Additional Class of Disproportionate Share Payments to Qualifying Teaching Hospitals [44 Pa.B. 7252]
[Saturday, November 15, 2014]The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing its intent to allocate funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2015 disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to qualifying teaching hospitals that provide psychiatric services to Medical Assistance (MA) beneficiaries. The Department intends for this funding to be used to help offset medical education costs of psychiatrists which are incurred by hospitals providing psychiatric care to MA beneficiaries and the uninsured. There is no change in the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this payment from FY 2013-2014.
Payment limitations will still be applicable, including those limitations prohibiting the Commonwealth from exceeding its aggregate annual DSH allotment and prohibiting a hospital from receiving DSH payments in excess of its hospital-specific limit.
Fiscal Impact
The FY 2014-2015 impact as a result of the funding allocation for this payment is $0.500 million ($0.241 million in State general funds and $0.259 million in Federal funds upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services).
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 (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).
BEVERLY D. MACKERETH,
SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-917. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $241,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2015-16 through 5th Succeeding Year 2019-20 are $0; (4) 2013-14 Program—$163,862,000; 2012-13 Program—$268,112,000; 2011-12 Program—$325,685,000; (7) MA—Inpatient; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-2398. Filed for public inspection November 14, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
