1173 Additional class of disproportionate share payments

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Additional Class of Disproportionate Share Payments

[42 Pa.B. 3702]
[Saturday, June 23, 2012]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing its intent to decrease the allotted funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-2012 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. 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 general hospital will receive any DSH payment that is in excess of its hospital specific DSH upper payment 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, as a result of this anticipated change to the additional class of DSH payments, is $14.752 million ($6.628 million in State general funds and $8.124 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-760. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2011-12 is $6,628,000; (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) 2008-09 Program—$426,822,000; 2009-10 Program—$371,515,000; 2010-11 Program—$243,809,000; (7) MA—Inpatient; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-1173. Filed for public inspection June 22, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]