Section 441.162.4. Grant application process.

       162.4(1) Public notice of grant availability. When funds are available for new grants, the department shall announce through public notice the opening of a competitive application period. The announcement shall include information on how agencies may obtain an application package and the deadlines for submitting an application.

       162.4(2) Request for applications. The department shall distribute grant application packages for nursing facility conversion and long-term care service development grants upon request. Applicants desiring to apply for a grant shall submit Form 470-3759, Application for Nursing Facility Conversion Grant, or Form 470-3760, Application for Long-Term Care Service Development Grant, with accompanying documentation to the department by the date established in the application package. If an application does not include the information specified in the grant application package or if it is late, it will be disapproved.

The application must be submitted by the legal owner of the nursing facility or long-term care provider. In cases in which the provider licensee does not hold title to the real property in which the service is operated, both the licensee and the owner of the real property must submit a joint application. Form 470-3759 or Form 470-3760 must be signed by an individual authorized to bind the applicant to perform legal obligations. The title of the individual must be stated.

       162.4(3) Application requirements.

        a.           Prior to submission of an application, the applicant must arrange and conduct a community assessment and solicit public comment on the plans proposed in the grant application. In soliciting public comment the applicant must at a minimum:

       (1)             Publish an announcement in a local or regional newspaper of the date, time, and location of a public meeting regarding the proposed project, with a brief description of the proposed project.

       (2)             Post notice of the meeting at the nursing facility or applicant’s offices and at other prominent civic locations.

       (3)             Notify potentially affected clients and their families of the proposed project, of the potential impact on them, and of the public meeting at least two weeks prior to the public meeting.

       (4)             Advise the department of the public meeting date at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting.

       (5)             Address the following topics at the public meeting: a summary of the proposed project, the rationale for the project, and resident retention and relocation issues.

       (6)             Receive written and oral comments at the meeting and provide for a seven-day written comment period following the meeting.

       (7)             Summarize all comments received at the meeting or within the seven-day written comment period and submit the summary to the department as part of the application package.

        b.           Grant applications shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:

       (1)             Applicant identification and a description of the agency and its resources, which will demonstrate the ability of the applicant to carry out the proposed plan.

       (2)             Information to indicate the nursing facility applicant’s extent of conversion of all or a portion of its facility to an assisted living program or development of other long-term care alternatives. Current and proposed bed capacity shall be given as well as the number of beds to be used for special services. Nursing facility and noninstitutional providers shall describe outpatient services they wish to develop.

       (3)             A request for an architectural and financial feasibility study allowance, if desired.

       (4)             Demonstration at a minimum of the following:

        1.            Public support for the proposal exists. Evidence of public support shall include, but not be limited to, the following: the summary of all comments received at the public meeting or within the seven-day written comment period and letters of support from the area agency on aging; the local board of health; local provider or consumer organizations such as the local case management program for frail elders, resident advocate committee or Alzheimer’s chapter; and consumers eligible to receive services from the developed long-term care alternative.

        2.            The proposed conversion or service development will have a positive impact on the overall goal of moving toward a balanced, comprehensive, high-quality long-term care system.

        3.            Conversion of the nursing facility or a distinct portion of the nursing facility to an assisted living program or development of an alternative service will offer efficient and economical long-term care services in the service area described by the applicant.

        4.            The assisted living program or other alternative services are otherwise not likely to be available in the service area described by the applicant for individuals eligible for services under the medical assistance program.

        5.            If applicable, a resulting reduction in the availability of nursing facility services will not cause undue hardship to those individuals requiring nursing facility services for a period of at least ten years.

        6.            Conversion to an assisted living program or development of other alternative services will result in a lower per-client reimbursement to the grant applicant under the medical assistance program.

        7.            The service delivery package will be affordable for individuals eligible for services under the medical assistance home- and community-based services waiver program.

        8.            Long-term care alternatives will be available and accessible to individuals eligible for medical assistance and other individuals with low or moderate income.

        9.            Long-term care alternative services are needed based on the current and projected numbers of seniors and persons with disabilities, including those requiring assistance with activities of daily living in the service area described by the applicant.

        10.           Long-term care alternatives in the service area are needed based on the community needs assessment and upon current availability and any anticipated changes in availability.

       162.4(4) Selection of grantees. All applications received by the department within the designated time frames and meeting the criteria set forth in rule 441—162.3(249H) and subrule 162.4(3) shall be reviewed by the department under the direction of the senior living coordinating unit.

If grant applications that meet the minimum criteria exceed the amount of available funds, scoring criteria shall be used to determine which applicants shall receive a grant. Scoring shall be based on the following:

        1.            The degree to which the county or counties in the service area described by the grant applicant are underserved - up to 20 points. If more than one county is in the service area, a weighted average shall be used.

        2.           The level of community support as identified by the community-based assessment, public meeting comments, and letters of support and the degree of collaboration among local service providers - up to 20 points.

        3.            For conversion grants, the number of licensed beds eliminated or converted to special needs beds, with evidence that the resulting reduction in licensed beds will not cause a hardship for persons requiring nursing services - up to 20 points.

        4.            The number of added services to fill a service need gap - up to 20 points.

        5.            Evidence of an adequate plan to carry out the requirements of this chapter and regulations pertaining to the long-term care alternative service - up to 20 points.

        6.            Costs of long-term care alternative services to consumers - up to 30 points.

        7.            Evidence of the ability and commitment to make proposed alternatives accessible to low- and moderate-income persons - up to 20 points.

       162.4(5) Notification of applicants. Applicants shall be notified whether the grant proposal is approved or denied. Denial of an application in one year does not preclude submission of an application in a subsequent year.