Department of Health Nursing Home Patient Safety Trust Fund Surcharge for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 as Provided for under the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCARE) Act

The MCARE Act requires each nursing home to pay the Department of Health a surcharge on its licensing fee to provide sufficient revenues for the Patient Safety Authority (Authority) to perform its responsibilities related to the MCARE Act. The Authority has recommended that the FY 2025-2026 surcharge assessment total $1.245 million.

To assess the surcharge in an equitable manner, the number of licensed nursing home beds as of December 31, 2025, was totaled and that amount was divided into $1.245 million. The total number of licensed beds is 82,041. This equates to a surcharge of $15.18 per bed.

To obtain a copy of the assessment for all facilities, send an email to RA-DHPADNCFEXCEPT@pa.gov and request the FY 2025-2026 MCARE surcharge assessment list for nursing care facilities. Each facility will receive notification from the Department setting forth the amount due, date due and the name and address to which the payment should be sent.

If a nursing care facility has any questions concerning this notice, a representative from that facility should contact Susan Williamson, Director, Division of Nursing Care Facilities, 2525 North 7th Street, Suite 210, Harrisburg, PA 17110, (717) 787-1816.

For more information, please review March 21, 2026 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.