§ 14019.7

(a) Notwithstanding Section 14019.4 and if permitted by federal law, a relative of a skilled nursing facility resident who is a beneficiary under this chapter may pay an additional amount to the facility to enable the resident to obtain requested noncovered services, such as a private room, telephone, or television, or for bed hold days that exceed a period paid for under the state plan.

(b) The additional charge for requested noncovered services shall not exceed the amount charged to private pay residents. The additional charge for bed hold days shall not exceed the rate paid for by the Medi-Cal program for a covered bed hold day. The additional charge for a private room shall not exceed the difference between the private pay rate for a semiprivate room and a private room.

(c) Prior to accepting supplemental payment for holding a bed for a resident in a facility, a facility shall disclose to the relative the resident’s right under federal law to be readmitted without charge upon the first availability of a bed in a semiprivate room in that facility, other state and federal laws regarding bed hold rights, the average number of bed vacancies at that facility for the past month, and the current number of bed vacancies. Written information regarding bed vacancies shall be provided to the relative at the first available opportunity.

(d) The ability of a resident’s relative to pay an additional amount for noncovered services shall not be a condition of admission.

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 661, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)