Commissioners adopt assessment resolution to continue hospital provider participation fund program

Polk County commissioners on Tuesday adopted an assessment resolution to set the rate for the 2025 local provider participation fund special assessment and authorized the county manager to execute related letters of agreement with the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

County staff described the assessment as a mechanism that allows the county to impose assessments on hospitals and submit claims to the state to draw federal matching funds for Medicare and Medicaid-related reimbursements. Danielle Drummond, president and CEO of Lakeland Regional Health, spoke in support of the resolution and described the financial impact for local hospitals, saying the program has been "very impactful" for service lines that rely heavily on Medicaid funding such as women's and children's services and behavioral health.

Drummond told the board the county and state collaboration allows hospitals to obtain matching funds and that the program enabled investments in facilities and physician recruitment. Commissioners were told the estimated return to the county from the 2024-25 effort exceeded $755 million (as stated in the meeting). Drummond also noted that Orlando Health was not included this year because it remains under construction and can be added in future years once cost reports are available.

A motion to approve the assessment resolution carried by voice vote and staff were authorized to execute the related agreements with the state Agency for Health Care Administration.

No members of the public spoke against the assessment during the hearing.