The bill HB312 amends various sections of the Code of Alabama 1975 to extend the Hospital Provider Privilege Tax until fiscal year 2028. Key modifications include the deletion of references to the "Regional Care Organization" and its capitation payment, while adjusting the fiscal years for assessment and net patient revenue calculations. The assessment for privately operated hospitals is set at 6.00 percent of net patient revenue for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, with annual reviews based on Medicare Cost Reports from fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Additionally, the bill establishes a Hospital Assessment Account within the Health Care Trust Fund for all hospital assessments, ensuring that these funds cannot replace general revenues or be subject to budget cuts, in compliance with the Alabama Constitution.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the financial management of the Hospital Assessment Account, allowing for the carryover of unspent funds and extending the timeline for intergovernmental transfers from publicly owned and state-owned hospitals to the Medicaid Agency until September 30, 2028. It also modifies the payment structure for hospitals under the Alabama Medicaid Program, removing references to fiscal years 2023 and 2024, and granting the Medicaid Agency discretion to review per diem payments. The bill emphasizes that hospital access payments cannot offset other Medicaid payments and mandates quarterly payments. Overall, HB312 aims to streamline hospital funding while ensuring compliance with federal regulations and maintaining financial stability within the state's Medicaid program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-26B-70, 40-26B-71, 40-26B-73, 40-26B-77, 40-26B-79, 40-26B-80, 40-26B-81, 40-26B-82, 40-26B-84, 40-26B-88
Engrossed: 40-26B-70, 40-26B-71, 40-26B-73, 40-26B-77, 40-26B-79, 40-26B-80, 40-26B-81, 40-26B-82, 40-26B-84, 40-26B-88
Enrolled: 40-26B-70, 40-26B-71, 40-26B-73, 40-26B-77, 40-26B-79, 40-26B-80, 40-26B-81, 40-26B-82, 40-26B-84, 40-26B-88