The Department of Community Health is working on opening a source of federal funding to more hospitals. But the plan could end up hurting rural or local hospitals if it goes forward, according to a report appearing in the Florida Times-Union.
The proposal would make 33 more hospitals eligible for the payments and give Atlanta’s Grady Hospital about $4.8 million more.
The changes being discussed are for the Disproportionate Share Hospital program, in which the state distributes over $250 million in federal aid to hospitals. This is meant to make up for low reimbursement rates for Medicaid patients and the uninsured.
However, since the program is not expected to grow, it could cost other facilities in the state an average of 3.3 to 3.6% of what they would otherwise have received, according to the report.
A final vote is scheduled for November 8.
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Monday, October 15, 2007
Proposed funding could benefit Grady Hospital
