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2015 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1400 (Conference Report)

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Development of a Provider Assessment (language only)

Item 278 #1c

Item 278 #1c

Health and Human Resources
Secretary of Health and Human Resources

Language
Page 238, after line 45, insert:
"C.1. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall conduct an analysis and develop a plan with options for a hospital provider assessment program, including a review of other issues deemed necessary, for consideration by the General Assembly in the 2016 Session, that: (i) complies with applicable federal law and regulations; (ii) is designed to operate in a fashion that is mutually beneficial to the Commonwealth and affected health care organizations; (iii) addresses health system challenges in meeting the needs of the uninsured and preserving access to essential health care services (e.g. trauma programs, obstetrical care) throughout the Commonwealth; (iv) supports the indigent care and graduate medical education costs at hospitals in the Commonwealth; (iv) advances reforms that are consistent with the goals of improved health care access, lower overall costs and better health for Virginians; and (v) takes into account the extent to which it provides equity in the assessment and funding distribution to affected health care organizations.  In the development of this program, the Secretary’s office shall be assisted by the Department of Medical Assistance Services, the Virginia Center for Healthcare Innovation, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association and other affected stakeholders.
2. As part of the analysis and development of a plan for a hospital provider assessment program, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall also develop as an option a more limited program that is focused on supporting the indigent care and graduate medical education costs at private teaching hospitals in the Commonwealth.
3. The Secretary of Health and Human Resources shall also undertake a review of a program that would provide supplemental payments for qualifying private hospitals as provided for in the State Plan for Medical Assistance Services amendments 11-018 and 11-019 submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on or about December 20, 2011.
4. The Secretary shall report to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by November 1, 2015 on the appropriate details regarding the plan and options for a hospital provider assessment program, which shall include: (i) the structure, collection process, and amount of the assessment; (ii) the process for supplemental payments; (iii) an estimate by hospital of the net financial impact of the program; and (iv) an implementation timeline. In addition, the Secretary shall include in his report details on the options and requirements of subparagraphs 2 and 3.
5. The Secretary may work with the appropriate federal agencies as part of the development of a plan for a program or other options developed pursuant to subparagraphs 1, 2 and 3 in order to ensure compliance with federal requirements."


Explanation
(This amendment directs the Secretary of Health and Human Resources to develop various hospital provider assessment and supplemental payment options and report on them to the General Assembly by November 1, 2015. A companion amendment in Item 301 eliminates language requiring a pilot program to implement a hospital provider assessment to adjust Medicaid hospital rates.)