42 USC 1396r-4 - Adjustment in payment for inpatient hospital services furnished by disproportionate share hospitals

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 24, 2025

§ 1396r–4.

Adjustment in payment for inpatient hospital services furnished by disproportionate share hospitals

(a)

Implementation of requirement

(1)

A State plan under this subchapter shall not be considered to meet the requirement of section 1396a(a)(13)(A)(iv) of this title (insofar as it requires payments to hospitals to take into account the situation of hospitals which serve a disproportionate number of low income patients with special needs), as of July 1, 1988, unless the State has submitted to the Secretary, by not later than such date, an amendment to such plan that—

(A)

specifically defines the hospitals so described (and includes in such definition any disproportionate share hospital described in subsection (b)(1) which meets the requirements of subsection (d)), and

(B)

provides, effective for inpatient hospital services provided not later than July 1, 1988, for an appropriate increase in the rate or amount of payment for such services provided by such hospitals, consistent with subsection (c).

(2)

(A)

In order to be considered to have met such requirement of section 1396a(a)(13)(A) of this title as of July 1, 1989, the State must submit to the Secretary by not later than April 1, 1989, the State plan amendment described in paragraph (1), consistent with subsection (c), effective for inpatient hospital services provided on or after July 1, 1989.

(B)

In order to be considered to have met such requirement of section 1396a(a)(13)(A) of this title as of July 1, 1990, the State must submit to the Secretary by not later than April 1, 1990, the State plan amendment described in paragraph (1), consistent with subsections (c) and (f), effective for inpatient hospital services provided on or after July 1, 1990.

(C)

If a State plan under this subchapter provides for payments for inpatient hospital services on a prospective basis (whether per diem, per case, or otherwise), in order for the plan to be considered to have met such requirement of section 1396a(a)(13)(A) of this title as of July 1, 1989, the State must submit to the Secretary by not later than April 1, 1989, a State plan amendment that provides, in the case of hospitals defined by the State as disproportionate share hospitals under paragraph (1)(A), for an outlier adjustment in payment amounts for medically necessary inpatient hospital services provided on or after July 1, 1989, involving exceptionally high costs or exceptionally long lengths of stay for individuals under one year of age.

(D)

A State plan under this subchapter shall not be considered to meet the requirements of section 1396a(a)(13)(A)(iv) of this title (insofar as it requires payments to hospitals to take into account the situation of hospitals that serve a disproportionate number of low-income patients with special needs), as of October 1, 1998, unless the State has submitted to the Secretary by such date a description of the methodology used by the State to identify and to make payments to disproportionate share hospitals, including children’s hospitals, on the basis of the proportion of low-income and medicaid patients (including such patients who receive benefits through a managed care entity) served by such hospitals. The State shall provide an annual report to the Secretary describing the disproportionate share payments to each such disproportionate share hospital.

(3)

The Secretary shall, not later than 90 days after the date a State submits an amendment under this subsection, review each such amendment for compliance with such requirement and by such date shall approve or disapprove each such amendment. If the Secretary disapproves such an amendment, the State shall immediately submit a revised amendment which meets such requirement.

(4)

The requirement of this subsection may not be waived under section 1396n(b)(4) of this title.

(b)

Hospitals deemed disproportionate share

(1)

For purposes of subsection (a)(1), a hospital which meets the requirements of subsection (d) is deemed to be a disproportionate share hospital if—

(A)

the hospital’s medicaid inpatient utilization rate (as defined in paragraph (2)) is at least one standard deviation above the mean medicaid inpatient utilization rate for hospitals receiving medicaid payments in the State; or

(B)

the hospital’s low-income utilization rate (as defined in paragraph (3)) exceeds 25 percent.

(2)

For purposes of paragraph (1)(A), the term “medicaid inpatient utilization rate” means, for a hospital, a fraction (expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the hospital’s number of inpatient days attributable to patients who (for such days) were eligible for medical assistance under a State plan approved under this subchapter in a period (regardless of whether such patients receive medical assistance on a fee-for-service basis or through a managed care entity), and the denominator of which is the total number of the hospital’s inpatient days in that period. In this paragraph, the term “inpatient day” includes each day in which an individual (including a newborn) is an inpatient in the hospital, whether or not the individual is in a specialized ward and whether or not the individual remains in the hospital for lack of suitable placement elsewhere.

