DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFAREInpatient Rehabilitation Hospital Services [32 Pa.B. 841] The purpose of this announcement is to provide final public notice of the Department of Public Welfare's (Department) payment methodology for the period July 1, 2001, through December 31, 2003. The payment methodology affects rehabilitation hospitals and rehabilitation units of general hospitals.
The Department published a public notice at 31 Pa.B. 2853 (June 2, 2001) which stated that the Department would negotiate with representatives of the hospital industry, the possibility of renewing the existing Hospital Payment Rate Agreement (Agreement), which governs the payment methods and standards applicable to hospitals participating in the Medical Assistance Fee-for-Service Program. The Agreement was effective July 1, 1999, and expired on June 30, 2001, with regard to disproportionate share and medical education payments. The payment rates under the Agreement are in effect through December 31, 2001.
Although the Department did not receive any formal comments, the Department has met extensively with representatives of the hospital industry. These negotiation sessions provided a forum for the representatives of the hospital industry to voice their comments and together, the interested parties have reached a consensus on the terms of an agreement.
As part of this consensus, the parties agreed that effective January 1, 2002, the Department will convert rehabilitation hospitals/units from a retrospective payment system to a prospective payment system.
Fiscal Impact
This change will have no fiscal impact.
FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,
SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-317. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 02-221. Filed for public inspection February 8, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]
