Public Notice of Proposed Action for Rural Hospital Payment Methodology
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), pursuant to the requirements of Section 1902(a)(13)(A) of the Social Security Act, gives notice of the following proposed actions regarding rates for rural hospital services under the State Plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid).
Effective for services on or after July 1, 2023, SCDHHS proposes to amend the South Carolina Title XIX State Plan as follows:
1. The agency proposes to eliminate retrospective cost settlements for all South Carolina defined rural hospitals (as defined in the State Plan), which are becoming increasingly administratively burdensome on the rural provider community and the state.
2. The agency proposes to develop cost-based prospective payment rates based on the two-year average of each hospital’s 2020 and 2021 payment data and applied as a percentage base rate adjustment to the current inpatient and outpatient fee schedules. Notices of individual base rate adjustments will be administered by SCDHHS.
The agency estimates this conversion will result in no additional state spending.
Copies of this notice are available at each South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid county eligibility office and at www.scdhhs.gov for public review. Additional information regarding these actions is available upon request at the address cited below.
Written comments may be sent to SCDHHS, Division of Acute Care/Ancillary Reimbursements, PO Box 8206, Columbia, S.C. 29202-8206. Comments may also be submitted to comments@scdhhs.gov. All comments must be received by 5 p.m. April 26, 2023.
Any written comments submitted may be reviewed by the public at SCDHHS, Division of Acute Care/Ancillary Reimbursements, Room 400-52, 1801 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.