(3)

For purposes of paragraph (1)(B), the term “low-income utilization rate” means, for a hospital, the sum of—

(A)

the fraction (expressed as a percentage)—

(i)

the numerator of which is the sum (for a period) of (I) the total revenues paid the hospital for patient services under a State plan under this subchapter (regardless of whether the services were furnished on a fee-for-service basis or through a managed care entity) and (II) the amount of the cash subsidies for patient services received directly from State and local governments, and

(ii)

the denominator of which is the total amount of revenues of the hospital for patient services (including the amount of such cash subsidies) in the period; and

(B)

(i)

the numerator of which is the total amount of the hospital’s charges for inpatient hospital services which are attributable to charity care in a period, less the portion of any cash subsidies described in clause (i)(II) of subparagraph (A) in the period reasonably attributable to inpatient hospital services, and

(ii)

the denominator of which is the total amount of the hospital’s charges for inpatient hospital services in the hospital in the period.

The numerator under subparagraph (B)(i) shall not include contractual allowances and discounts (other than for indigent patients not eligible for medical assistance under a State plan approved under this subchapter).

(4)

The Secretary may not restrict a State’s authority to designate hospitals as disproportionate share hospitals under this section. The previous sentence shall not be construed to affect the authority of the Secretary to reduce payments pursuant to section 1396b(w)(1)(A)(iii) of this title if the Secretary determines that, as a result of such designations, there is in effect a hold harmless provision described in section 1396b(w)(4) of this title.

(c)

Payment adjustment

Subject to subsections (f) and (g), in order to be consistent with this subsection, a payment adjustment for a disproportionate share hospital must either—

(1)

be in an amount equal to at least the product of (A) the amount paid under the State plan to the hospital for operating costs for inpatient hospital services (of the kind described in section 1395ww(a)(4) of this title), and (B) the hospital’s disproportionate share adjustment percentage (established under section 1395ww(d)(5)(F)(iv) of this title);

(2)

provide for a minimum specified additional payment amount (or increased percentage payment) and (without regard to whether the hospital is described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (b)(1)) for an increase in such a payment amount (or percentage payment) in proportion to the percentage by which the hospital’s medicaid utilization rate (as defined in subsection (b)(2)) exceeds one standard deviation above the mean medicaid inpatient utilization rate for hospitals receiving medicaid payments in the State or the hospital’s low-income utilization rate (as defined in paragraph 1

 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”.

(b)(3)); or

(3)

provide for a minimum specified additional payment amount (or increased percentage payment) that varies according to type of hospital under a methodology that—

(A)

applies equally to all hospitals of each type; and

(B)

results in an adjustment for each type of hospital that is reasonably related to the costs, volume, or proportion of services provided to patients eligible for medical assistance under a State plan approved under this subchapter or to low-income patients,

except that, for purposes of paragraphs (1)(B) and (2)(A) of subsection (a), the payment adjustment for a disproportionate share hospital is consistent with this subsection if the appropriate increase in the rate or amount of payment is equal to at least one-third of the increase otherwise applicable under this subsection (in the case of such paragraph (1)(B)) and at least two-thirds of such increase (in the case of such paragraph (2)(A)). In the case of a hospital described in subsection (d)(2)(A)(i) (relating to children’s hospitals), in computing the hospital’s disproportionate share adjustment percentage for purposes of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, the disproportionate patient percentage (defined in section 1395ww(d)(5)(F)(vi) of this title) shall be computed by substituting for the fraction described in subclause (I) of such section the fraction described in subclause (II) of that section. If a State elects in a State plan amendment under subsection (a) to provide the payment adjustment described in paragraph (2), the State must include in the amendment a detailed description of the specific methodology to be used in determining the specified additional payment amount (or increased percentage payment) to be made to each hospital qualifying for such a payment adjustment and must publish at least annually the name of each hospital qualifying for such a payment adjustment and the amount of such payment adjustment made for each such hospital.

