Change to an Additional Class of Disproportionate Share Payments [45 Pa.B. 922]
[Saturday, February 21, 2015]The purpose of this notice is to announce the Department of Human Services' (Department) intent to increase the funding allotted for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2015 for disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to certain qualifying Medical Assistance (MA) enrolled hospitals that advance the Department's goal of enhancing access to multiple types of medical care in economically distressed areas of this Commonwealth. The Department is not otherwise changing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this payment.
In making these payments, the Department ensures that no acute care general hospital receives a DSH payment that is in excess of its hospital-specific DSH upper payment limit and the Commonwealth is not exceeding its aggregate annual DSH allotment.
Fiscal Impact
The FY 2014-2015 fiscal impact as a result of this increase in the allocation for the additional class of DSH payments is $43.776 million ($21.091 million in State general funds and $22.685 million in Federal funds).
Public Comment
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department of Human Services, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Attention, c/o Regulations Coordinator, Room 515, Health andWelfare 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).
THEODORE DALLAS,
Acting SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-938. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $21,091,000; (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. 15-330. Filed for public inspection February 20, 2015, 9:00 a.m.]
