Leon County adopts rule to join local provider participation fund; hospitals to seek federal match

The Leon County Commission on Monday adopted a resolution and related budget amendment enabling the county to participate in the Local Provider Participation Fund and authorized the county administrator to execute an agreement with the Agency for Healthcare Administration in a form approved by the county attorney.

The county attorney opened the public hearing by saying the item ‘‘is the first and only public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution approving and adopting the local provider participation fund non ad valorem assessment rule.’’ County staff told commissioners the measure would not require county operating funds but would allow private hospitals to advance local dollars and draw federal matching funds under federal Medicaid mechanisms.

The change could be sizable. County staff said that, if the resolution is adopted, it is estimated that ‘‘approximately $90,000,000 in gross federal and local provider participation funding will potentially be paid to local…