Commissioners set the rate for local hospitals at 2.1% of net patient revenue, which was recommended by the participating providers, to be paid to the state’s Comprehensive Hospital Increase Reimbursement Program. The program allows hospitals to offset funding shortfalls associated with treating uninsured individuals and Medicaid patients.
Robin Daniel, finance manager for Adelanto Healthcare Venture and representing Williamson County hospitals, said the money going into the state program is eligible to receive matching dollars from the federal government.
“So it’s really a two-for-one match in dollars that come back to hospitals in this county,” Daniel said.
The payment rate was previously set at 1.86% for fiscal year 2022. The county sets these rates as a result of House Bill 3945, passed during the 86th Texas Legislature, allowing counties to form local provider participation programs.
Providers in the program include the Baylor Scott & White Emergency Medical Centers in Cedar Park, Round Rock and Taylor as well as the Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, Ascension Seton Medical Center Williamson, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Round Rock, Georgetown Behavioral Health Institute and Springstone Rock Springs in Georgetown.
Bill Galinsky, vice president for government finance at Baylor Scott & White, said the provider has seen an increase in uninsured patients in recent years. He also said a nationwide physician shortage has made it difficult to bring new doctors into the health care system.
Commissioners expressed concern for the lack of available doctors within Williamson County and called on the Texas Legislature to improve the state’s ability to recruit and retain medical professionals.
“We need to work on our medical infrastructure to incentivize and build up,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Terry Cook said.
