Section 388-835-0450. What is allowable interest?

(1) DSHS allows a provider's necessary and ordinary interest costs incurred for working capital loans and capital indebtedness.

(a) "Necessary" means the interest expense must be incurred in connection with a loan satisfying a financial need of the provider and for a purpose related to resident care and training. Interest expense related to a business opportunity or goodwill is unallowable.

(b) "Ordinary" means the interest rate for the loan must not exceed the rate a prudent borrower would pay, in an arm's length transaction, for a comparable loan in the money market at that time.

(c) Interest expense must include amortization of bond discounts and expenses related to the bond issue. The amortization period must be the period from the date the bonds are sold to their maturity date or their date of extinguishment if they are retired before they mature.

(d) Interest expense for assets acquired in a change of ownership after September 30, 1984, is disallowed on any loan principal in excess of the former owner's depreciation base on July 18, 1984.

(2) Interest that is paid to or for the benefit of a related organization is allowed but only to the extent that the actual interest does not exceed the related organization's cost of using the funds.

(3) For construction loans, a provider must capitalize interest expense and loan origination fees incurred during the period of construction. Such costs must be amortized over the life of the constructed asset beginning with the date the first resident is admitted or the date the asset is put into service, whichever occurs first.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 71A.20.140. WSR 01-10-013, § 388-835-0450, filed 4/20/01, effective 5/21/01.]

RCW 71A.20.140. WSR 01-10-013, § 388-835-0450, filed 4/20/01, effective 5/21/01.