776 Additional class of disproportionate share payments

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Additional Class of Disproportionate Share Payments

[42 Pa.B. 2350]
[Saturday, April 28, 2012]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing its intent to decrease the funding allotted for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-2012 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. This decrease in funding is required to be consistent with the FY 2011-2012 appropriated amount for inpatient hospital services. There is 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 2011-2012 fiscal impact of this reduced allocation for the additional class of DSH payments is $4.258 million ($1.913 million in State general funds and $2.345 million in Federal funds) pending 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 [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (voice users).

GARY D. ALEXANDER, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-755. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2011-12 is $1,913,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2012-13 is $0; 2nd Succeeding Year 2013-14 is $0; 3rd Succeeding Year 2014-15 is $0; 4th Succeeding Year 2015-16 is $0; 5th Succeeding Year 2016-17 is $0; (4) 2010-11 Program—$243,809,000; 2009-10 Program—$371,515,000; 2008-09 Program—$426,822,000; (7) MA—Inpatient; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover these payments.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-776. Filed for public inspection April 27, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]