(a)  The state department shall, through the Medi-Cal program, provide rate adjustments to skilled nursing or intermediate care facilities for the portion of additional costs attributable to the requirements of Sections 1337.1, 1337. 3, and 1337.5 with respect to Medi-Cal patients. The portion of such additional costs attributable to Medi-Cal shall be the same as the ratio of Medi-Cal patients to total patients in the facility. Such rate adjustments shall also include provisions for an increase in wages for nurse assistants who receive certificates pursuant to Section 1337.3 and a continuing wage differential between certified and uncertified nurse assistants thereafter.

(b)  On and after September 1, 1978, the rate adjustments specified in subdivision (a) shall not be paid to any skilled nursing facility or intermediate care facility which has not received approval of the state department for an approved training program that meets the standards and requirements of Section 1337.1, unless the facility has had an application for such approval on file with the state department on or before August 1, 1978, which has not been approved or rejected. However, payment of such rate adjustments to facilities with applications on file with the state department on or before August 1, 1978, which have not received action by the state department, shall cease upon rejection of the application.

Within one week after the effective date of this article the state department shall notify all skilled nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities, which have not filed an application with the state department for approval of an approved training program, of the requirements of this subdivision.

(c)  Facilities granted an exemption by the state department prior to the effective date of this section pursuant to subsection (i) of Section 51510 or subsection (h) of Section 51511 of Title 22 of the California Administrative Code shall be entitled to continuance of such exemption unless and until the facility ceases to meet any of the eligibility criteria which are specified in such regulations on the effective date of this section.

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 351.)