Governor Announces $88 Million in Reimbursements to Public Hospitals
Several Coast Hospitals Among Recipients

From: Office of the Governor    Filed 7/22/08  GCN

(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