MDHHS Issues Proposed Policy on LOCDs Post CHOW

The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) issued a proposed policy to clarify Level of Care Determinations during a change of ownership (CHOW) for nursing facilities. The proposed policy is open for public comment until January 23 and is expected to become effective March 1, 2023.

This policy clarifies the requirements for entering hard copy Level of Care Determination (LOCD) into the Community Health Automated Medicaid Processing System (CHAMPS) following a CHOW for a nursing facility. A provider that is in the process of a CHOW and obtaining a national provider identifier (NPI) must conduct the hard copy version of the LOCD and Freedom of Choice form. Once the provider is given access to CHAMPS under their new NPI, the provider must enter all the information from the hard copy LOCD into the online version of the LOCD in CHAMPS under the new NPI. The hard copy LOCDs must be entered in CHAMPS within 30 days of the approval date of the new NPI with Provider Enrollment. The records meeting this requirement will have the start date modified to equal the record’s conducted date. Refer to the MDHHS Medicaid Provider Manual for more information on CHOW or Nursing Facility Level of Care Determination.