(d)

Requirements to qualify as disproportionate share hospital

(1)

Except as provided in paragraph (2), no hospital may be defined or deemed as a disproportionate share hospital under a State plan under this subchapter or under subsection (b) of this section unless the hospital has at least 2 obstetricians who have staff privileges at the hospital and who have agreed to provide obstetric services to individuals who are entitled to medical assistance for such services under such State plan.

(2)

(A)

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a hospital—

(i)

the inpatients of which are predominantly individuals under 18 years of age; or

(ii)

which does not offer nonemergency obstetric services to the general population as of December 22, 1987.

(B)

In the case of a hospital located in a rural area (as defined for purposes of section 1395ww of this title), in paragraph (1) the term “obstetrician” includes any physician with staff privileges at the hospital to perform nonemergency obstetric procedures.

(3)

No hospital may be defined or deemed as a disproportionate share hospital under a State plan under this subchapter or under subsection (b) or (e) of this section unless the hospital has a medicaid inpatient utilization rate (as defined in subsection (b)(2)) of not less than 1 percent.

(e)

Special rule

(1)

A State plan shall be considered to meet the requirement of section 1396a(a)(13)(A)(iv) of this title (insofar as it requires payments to hospitals to take into account the situation of hospitals which serve a disproportionate number of low income patients with special needs) without regard to the requirement of subsection (a) if (A)(i) the plan provided for payment adjustments based on a pooling arrangement involving a majority of the hospitals participating under the plan for disproportionate share hospitals as of January 1, 1984, or (ii) the plan as of January 1, 1987, provided for payment adjustments based on a statewide pooling arrangement involving all acute care hospitals and the arrangement provides for reimbursement of the total amount of uncompensated care provided by each participating hospital, (B) the aggregate amount of the payment adjustments under the plan for such hospitals is not less than the aggregate amount of such adjustments otherwise required to be made under such subsection, and (C) the plan meets the requirement of subsection (d)(3) and such payment adjustments are made consistent with the last sentence of subsection (c).

(2)

In the case of a State that used a health insuring organization before January 1, 1986, to administer a portion of its plan on a statewide basis, beginning on July 1, 1988—

(A)

the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) (other than the last sentence of subsection (c)) shall not apply if the aggregate amount of the payment adjustments under the plan for disproportionate share hospitals (as defined under the State plan) is not less than the aggregate amount of payment adjustments otherwise required to be made if such subsections applied,

(B)

subsection (d)(2)(B) shall apply to hospitals located in urban areas, as well as in rural areas,

(C)

subsection (d)(3) shall apply, and

(D)

subsection (g) shall apply.

(f)

Limitation on Federal financial participation

(1)

In general

(2)

State DSH allotments for fiscal years 1998 through 2002

(3)

State DSH allotments for fiscal year 2003 and thereafter

(A)

In general

(B)

Limitation

The DSH allotment for a State shall not be increased under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year to the extent that such an increase would result in the DSH allotment for the year exceeding the greater of—

(i)

the DSH allotment for the previous year, or

(ii)

12 percent of the total amount of expenditures under the State plan for medical assistance during the fiscal year.

(C)

Special, temporary increase in allotments on a one-time, non-cumulative basis

The DSH allotment for any State (other than a State with a DSH allotment determined under paragraph (5))—

(i)

for fiscal year 2004 is equal to 116 percent of the DSH allotment for the State for fiscal year 2003 under this paragraph, notwithstanding subparagraph (B); and

(ii)

for each succeeding fiscal year is equal to the DSH allotment for the State for fiscal year 2004 or, in the case of fiscal years beginning with the fiscal year specified in subparagraph (D) for that State, the DSH allotment for the State for the previous fiscal year increased by the percentage change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; U.S. city average), for the previous fiscal year.

