Revision of Payment Methodology for Inpatient Psychiatric Care [26 Pa.B. 3051] Inpatient Psychiatric Services
The purpose of this announcement is to provide advance public notice that the Department of Public Welfare is revising its payment methods and standards for inpatient psychiatric services provided to adolescent males ages 14--21 who, because of their status with the juvenile court system and their concomitant psychiatric impairment, require psychiatric inpatient treatment in a secure setting, effective July 1, 1996.
Revision of Payment Methodology for Inpatient Psychiatric Care
Currently, the Department provides inpatient psychiatric care to adolescents under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court System who have been committed to psychiatric inpatient care under the Mental Health Procedures Act. At present, this service is available to individuals in the 67 counties of the Commonwealth in a State operated facility. The State operated facility known as Eastern State School and Hospital that currently houses this service is scheduled to close June 30, 1996. Therefore, it is the intent of the Department to offer this service in a community-based facility.
In order to support this service on and after July 1, 1996, the Department will recognize a new provider type known as a Juvenile Forensic Service Provider. The service provider will provide inpatient psychiatric care in a secure setting and must comply with Federal and State Medicaid law and regulations and the licensing standards and requirements of the Department.
Payment for the juvenile forensic service will be made on a prospective per diem basis.
Fiscal Impact
There will be a decrease in overall State and Federal expenditures as a result of this privatization. The decrease in per diem is expected to result in a savings of $600,000 in Federal dollars and $500,000 in State dollars for a total of $1,100,000 during fiscal year 96/97. A decrease in per diem is expected over the next 5 years.
Review and Comments
A copy of this notice is available for review at local county assistance offices throughout the Commonwealth. Interested persons are invited to submit their written comments about this notice to the Department within 30 days of publication of the notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Comments should be addressed to Ron Bennett, Office of Mental Health, P. O. Box 2675, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675.
FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,
SecretaryFiscal Note: 14-NOT-124. No fiscal impact; (8) recommends adoption.
This announcement notifies the public that the Department of Public Welfare intends to close Eastern State School and Hospital on June 30, 1996, and transfer its adolescent male psychiatric patients to a private facility and create a new provider type known as Juvenile Forensic Service Provider. This change will result in a savings for 1996-97 of $500,000 to the Mental Health Services Appropriation.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-1058. Filed for public inspection June 28, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]
