An Act To Amend Titles 16 And 30 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Hospital Quality Assessments And Establishment Of A Hospital Quality And Health Equity Fund And Hospital Quality And Health Equity Assessment Commission.
If enacted, SB13 will establish a mandatory hospital assessment starting at 1.79% for the initial enactment period and escalating to 3.58% in subsequent years. The revenues generated will be allocated to the Hospital Quality and Health Equity Fund, which will finance increased Medicaid reimbursements for hospitals. This change is expected to result in better resource allocation and improvements in healthcare services for low-income populations, which are often reliant on Medicaid for their medical needs.
Senate Bill 13, also known as the Protect Medicaid Act of 2024, proposes amendments to Titles 16 and 30 of the Delaware Code regarding hospital quality assessments and the establishment of a Hospital Quality and Health Equity Fund. The primary goal of the bill is to improve healthcare services provided to Medicaid patients by implementing a structured assessment on hospitals based on their net patient revenues. This funding mechanism aims to enhance the financial support for hospitals that serve a significant number of Medicaid patients, thereby promoting health equity and improving service quality across the state.
The sentiment surrounding SB13 appears generally supportive among healthcare advocates and professionals who recognize the necessity of improving funding for Medicaid services. Proponents argue that it is a vital step in addressing disparities in healthcare access and quality for marginalized communities. Conversely, there may be concerns from some stakeholders about the financial implications of the assessments on hospitals, especially smaller or rural facilities that might struggle with such financial burdens.
One notable point of contention regarding this bill involves the potential impact on hospital operations, particularly for smaller institutions that may find the assessment challenging. There are also discussions regarding whether hospitals will be able to maintain their service levels while complying with the financial assessment without passing down costs to patients. Further, the bill mandates the establishment of a Hospital Quality and Health Equity Assessment Commission, which will oversee the implementation of these changes and ensure accountability, but could also be perceived as adding an additional regulatory layer to hospital management.