(D)

Fiscal year specified

(E)

Temporary increase in allotments during recession

(i)

In general

Subject to clause (ii), the DSH allotment for any State—

(I)

for fiscal year 2009 is equal to 102.5 percent of the DSH allotment that would be determined under this paragraph for the State for fiscal year 2009 without application of this subparagraph, notwithstanding subparagraphs (B) and (C);

(II)

for fiscal year 2010 is equal to 102.5 percent of the DSH allotment for the State for fiscal year 2009, as determined under subclause (I); and

(III)

for each succeeding fiscal year is equal to the DSH allotment for the State under this paragraph determined without applying subclauses (I) and (II).

(ii)

Application

(F)

Allotments during the coronavirus temporary medicaid FMAP increase

(i)

In general

(ii)

No application to allotments beginning after COVID–19 emergency period

(4)

Special rule for fiscal years 2001 and 2002

(A)

In general

Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the DSH allotment for any State for—

(i)

fiscal year 2001, shall be the DSH allotment determined under paragraph (2) for fiscal year 2000 increased, subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraph (5), by the percentage change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; U.S. city average) for fiscal year 2000; and

(ii)

fiscal year 2002, shall be the DSH allotment determined under clause (i) increased, subject to subparagraph (B) and paragraph (5), by the percentage change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers (all items; U.S. city average) for fiscal year 2001.

(B)

Limitation

(C)

No application to allotments after fiscal year 2002

(5)

Special rule for low DSH States

(A)

For fiscal years 2001 through 2003 for extremely low DSH States

(B)

For fiscal year 2004 and subsequent fiscal years

In the case of a State in which the total expenditures under the State plan (including Federal and State shares) for disproportionate share hospital adjustments under this section for fiscal year 2000, as reported to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as of August 31, 2003, is greater than 0 but less than 3 percent of the State’s total amount of expenditures under the State plan for medical assistance during the fiscal year, the DSH allotment for the State with respect to—

(i)

fiscal year 2004 shall be the DSH allotment for the State for fiscal year 2003 increased by 16 percent;

(ii)

each succeeding fiscal year before fiscal year 2009 shall be the DSH allotment for the State for the previous fiscal year increased by 16 percent; and

(iii)

fiscal year 2009 and any subsequent fiscal year, shall be the DSH allotment for the State for the previous year subject to an increase for inflation as provided in paragraph (3)(A).

(6)

Allotment adjustments

(A)

Tennessee

(i)

In general

Only with respect to fiscal year 2007, the DSH allotment for Tennessee for such fiscal year, notwithstanding the table set forth in paragraph (2) or the terms of the TennCare Demonstration Project in effect for the State, shall be the greater of—

(I)

the amount that the Secretary determines is equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage component attributable to disproportionate share hospital payment adjustments for the demonstration year ending in 2006 that is reflected in the budget neutrality provision of the TennCare Demonstration Project; and

(II)

$280,000,000.

Only with respect to fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, the DSH allotment for Tennessee for the fiscal year, notwithstanding such table or terms, shall be the amount specified in the previous sentence for fiscal year 2007. Only with respect to fiscal year 2012 for the period ending on December 31, 2011, the DSH allotment for Tennessee for such portion of the fiscal year, notwithstanding such table or terms, shall be ¼ of the amount specified in the first sentence for fiscal year 2007.

(ii)

Limitation on amount of payment adjustments eligible for Federal financial participation

(iii)

State plan amendment

(iv)

Offset of Federal share of payment adjustments for fiscal years 2007 through 2011 and the first calendar quarter of fiscal year 2012 against Essential Access Hospital supplemental pool payments under the TennCare Demonstration Project

(I)

The total amount of Essential Access Hospital supplemental pool payments that may be made under the TennCare Demonstration Project for fiscal year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, or for a period in fiscal year 2012 described in clause (i) shall be reduced on a dollar for dollar basis by the amount of any payments made under section 1396b(a) of this title to Tennessee with respect to payment adjustments made under this section for hospitals in the State for such fiscal year or period.

(II)

The sum of the total amount of payments made under section 1396b(a) of this title to Tennessee with respect to payment adjustments made under this section for hospitals in the State for fiscal year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, or for a period in fiscal year 2012 described in clause (i) and the total amount of Essential Access Hospital supplemental pool payments made under the TennCare Demonstration Project for such fiscal year or period shall not exceed the State’s DSH allotment for such fiscal year or period established under clause (i).

