Georgia's hospital provider fee expires in July, but Gov. Nathan Deal (R) is working with anti-tax state legislatures to extend the measure to 2018, according to a Georgia Health News report.
Currently, Georgia's provider fee generates $430 million in extra Medicaid payments for hospitals by assessing an annual tax on net patient revenue. Hospitals receive varying amounts based on how many Medicaid patients they treat.
The Georgia House and Senate, rife with legislators who do not support any type of additional taxation, have proposed bills that will transfer the provider fee levying authority from the legislature to the Georgia Department of Community Health, which runs the state's Medicaid program, according to the report. As of yesterday, the Senate has already approved its version of the provider fee bill, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report.
The Georgia Hospital Association is on board with the proposed legislation, saying it "may not be a perfect solution, but it's the best one possible" to help stabilize hospital payments that are already in flux, according to the GHN report.
Currently, Georgia's provider fee generates $430 million in extra Medicaid payments for hospitals by assessing an annual tax on net patient revenue. Hospitals receive varying amounts based on how many Medicaid patients they treat.
The Georgia House and Senate, rife with legislators who do not support any type of additional taxation, have proposed bills that will transfer the provider fee levying authority from the legislature to the Georgia Department of Community Health, which runs the state's Medicaid program, according to the report. As of yesterday, the Senate has already approved its version of the provider fee bill, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report.
The Georgia Hospital Association is on board with the proposed legislation, saying it "may not be a perfect solution, but it's the best one possible" to help stabilize hospital payments that are already in flux, according to the GHN report.
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