(a) A regional center may not pay a rate to an ARFPSHN or a GHCSHN for a consumer that exceeds the rate in the State Department of Developmental Services’ approved community placement plan for that facility unless the regional center demonstrates that a higher rate is necessary to protect a consumer’s health and safety, and the department has granted prior written authorization.
(b) The payment rate for ARFPSHN or GHCSHN services shall be negotiated between the regional center and the ARFPSHN or GHCSHN.
(c) The established rate for a full month of service shall be made by the regional center if a consumer is temporarily absent from the ARFPSHN or from the GHCSHN for 14 days or less per month. If the consumer’s temporary absence is due to the need for inpatient care in a health facility, as defined in subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code, the regional center shall continue to pay the established rate as long as no other consumer occupies the vacancy created by the consumer’s temporary absence, or until the individual health care plan team has determined that the consumer will not return to the facility. In all other cases, the established rate shall be prorated for a partial month of service by dividing the established rate by 30.44 then by multiplying the quotient by the number of days the consumer resided in the facility.