(v)

Allotment for 2d, 3rd, and 4th quarters of fiscal year 2012 and for fiscal year 2013

Notwithstanding the table set forth in paragraph (2):

(I)

2d, 3rd, and 4th quarters of fiscal year 2012

(II)

Fiscal year 2013

(vi)

Allotment for fiscal years 2015 through 2025

(B)

Hawaii

(i)

In general

(ii)

State plan amendment

(iii)

Allotment for 2d, 3rd, and 4th quarter of fiscal year 2012, fiscal year 2013, and succeeding fiscal years

Notwithstanding the table set forth in paragraph (2):

(I)

2d, 3rd, and 4th quarter of fiscal year 2012

(II)

Treatment as a low-DSH State for fiscal year 2013 and succeeding fiscal years

(III)

Certain hospital payments

(7)

Medicaid DSH reductions

(A)

Reductions

(i)

In general

For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2028, the Secretary shall effect the following reductions:

(I)

Reduction in DSH allotments

(II)

Reductions in payments

(ii)

Aggregate reductions

(iii)

Manner of payment reduction

(iv)

Definition

(v)

Distribution of aggregate reductions

(B)

DSH Health Reform methodology

The Secretary shall carry out subparagraph (A) through use of a DSH Health Reform methodology that meets the following requirements:

(i)

The methodology imposes the largest percentage reductions on the States that—

(I)

have the lowest percentages of uninsured individuals (determined on the basis of data from the Bureau of the Census, audited hospital cost reports, and other information likely to yield accurate data) during the most recent year for which such data are available; or

(II)

do not target their DSH payments on—

(aa)

hospitals with high volumes of Medicaid inpatients (as defined in subsection (b)(1)(A)); and

(bb)

hospitals that have high levels of uncompensated care (excluding bad debt).

(ii)

The methodology imposes a smaller percentage reduction on low DSH States described in paragraph (5)(B).

(iii)

The methodology takes into account the extent to which the DSH allotment for a State was included in the budget neutrality calculation for a coverage expansion approved under section 1315 of this title as of July 31, 2009.

(8)

Calculation of DSH allotments after reductions period

(9)

“State” defined

(g)

Limit on amount of payment to hospital

(1)

In general

(A)

Amount of adjustment subject to uncompensated costs

A payment adjustment during a fiscal year shall not be considered to be consistent with subsection (c) with respect to a hospital (other than a hospital described in paragraph (2)(B)) if the payment adjustment exceeds an amount equal to—

(i)

the costs incurred during the year of furnishing hospital services by the hospital to individuals described in subparagraph (B) minus—

(ii)

the sum of—

(I)

payments under this subchapter (other than under this section) for such services; and

(II)

payments by uninsured patients for such services.

(B)

Individuals described

For purposes of subparagraph (A), the individuals described in this clause are the following:

(i)

Individuals who are eligible for medical assistance under the State plan or under a waiver of such plan and for whom the State plan or waiver is the primary payor for such services.

(ii)

Subject to subparagraph (C), individuals who have no health insurance (or other source of third party coverage) for services provided during the year, as determined by the Secretary.

(C)

Exclusion of certain payments

(2)

Application of limits for certain hospitals

(A)

In general

A payment adjustment during a fiscal year shall not be considered to be consistent with subsection (c) with respect to a hospital described in subparagraph (B) if the payment adjustment exceeds the higher of—

(i)

the amount determined for the hospital and fiscal year under paragraph (1)(A); and

(ii)

the amount determined for the hospital under paragraph (1)(A) as in effect on January 1, 2020.

(B)

Hospitals described

A hospital is described in this subparagraph for a fiscal year if, for the most recent cost reporting period, the hospital is in at least the 97th percentile of all hospitals with respect to—

(i)

the number of inpatient days for such period that were made up of patients who (for such days) were entitled to benefits under part A of subchapter XVIII and were entitled to supplemental security income benefits under subchapter XVI (excluding any State supplementary benefits paid with respect to such patients); or

(ii)

the percentage of total inpatient days that were made up of patients who (for such days) were described in clause (i).

