State hospitals accredited; department seeks $2.6M supplemental for civil‑commitment costs

Summary

Department officials told the committee all three state hospitals are accredited and reported billing receipts from Medicaid, but they requested a $2.6 million one‑time general fund supplemental to cover rising civil‑commitment costs and requested receipt authority and transfer flexibility tied to Medicaid billing changes.

Officials from the Department of Health and Welfare told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 24 that State Hospital North, South and West are now accredited and that Medicaid billing is beginning to offset general‑fund costs — but the department still asked for a one‑time supplemental appropriation to cover increased civil‑commitment expenditures.

Alex Williamson, Legislative Services analyst, said the hospitals had faced accreditation delays that reduced their ability to bill Medicaid in prior years and that those delays required fund shifts in the 2024 appropriation. Director Alex Adams said State Hospital West has billed roughly $1.6 million and received about $1.3 million, which represents federal receipts the department expects to recoup. He asked the committee for receipt spending authority tied to…

State hospitals accredited; department seeks $2.6M supplemental for civil‑commitment costs

Summary

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