enter into agreements on behalf of the operator of the adult home, enriched housing program or residence for adults.

(e) The department reserves the right in its sole discretion, to modify and/or withdraw requests for applications at any time. All applications are prepared at the sole risk, cost and expense of the applicant.

(f) Applications will be reviewed for completeness; applications which are not substantially complete will not be considered for funding.

(g) Applications will be evaluated based on criteria for funding contained in statute, the regulations governing this Part and adult care facilities and the criteria contained in the request for application issued by the department.

(h) The department will make final selections in its sole discretion and will advise successful and unsuccessful applicants of its decisions.

(i) Payments received by eligible operators under this program must be used to improve the quality of care and services provided to SSI or HR recipients residing in the facility.

(j) Documentation of quality incentive payment expenditures must be maintained. If an audit or inspection shows that any item of work for which a disbursement has been made under the Quality Incentive Payment Program was not completed in full compliance with the terms and conditions of the grant, the operator must, upon request of the department, repay such grant to the department. If the work is part of a plan of correction for a previously cited violation, the operator must correct the violation within the time frames approved by the department.

(k) The department reserves the right to negotiate any aspect of the payment and if negotiations fail to result in a satisfactory agreement, terminate negotiations or take such action as the department may deem appropriate. *NB Effective until 97/06/04