(3)

Continued application of grandfathered transition rule

(h)

Limitation on certain State DSH expenditures

(1)

In general

Payment under section 1396b(a) of this title shall not be made to a State with respect to any payment adjustments made under this section for quarters in a fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 1998) to institutions for mental diseases or other mental health facilities, to the extent the aggregate of such adjustments in the fiscal year exceeds the lesser of the following:

(A)

1995 IMD DSH payment adjustments

(B)

Applicable percentage of 1995 total DSH payment allotment

(2)

Applicable percentage

(A)

In general

For purposes of paragraph (1), the applicable percentage with respect to—

(i)

each of fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000, is the percentage determined under subparagraph (B); or

(ii)

a succeeding fiscal year is the lesser of the percentage determined under subparagraph (B) or the following percentage:

(I)

For fiscal year 2001, 50 percent.

(II)

For fiscal year 2002, 40 percent.

(III)

For each succeeding fiscal year, 33 percent.

(B)

1995 percentage

The percentage determined under this subparagraph is the ratio (determined as a percentage) of—

(i)

the Federal share of payment adjustments made to hospitals in the State under subsection (c) that are attributable to the 1995 DSH allotment for the State (as reported by the State not later than January 1, 1997, on HCFA Form 64, and as approved by the Secretary) for payments to institutions for mental diseases and other mental health facilities, to

(ii)

the State 1995 DSH spending amount.

(C)

State 1995 DSH spending amount

(i)

Requirement for direct payment

(1)

In general

No payment may be made under section 1396b(a)(1) of this title with respect to a payment adjustment made under this section, for services furnished by a hospital on or after October 1, 1997, with respect to individuals eligible for medical assistance under the State plan who are enrolled with a managed care entity (as defined in section 1396u–2(a)(1)(B) of this title) or under any other managed care arrangement unless a payment, equal to the amount of the payment adjustment—

(A)

is made directly to the hospital by the State; and

(B)

is not used to determine the amount of a prepaid capitation payment under the State plan to the entity or arrangement with respect to such individuals.

(2)

Exception for current arrangements

(j)

Annual reports and other requirements regarding payment adjustments

With respect to fiscal year 2004 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall require a State, as a condition of receiving a payment under section 1396b(a)(1) of this title with respect to a payment adjustment made under this section, to do the following:

(1)

Report

The State shall submit an annual report that includes the following:

(A)

An identification of each disproportionate share hospital that received a payment adjustment under this section for the preceding fiscal year and the amount of the payment adjustment made to such hospital for the preceding fiscal year.

(B)

Such other information as the Secretary determines necessary to ensure the appropriateness of the payment adjustments made under this section for the preceding fiscal year.

(2)

Independent certified audit

The State shall annually submit to the Secretary an independent certified audit that verifies each of the following:

(A)

The extent to which hospitals in the State have reduced their uncompensated care costs to reflect the total amount of claimed expenditures made under this section.

(B)

Payments under this section to hospitals that comply with the requirements of subsection (g).

(C)

Only the uncompensated care costs of providing inpatient hospital and outpatient hospital services to individuals described in paragraph (1)(A) of such subsection are included in the calculation of the hospital-specific limits under such subsection.

(D)

The State included all payments under this subchapter, including supplemental payments, in the calculation of such hospital-specific limits.

(E)

The State has separately documented and retained a record of all of its costs under this subchapter, claimed expenditures under this subchapter, uninsured costs in determining payment adjustments under this section, and any payments made on behalf of the uninsured from payment adjustments under this section.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XIX, § 1923, formerly Pub. L. 100–203, title IV, § 4112, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–148; renumbered § 1923 of act Aug. 14, 1935, and amended Pub. L. 100–360, title III, § 302(b)(2), title IV, § 411(k)(6)(A)–(B)(ix), July 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 752, 792–794; Pub. L. 100–485, title VI, § 608(d)(15)(C), (26)(A)–(F), Oct. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 2417, 2421, 2422; Pub. L. 101–239, title VI, § 6411(c)(1), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2270;

cite as: 42 USC 1396r-4

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