# RCW 74.46.421: RCW 74.46.421: Purpose of part E—Nursing facility medicaid payment rates > Washington · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S421 ## Section - **Citation:** RCW 74.46.421 - **Heading:** RCW 74.46.421: Purpose of part E—Nursing facility medicaid payment rates - **Jurisdiction:** Washington - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Washington Code / Title 74 / Chapter 46 / Section 421 ## Text (1) The purpose of *part E of this chapter is to determine nursing facility medicaid payment rates that, in the aggregate for all participating nursing facilities, are in accordance with the biennial appropriations act. (2)(a) The department shall use the nursing facility medicaid payment rate methodologies described in this chapter to determine initial component rate allocations for each medicaid nursing facility. (b) The initial component rate allocations shall be subject to adjustment as provided in this section in order to assure that the statewide average payment rate to nursing facilities is less than or equal to the statewide average payment rate specified in the biennial appropriations act. (3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as creating a legal right or entitlement to any payment that (a) has not been adjusted under this section or (b) would cause the statewide average payment rate to exceed the statewide average payment rate specified in the biennial appropriations act. (4)(a) The statewide average payment rate for any state fiscal year under the nursing facility payment system, weighted by patient days, shall not exceed the annual statewide weighted average nursing facility payment rate identified for that fiscal year in the biennial appropriations act. (b) If the department determines that the weighted average nursing facility payment rate calculated in accordance with this chapter is likely to exceed the weighted average nursing facility payment rate identified in the biennial appropriations act, then the department shall adjust all nursing facility payment rates proportional to the amount by which the weighted average rate allocations would otherwise exceed the budgeted rate amount. Any such adjustments for the current fiscal year shall only be made prospectively, not retrospectively, and shall be applied proportionately to each component rate allocation for each facility. (c) If any final order or final judgment, including a final order or final judgment resulting from an adjudicative proceeding or judicial review permitted by chapter 34.05 RCW, would result in an increase to a nursing facility's payment rate for a prior fiscal year or years, the department shall consider whether the increased rate for that facility would result in the statewide weighted average payment rate for all facilities for such fiscal year or years to be exceeded. If the increased rate would result in the statewide average payment rate for such year or years being exceeded, the department shall increase that nursing facility's payment rate to meet the final order or judgment only to the extent that it does not result in an increase to the statewide weighted average payment rate for all facilities. ## Nearby sections - [RCW 74.46.010 RCW 74.46.010: Short title—Purpose—Finding.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S010.md) - [RCW 74.46.020 RCW 74.46.020: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S020.md) - [RCW 74.46.022 RCW 74.46.022: Nursing facility medicaid payment system—Establishing procedures, principles, and conditions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S022.md) - [RCW 74.46.024 RCW 74.46.024: Pay-for-performance supplemental payment structure—Establishing procedures, principles, and conditions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S024.md) - [RCW 74.46.421 RCW 74.46.421: Purpose of part E—Nursing facility medicaid payment rates.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S421.md) - [RCW 74.46.441 RCW 74.46.441: Public disclosure of rate-setting information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S441.md) - [RCW 74.46.475 RCW 74.46.475: Submitted cost report—Analysis and adjustment by department.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S475.md) - [RCW 74.46.485 RCW 74.46.485: Case mix method implementation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S485.md) - [RCW 74.46.496 RCW 74.46.496: Case mix weights—Determination.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S496.md) - [RCW 74.46.501 RCW 74.46.501: Average case mix indexes determined quarterly—Facility average case mix index—Medicaid average case mix index.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S501.md) - [RCW 74.46.531 RCW 74.46.531: Department may adjust component rates—Contractor may request—Errors or omissions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S531.md) - [RCW 74.46.541 RCW 74.46.541: Skilled nursing facility safety net assessment—Reimbursement of medicaid share.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S541.md) - [RCW 74.46.551 RCW 74.46.551: Facility-based payment rates—Comparative analysis—Rate add-ons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S551.md) - [RCW 74.46.561 RCW 74.46.561: Nursing home payment rates—System components—Quality incentive—Reimbursement of safety net assessment—Rate reductions or increases limited.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S561.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T74_C46_S421. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.