July 22, 2008

GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR ANNOUNCES $88 MILLION IN REIMBURSEMENTS TO PUBLIC HOSPITALS

(JACKSON, Mississippi) - Governor Haley Barbour today announced qualifying public hospitals will receive over $88 million of reimbursement payments for uncompensated care costs. The Division of Medicaid notified the providers, and the hospitals will receive payments on Thursday.

These public hospitals participate in the federal disproportionate share program (DSH), which reimburses the hospitals with additional federal funds to help cover the costs of providing care for indigent or uninsured patients, or other uncompensated care. They pay a provider fee known as an intergovernmental transfer (IGT) to maximize DSH payments. Because the state match is collected through IGT, no private hospitals can participate at this time.

“This is another example of why hospitals pay provider fees, so they can recoup the federal match and ultimately bring Mississippi’s hospitals more money for healthcare services,” Governor Barbour said. “Without these essential provider fees, hospitals would be unable to provide healthcare services to our most vulnerable citizens.”

Today’s announcement is only half of the federal monies expected to be made available to these public hospitals. The remaining 50% will be released upon the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approval - to be announced at a later date.

The Division of Medicaid has issued notifications to the following providers:

Delta Regional Medical Center - $3,431,230
Forrest General Hospital - $8,792,231
George County Hospital - $737,937
Greenwood Leflore Hospital - $2,986,276
Grenada Lake Medical Center - $715,571
Hancock Medical Center - $1,936,335
Highland Community Hospital - $1,796,377
Hillcrest Hospital - $189,603
Jasper General Hospital - $457,839
Kilmichael Hospital - $14,138
Lawrence County Hospital - $200,039
Leake Memorial Hospital - $111,786
Magnolia Regional Health Center - $2,399,693
Marion General Hospital - $541,711
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport - $11,159,914
Natchez Regional Medical Center - $279,357
Oktibbeha County Hospital - $1,466,264
Singing River Hospital - $8,830,140
South Central Regional Medical Center - $1,906,404
South Sunflower County Hospital - $647,942
Southwest MS Regional Medical Center - $4,132,748
Tallahatchie General Hospital - $272,050
Tippah County Hospital - $332,200
Walthall County General Hospital - $373,871
Wayne General Hospital - $553,418
Oak Circle Center/MS State Hospital (state-owned) - $2,224,923
University of Mississippi Medical Center (state-owned) - $31,886,740
Whitfield Medical Surgical Hospital (state-owned) - $285,538

TOTAL $88, 642,287