1057 Discontinuance of disproportionate share hospital payments

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Discontinuance of Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments

[41 Pa.B. 3286]
[Saturday, June 25, 2011]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing its intent to discontinue five classes of disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011-2012 because funding for these DSH payments has not been included in the Commonwealth's proposed 2011-2012 budget. These five classes of DSH payments are discretionary payments made to hospitals by the Department.

 The five DSH payments proposed to be discontinued are:

 (1) DSH payments to certain qualifying hospitals based on obstetrical and neonatal intensive care cases.

 (2) DSH payments to certain qualifying Medical Assistance enrolled acute care general hospital burn centers.

 (3) DSH payments to qualifying hospitals based on the designation as a Critical Access Hospital or as a qualifying rural hospital.

 (4) DSH payments to hospitals that qualify as a trauma center.

 (5) DSH payments to certain academic medical centers.

Fiscal Impact

 Based on the FY 2010-2011, the FY 2011-2012 fiscal impact as a result of the withdrawal of these payments is projected at savings of $99.651 million ($44.631 million in State funds). The amount of funding available for this program is dependent upon the funds appropriated by the General Assembly in the forthcoming fiscal year. Therefore, until a budget bill is passed and enacted, any estimated fiscal impact associated with this notice is solely based on the funding levels as proposed in the Governor's Executive Budget.

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, 
Acting Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-705. The amount of funding available for this program is dependent upon the funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the forthcoming fiscal year; therefore, until a budget bill is passed and enacted, any estimated fiscal impact associated with this notice is solely based on funding levels as proposed in the Governor's Executive Budget. Based on the proposed budget, this action will not result in a loss of revenue or an increase in program costs to the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions. (8) recommends adoption.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-1057. Filed for public inspection June 24, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]