Pursuant to 42 C.F.R. 447.205, the Department of Human Services (“DHS”) is proposing to change the methods and standards that it uses to set the payment rates for public and private hospital uncompensated care costs delivered to the uninsured population and eligible individuals under the Medicaid Program. The proposed changes will be submitted for review by the federal government as an amendment to the Medicaid State Plan, to be effective as of the day following the date of this notice.

The significant changes are:
With respect to state fiscal year 2007 only, disproportionate share payments will be made to qualified public and non-public disproportionate share hospital (DSH) providers who either have at least two obstetricians with staff privileges at the facility who have agreed to provide obstetric services to individuals who are eligible for assistance under the Medicaid program or did not offer non-emergency obstetric services as of December 21, 1987, and has a Medicaid utilization rate equal to or greater than one percent.

All DSH providers will receive payments from a pool of funds totaling $13,274,336 in accordance with provisions established by the Department of Human Services provided that Public DSH Providers will receive payments not otherwise covered by payments made under the authority of the section 1115 waiver No. 11-W-00001/9. Payments may be made in one or more installments at the State’s option.

A copy of the proposed changes are available for public viewing from the first working day that the public notice appears in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, Hawaii Tribune Herald, West Hawaii Today, The Maui News, and The Garden Island, from Monday – Friday between the hours of 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the following locations:

On Oahu: Department of Human Services
Med-QUEST Division
Policy & Program Development Office
601 Kamokila Blvd., Room 518
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707-2021
Phone: 692-8132

Mailing Address:
Med-QUEST Division
Program & Policy Development Office
P. O. Box 700190
Kapolei, Hawaii 96709-0190

On Maui: Med-QUEST Division
Maui Section
210 Imi Kala Street, Suite 101
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Phone: 243-5780

On Kauai: Med-QUEST Division
Kauai Section
4473 Pahee Street, Suite A
Lihue, Hawaii 96766
Phone: 241-3575

On Hawaii: Med-QUEST Division
East Hawaii Section
88 Kanoelehua Ave., Room 107
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Phone: 933-0339

Med-QUEST Division
West Hawaii Section
Lanihau Professional Center
75-5591 Palani Road, Ste. 3004
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Phone: 327-4970

In addition, written comments concerning the proposed changes may be sent to P.O. Box 700190 at the Oahu mailing address noted above. Any written comments that are received may also be reviewed by the public at the locations noted above. There are currently no public hearings scheduled with respect to the proposed changes. Public hearings will be held in conjunction with amendments to the Hawaii Administrative Rules that are made to conform those rules to the changes described in this notice. A notice of the time and place of those hearings will be published at a later time.