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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 14-2162

NOTICES

Emergency Department and Outpatient Access Payments

[44 Pa.B. 6721]
[Saturday, October 18, 2014]

 The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is providing final notice of its continuation of the emergency department and outpatient access payments that were initially authorized effective January 1, 2009.

Background

 On July 4, 2008, the General Assembly enacted Article VIII-E of the Public Welfare Code (62 P. S. §§ 801-E—808-E) to authorize the City of Philadelphia to impose, by ordinance, a monetary assessment on the non-Medicare net operating revenue of acute care general hospitals located in the city. This Hospital Assessment Program (Program) was developed to generate additional revenue to fund Medical Assistance (MA) expenditures for hospital outpatient and emergency department services in Philadelphia. The Program also provided additional funding to support the city's public health clinics. The Program was implemented after receiving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval for both the assessment and the emergency department and outpatient access payments. The Program initially was authorized for a 4 1/2-year period which would have ended June 30, 2013, if not reauthorized. Through the passage of the act of July 9, 2013 (P. L. 369, No. 55), the General Assembly reauthorized the Program until June 30, 2016.

Continuation of the Hospital Assessment Program

 On June 10, 2014, the Department received the CMS' approval to continue the emergency department and outpatient access payments for a 3-year period beginning July 1, 2013. The Department received CMS approval on June 10, 2014. The Department made no changes to the qualifying criteria or payment methodology for the emergency department and outpatient access payments and will continue to make payments as in prior years.

 The Department published notice of its intent to allocate funding for emergency department and outpatient access payments at 43 Pa.B. 3581 (June 29, 2013). The Department received no public comments during the 30-day comment period and will implement as described in its notice of intent.

Fiscal Impact

 The Fiscal Year 2013-2014 impact, as a result of these payments, is $160.904 million ($74.788 million in State general funds and $86.116 million in Federal funds upon approval by CMS).

BEVERLY D. MACKERETH, 
Secretary

 Fiscal Note: 14-NOT-906. (1) General Fund; (2) Implementing Year 2013-14 is $74,788,000; (3) 1st Succeeding Year 2014-15 is $76,840,000; 2nd Succeeding Year 2015-16 is $77,282,000; 3rd Succeeding Year 2016-17 is $0; 4th Succeeding Year 2017-18 is $0; 5th Succeeding Year 2018-19 is $0; (4) 2012-13 Program—$450,835,000; 2011-12 Program—$645,095,000; 2010-11 Program—$467,929,000; (7) MA—Outpatient; (8) recommends adoption. Funds have been included in the budget to cover this increase.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-2162. Filed for public inspection October 17, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]


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