§ 44-51-3. Imposition of assessment - Nursing facilities. (a) For purposes of this section, a "nursing facility" means a person or governmental unit licensed in accordance with chapter 17 of title 23 to establish, maintain, and operate a nursing facility.

(b) An assessment is imposed upon the gross patient revenue received by every nursing facility in each month beginning January 1, 2008, at a rate of five and one-half percent (5.5%) for services provided on or after January 1, 2008. Every provider shall pay the monthly assessment no later than the twenty-fifth (25th) day of each month following the month of receipt of gross patient revenue.

(c) The assessment imposed by this section shall be repealed on the effective date of the repeal or a restricted amendment of those provisions of the Medicaid Voluntary Contribution and Provider-Specific Tax Amendments of 1991 (P.L. 102-234) that permit federal financial participation to match state funds generated by taxes.

(d) If, after applying the applicable federal law and/or rules, regulations, or standards relating to health care providers, the tax administrator determines that the assessment rate established in subsection (b) of this section exceeds the maximum rate of assessment that federal law will allow without reduction in federal financial participation, then the tax administrator is directed to reduce the assessment to a rate equal to the maximum rate which the federal law will allow without reduction in federal participation. Provided, however, that the authority of the tax administrator to lower the assessment rate established in subsection (b) of this section shall be limited solely to such determination.

(e) In order that the tax administrator may properly carry out his/her responsibilities under this section, the director of the department of human services shall notify the tax administrator of any damages in federal law and/or any rules, regulations, or standards which affect any rates for health care provider assessments.

History of Section. (P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 75, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 25, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 30, art. 23, § 2; P.L. 2003, ch. 376, art. 7, § 14; P.L. 2008, ch. 9, art. 14, § 1.)