On Thursday, the Georgia Department of Community Health approved a $27 million adjustment for select nursing facilities effective July 1. Governor Nathan Deal included the change is his latest budget proposal, which the General Assembly approved.
The windfall will benefit nursing facilities that changed ownership from January 1, 2012, through July 30, 2014, and will come in the form of a Medicaid rate increase for SFY 2016.
According to DCH's report, the adjustment is "intended to recognize changes in cost related to operational changes implemented under new ownership."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that controversy surrounds the decision, as two DCH board members who questioned the rate increase were ousted last September.