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2020 Session

Budget Amendments - SB29 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Barker
Indigent Care Program Eligibility at State Teaching Hospitals

Item 303 #2s

Item 303 #2s

First Year - FY2019 Second Year - FY2020
Health and Human Resources
Department of Medical Assistance Services FY2019 $0 FY2020 $3,250,000 GF
FY2019 $0 FY2020 $3,250,000 NGF

Language
Page 103, line 5, strike "$14,347,029,162" and insert "$14,353,529,162".

Page 103, line 41, strike "$9,219,839" and insert "$11,269,839".

Page 103, line 42 strike "$28,408,598" and insert "$30,458,598".

Page 103, line 49, strike "$17,873,547" and insert "$19,073,547".

Page 103, line 51, strike "$32,588,325" and insert "$33,788,325".

Page 104, after line 16, insert:

"5. The indigent care costs recognized for reimbursement in subparagraphs 1 and 2 are consistent with historical indigent care policy, with the following modifications effective July 1, 2019.  Indigent care policy for state reimbursement for Type One hospitals shall include all hospital and physician costs for individuals with income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and with assets less than $50,000 (excluding a home and lot not to exceed 3.99 acres, and one vehicle) and who are not otherwise eligible for Medicaid.  Nothing in this subparagraph precludes Type One hospitals from implementing charity care policies beyond what is reimbursed through Medicaid."



Explanation

(This amendment adds $3.3 million from the general fund in fiscal year 2020 and a like amount of matching federal Medicaid funds to update the eligibility requirements for the state indigent care program as it pertains to the two state teaching hospitals. Language is added to eliminate the distinction between patients with incomes between 0-100 percent of the federal poverty level (indigent patients) and 101-200 percent of the federal poverty level (medically indigent patients). Historically, the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) has reimbursed the State University Teaching Hospitals for care provided to indigent patients but provided only partial reimbursement for the medically indigent, based on a sliding payscale. Language also updates the asset test for indigent and medically indigent patients, which have not been changed since 1985.)