For the first time since 2003, Ohio is going to see an increase in federal money to its Hospital Care Assurance Program (Source: “Ohio’s share of federal aid for poor, uninsured: $408 million,” MedCity News, March 23, 2009).
According to a press release from U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s office, the state is set to get nearly $408 million to cover the cost to hospitals of treating the poor and uninsured in the current fiscal year, about $10 million of which was added through economic stimulus packages. The total amount of federal money is about $80 million more than in the previous year.
The federal money will be combined with fees paid by Ohio hospitals and will be distributed to the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and administered, in part, through the Ohio Hospital Association. HCAP helps cover the costs hospitals incur for patients with incomes below 100 percent of poverty. It also covers Medicaid losses and funds care for some patients with incomes slightly above the federal poverty level.
However, according to OHA, even with the increased federal funding, hospitals still face a $1.1 billion revenue shortfall this year for providing uncompensated care.
