Bill > S569

This bill directs the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), a state agency responsible for health care data and analysis, to update regulations concerning the Health Safety Net Payments and Funding to increase the money available for healthcare providers and decrease the deficit in the Health Safety Net fund. Specifically, it proposes creating a new "Large Physician Organizations Assessment" that would require independent physician groups with over 500 members, and that are not owned or controlled by a hospital, to pay $20 million annually. Physician organizations are considered independent if they are owned and controlled by the practicing physicians themselves. However, these organizations would be exempt from this assessment if at least 15% of their total billed charges are for services reimbursed by the state's Medicaid program. The bill also ensures that these large physician organizations contributing to the fund will be reimbursed for uncompensated care in a way that is consistent with how hospitals and community health centers are paid, referencing existing regulations and federal laws governing payments for safety net care.