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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 14-2113

NOTICES

DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC WELFARE

Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments

[44 Pa.B. 6637]
[Saturday, October 11, 2014]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is announcing its intended funding allocations for several classes of disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments made to qualifying Medical Assistance (MA) enrolled acute care general hospitals. There is no change to the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for these DSH payments.

Background

 The Department intends to allocate funding for certain classes of DSH payments to qualifying acute care general hospitals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2015. Specifically, these classes of payments include DSH payments to critical access and qualifying rural hospitals, DSH payments for obstetrical and neonatal health care services, trauma DSH payments, DSH payments to certain burn centers, DSH payments to hospitals providing enhanced access to multiple types of medical care in economically distressed areas, DSH payments to hospitals providing a high volume of services to MA and low-income populations, DSH payments to certain academic medical centers and DSH payments to certain MA acute care general hospitals which participate in an academic medical program.

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to increase the funding allocations from FY 2013-2014 funding levels for DSH payments to critical access and qualifying rural hospitals. For FY 2014-2015, the Department's intended funding allocations will remain at the same levels as for FY 2013-2014 for DSH payments for obstetrical and neonatal health care services, trauma DSH payments, DSH payments to certain burn centers, DSH payments to qualifying acute care general hospitals that provide a high volume of services to MA eligible and low-income populations, payments to certain academic medical centers and DSH payments to qualifying acute care general hospitals which participate in an academic medical program. For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to decrease funding for DSH payments to qualifying acute care general hospitals that provide enhanced access to multiple types of medical care in economically distressed areas of the Commonwealth.

DSH Payments to Critical Access Hospitals and Qualifying Rural Hospitals

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $14.418 million ($7.076 million in State general funds and $7.342 million in Federal funds upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)) for DSH payments to critical access and qualifying rural hospitals. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for these payments.

DSH Payments to Qualifying Acute Care General Hospitals for Obstetrical and Neonatal Health Care Services

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $13.867 million ($6.681 million in State general funds and $7.186 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS) for DSH payments to qualifying hospitals providing obstetrical and neonatal health care services. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for these payments.

Trauma DSH Payments

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $17.966 million ($8.656 million in State general funds and $9.310 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS) for trauma DSH payments. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for these payments.

DSH Payments to Qualified Acute Care General Hospital Burn Centers

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $7.850 million ($3.782 million in State general funds and $4.068 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS) for this DSH payment to qualified burn centers. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this payment.

DSH Payments to Hospitals Providing Enhanced Access to Multiple Types of Medical Care in Economically Distressed Areas

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $15.176 million ($7.312 million in State general funds and $7.864 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS) for this DSH payment to qualified hospitals providing enhanced access to multiple types of medical care in economically distressed areas. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this payment.

DSH Payments to Hospitals Providing a High Volume of Services to MA and Low-Income Populations

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $1.645 million ($0.792 million in State general funds and $0.853 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS) for this DSH payment to qualified hospitals providing a high volume of services to MA and low-income populations. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this payment.

DSH Payments to Certain Academic Medical Centers

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $23.518 million ($11.331 million in State general funds and $12.187 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS) for payments to academic medical centers. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this payment.

DSH Payments for Certain MA Acute Care General Hospitals which Participate in an Academic Medical Program

 For FY 2014-2015, the Department intends to allocate $4.151 million ($2.000 million in State general funds and $2.151 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS) for this payment to certain MA acute care general hospitals which participate in an academic medical program. The Department does not intend to otherwise change its approved State Plan provisions addressing the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for this payment.

Fiscal Impact

 The FY 2014-2015 fiscal impact, as a result of these payments is $98.591 million ($47.630 million in State general funds and $50.961 million in Federal funds upon approval by the CMS).

Public Comment

 Interested persons are invited to submit written comments regarding this notice to the Department of Public Welfare, Office of Medical Assistance Programs, Attention, 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 (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users).

BEVERLY D. MACKERETH, 
Secretary

Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-910. (1) General Fund;

 (7) MA—Critical Access Hospitals; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $7,076,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2015-16 through 5th Succeeding Year 2019-20 are $0; (4) 2013-14 Program—$4,076,000; 2012-13 Program—$3,218,000; 2011-12 Program—$4,677,000;

 (7) MA—Obstetric and Neonatal Services; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $6,681,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2015-16 through 5th Succeeding Year 2019-20 are $0; (4) 2013-14 Program—$3,681,000; 2012-13 Program—$3,313,000; 2011-12 Program—$4,815,000;

 (7) Trauma Centers; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $8,656,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2015-16 through 5th Succeeding Year 2019-20 are $0; (4) 2013-14 Program—$8,656,000; 2012-13 Program—$7,790,000; 2011-12 Program—$11,322,000;

 (7) Hospital-Based Burn Centers; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $3,782,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2015-16 through 5th Succeeding Year 2019-20 are $0; (4) 2013-14 Program—$3,782,000; 2012-13 Program—$3,404,000; 2011-12 Program—$4,946,000;

 (7) MA—Academic Medical Centers; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $13,331,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2015-16 through 5th Succeeding Year 2019-20 are $0; (4) 2013-14 Program—$12,618,000; 2012-13 Program—$12,618,000; 2011-12 Program—$18,871,000;

 (7) MA—Inpatient; (2) Implementing Year 2014-15 is $8,104,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2015-16 through 5th Succeeding Year 2019-20 are $0; (4) 2013-14 Program—$268,112,000; 2012-13 Program—$325,685,000; 2011-12 Program—$243,809,000;

 (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-2113. Filed for public inspection October 10, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]



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