Sec.17-313-9. Establishment of comprehensive payment levels and computation of residential service rates paid by the department of mental retardation for community training homes

(a) Definitions

As used in this section:

(1) "Client assessment documents" means documents which represent a composite assessment of individual client needs to assist in establishing the appropriate level of supervision. The forms and assessment are provided by the Department of Mental Retardation.

(2) "Department" means the Department of Mental Retardation.

(3) "Personal need allowance" means income which is available to a resident which may not be used for payment of room, board or service.

(4) "Ongoing comprehensive support" means twenty-four hour supervision with periodic special interventions required due to complex medical or behavioral needs of the resident(s).

(b) (1) Three comprehensive payment levels are established for mentally retarded persons, who are eligible for funding pursuant to section 17a-228 G.S., and the regulations promulgated thereunder, who reside in community training homes. A comprehensive payment level is established by the department in accordance with a client's need for supervision as indicated in client assessment documents. The comprehensive payment level per resident per month for the period July 1, 1993 through June 30, 1994 are as follows:

	Level of Supervision	Payment Level per
		Resident Per Month
	Less than 24 hour supervision	$ 876.68
	24 hour supervision	1,112.33
	Ongoing comprehensive	1,419.85

(2) On July 1, 1994 and for each subsequent year commencing July 1, the payment level for each level of supervision will be adjusted by the percentage increase or decrease in legislative appropriations for existing community training homes from the prior year to the present year.

(3) On July 1, 1995 and for each subsequent year commencing July 1, the comprehensive payment level for each level of supervision shall be adjusted by the amount of increase or decrease in the monthly total of the rate established pursuant to Section 17-313b-7 of these regulations.

(c) The comprehensive payment levels set forth in subsection (b) of this section represent the total amount received for room, board and services provided to a resident of a community training home. These payment levels are composed of the monthly total of the rate pursuant to section 17-313b-7 of these regulations and a residential service rate paid by the department. The residential service rate is the difference between the established comprehensive payment level and the monthly total of the rate established pursuant to section 17-313b-7 of these regulations.

(d) A resident of a community training home who is not a recipient of the state supplement program administered by the Department of Social Services may retain, from whatever source, an amount equal to the unearned income disregard plus personal need allowance received by an individual receiving state supplement who lives in a community training home. To the extent that the income of such resident is insufficient to provide this amount, the residential service rate shall be increased by an amount sufficient to equal it.

(e) Special support payments, by the Department of Mental Retardation, may be negotiated between the community training home provider and the appropriate regional director of the department of mental retardation. Special support payments will be in addition to the applicable payment level, and any other payments established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, for additional necessary expenses related to special needs of a client which are not reimbursed through the applicable comprehensive payment level. Any request for special support payments must be supported by client assessment documents prepared or approved by a client's request for special support payments must be supported by client assessment documents prepared or approved by a client's assessment documents prepared or approved by a client's interdisciplinary team. Additional expenses which may require special support payments are those relating to:

(1) Professional services;

(2) Unusual necessary transportation;

(3) Unusual and recurring personal care needs; and

(4) Unusual property damage attributable to client behavior.

(Effective March 28, 1996)