(a) The commissioner shall provide a scholarship per diem rate calculated using the criteria in paragraphs (b) to (d). The per diem rate must be based on the allowable costs the facility paid for employee scholarships for any eligible employee, except the facility administrator, who works an average of at least ten hours per week in the licensed nursing facility building when the facility has paid expenses related to:
(1) an employee's course of study that is expected to lead to career advancement with the facility or in the field of long-term care;
(2) an employee's job-related training in English as a second language;
(3) the reimbursement of student loan expenses for newly hired registered nurses and licensed practical nurses; and
(4) the reimbursement of training, testing, and associated expenses for newly hired nursing assistants as specified in section 144A.611, subdivisions 2 and 4. The reimbursement of nursing assistant expenses under this clause is not subject to the ten-hour minimum work requirement under this paragraph.
(b) Allowable scholarship costs include: tuition, student loan reimbursement, other direct educational expenses, and reasonable costs for child care and transportation expenses directly related to education, as defined by the commissioner.
(c) The commissioner shall provide a scholarship per diem rate equal to the allowable scholarship costs divided by resident days. The commissioner shall compute the scholarship per diem rate annually and include the scholarship per diem rate in the external fixed costs payment rate.
(d) When the resulting scholarship per diem rate is 15 cents or more, nursing facilities that close beds during a rate year may request to have the scholarship rate recalculated. This recalculation is effective from the date of the bed closure through the remainder of the rate year and reflects the estimated reduction in resident days compared to the previous cost report year.
(e) Facilities seeking to have the facility's scholarship expenses recognized for the payment rate computation in section 256R.25 may apply annually by submitting information to the commissioner on a schedule and in a form supplied by the commissioner.
2016 c 99 art 1 s 24,42; 2016 c 189 art 18 s 8; 1Sp2017 c 6 art 3 s 41; 2022 c 98 art 7 s 29
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 245 - 267 — Public Welfare And Related Activities
Chapter 256R — Nursing Facility Rates
Section 256R.02 — Definitions.
Section 256R.03 — Conditions For Funding.
Section 256R.04 — Prohibited Practices.
Section 256R.05 — Required Practices.
Section 256R.06 — Private Pay Residents; Required Practices.
Section 256R.07 — Adequate Documentation.
Section 256R.08 — Reporting Of Financial Statements.
Section 256R.09 — Reporting Of Statistical And Cost Reports.
Section 256R.10 — Allowed Costs.
Section 256R.11 — Nonallowed Costs.
Section 256R.12 — Cost Allocation.
Section 256R.13 — Auditing Requirements.
Section 256R.16 — Quality Of Care.
Section 256R.18 — Report By Commissioner Of Human Services.
Section 256R.21 — Total Payment Rate.
Section 256R.22 — Case Mix Adjusted Total Payment Rate.
Section 256R.23 — Total Care-related Payment Rates.
Section 256R.24 — Other Operating Payment Rate.
Section 256R.25 — External Fixed Costs Payment Rate.
Section 256R.26 — Property Payment Rate.
Section 256R.261 — Property Rate Definitions.
Section 256R.265 — Appraisals And Determination Of Replacement Costs.
Section 256R.267 — Threshold Project Property Payment Rate Interim Adjustments.
Section 256R.27 — Interim And Settle-up Payment Rates.
Section 256R.36 — Hold Harmless.
Section 256R.37 — Scholarships.
Section 256R.38 — Performance-based Incentive Payments.
Section 256R.39 — Quality Improvement Incentive Program.
Section 256R.40 — Nursing Facility Voluntary Closure; Alternatives.
Section 256R.41 — Single-bed Room Incentive.
Section 256R.42 — Rate Adjustment For The First 30 Days.
Section 256R.44 — Rate Adjustment For Private Rooms For Medical Necessity.
Section 256R.45 — Rate Adjustment For Ventilator-dependent Persons.
Section 256R.46 — Specialized Care Facilities.
Section 256R.47 — Rate Adjustment For Critical Access Nursing Facilities.
Section 256R.48 — Publicly Owned Facilities.
Section 256R.481 — Rate Adjustments For Border City Facilities.
Section 256R.50 — Bed Relocations.
Section 256R.51 — Rate Adjustment For Special Dietary Needs.
Section 256R.52 — Nursing Facility Receivership Fees.