1085 Change to additional class of disproportionate share hospital payments

Change to Additional Class of Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments

[46 Pa.B. 3346]
[Saturday, June 25, 2016]

 The purpose of this notice is to announce the Department of Human Services' (Department) intent to increase the funding in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-2016 for disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments to qualifying acute care general hospitals that serve the indigent population of cities in this Commonwealth with an average per capita income significantly below the Statewide average. These payments are intended to provide additional financial support to hospitals that serve an inordinate amount of low-income individuals and Medical Assistance (MA) beneficiaries in impoverished areas of this Commonwealth. The Department is not otherwise changing its State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for these payments.

 All payment limitations are applicable, including those limitations that the Commonwealth may not exceed its aggregate annual DSH allotment, and that no hospital may receive a DSH payment in excess of its hospital-specific DSH upper limit.

Fiscal Impact

 The total FY 2015-2016 impact as a result of this increase in the allocation for the additional class of DSH payments is $14.563 million ($6.989 million in State general funds and $7.574 million in Federal funds) upon approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Public Comment

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department of Human Services, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, c/o Regulations Coordinator, Room 515, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. The Department will review and consider comments received within 30 days in determining the final payment methodology for these payments.

 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).

THEODORE DALLAS, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-1041. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2015-16 is $6,989,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2016-17 through 5th Succeeding Year 2020-21 are $0; (4) 2014-15 Program—$564,772,000; 2013-14 Program—$428,041,000; 2012-13 Program—$718,947,000; (7) MA—Fee-for-Service; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-1085. Filed for public inspection June 24, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]