Many members have been working on becoming CCRCs in order to lower their provider assessment. Questions about the timing of this change and the resulting change in provider assessment rate have come up.
The key date for provider assessment rates is July 1. If your organization attains CCRC status before then your provider assessment rate will stay at the rate you were assessed as of July 1, 2016 until July 1, 2017. Your rate will then be adjusted to the lower rate. The same applies for licensed bed changes. July 1st is the key date.
Keep in mind that while a change to CCRC status will lower your provider assessment rate, it will also lower your Medicaid Rate. Members that pay the higher tier provider assessment receive a higher Medicaid Pass-Through as part of their Medicaid Rate, so moving to the lower tier will decrease the pass-through. This needs to be part of any decision-making process when considering a change to CCRC.