Medicaid; bring forward section providing for assessments on health care facilities.
If passed, HB 901 will result in a more structured financial contribution from health care facilities to the Medicaid program, ensuring stable funding for health services provided to eligible individuals. The assessments will be calculated to maximize both the Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments and the Medicare Upper Payment Limits (UPL), effectively bolstering the state's ability to provide necessary health services. Furthermore, the bill stipulates that these assessments will contribute to a Medical Care Fund intended to alleviate fiscal pressures on the Medicaid program.
House Bill 901 aims to update and maintain the provisions of Section 43-13-145 of the Mississippi Code, which governs assessments on health care facilities to support the operation of the Medicaid program. The bill specifically outlines the assessment structure for various categories of health care facilities, including nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and psychiatric residential treatment facilities. Each of these facility types is subject to a specific assessment based on their licensed and occupied bed counts, with exemptions available for facilities operated by government or veterans' agencies.
There may be points of contention surrounding the bill, especially regarding how these assessments are perceived by health care facilities, particularly those that may struggle with the financial burden imposed by these fees. Hospitals might express concerns about the fairness and impact of additional assessments, particularly regarding their ability to sustain operations while ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations. Additionally, the reliance on assessments to maximize federal funds could provoke debates on whether this is a sustainable model for funding statewide health infrastructure.