118 Additional class of disproportionate share payments ?

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Additional Class of Disproportionate Share Payments

[41 Pa.B. 564]
[Saturday, January 22, 2011]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing its intent to increase the funding allocation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010-2011 for an additional class of disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to certain qualifying hospitals that the Department determines provide a high volume of services to Medical Assistance (MA) eligible and low-income populations. The Department intends for these payments to promote the hospitals' continued participation in the MA Program. There will be no change in the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this additional class of DSH payments.

 In making these payments, the Department will ensure that no acute care hospital will receive any DSH payment that is in excess of its hospital-specific limit and the Commonwealth will not exceed its aggregate annual DSH allotment. Any funds available due to the application of the hospital-specific DSH upper payment limit will be redistributed to other hospitals qualifying under this class of disproportionate share payments on a proportionate basis.

Fiscal Impact

 The FY 2010-2011 fiscal impact of this allocation for the additional class of DSH payments is $5.168 million ($2.292 million in State General Funds).

Public Comment

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department of Public Welfare, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, c/o Regulations Coordinator, Room 515, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Comments received within 30 days will be reviewed and considered for any subsequent revision of the notice.

 Persons with a disability who require an auxiliary aid or service may submit comments using the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (voice users).

MICHAEL P. NARDONE, 
Acting Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-680. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2010-2011 is $2,292,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2011-12 is $0; 2nd Succeeding Year 2012-13 is $0; 3rd Succeeding Year 2013-14 is $0; 4th Succeeding Year 2014-15 is $0; 5th Succeeding Year 2015-16 is $0; (4) 2007-08 Program—$468,589,000; 2008-09 Program—$426,822,000; 2009-10 Program—$373,515,000; (7) MA-Inpatient; (8) recommends adoption. The MA—Inpatient appropriation is able to absorb the increased cost.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-118. Filed for public inspection January 21, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]