The department of social services shall make payments to those nursing facilities that have a valid Medicaid provider agreement with the department. Any per diem rate, or its equivalent, used to compute such payments shall be equal to or greater than the nursing facility’s per diem rate in effect on January 1, 1994, for those facilities with a permanent rate established in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department of social services. Those nursing facilities without a permanent rate or with an interim rate as of January 1, 1994, will be subject to having their permanent rate established in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department of social services in effect on January 1, 1994. Once the permanent rate is established, any per diem rate, or its equivalent, used to compute such payments shall be equal to or greater than the permanent rate established according to regulations in effect on January 1, 1994. The nursing facility reimbursement allowance shall not be used to supplant, and shall be in addition to, general revenue payments to nursing facilities.