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Gregg County approves LPPF rebasing and authorizes intergovernmental transfers to local hospitals
Summary
After a public hearing with no speakers, Gregg County Commissioners approved updating the Local Provider Participation Program (LPPF) net patient revenue base to FY2024 figures, authorized intergovernmental transfers to local hospitals and directed the county auditor to report required data to HHSC.
Gregg County Commissioners Court on April 28 approved actions to continue the county’s participation in the Local Provider Participation Program and to authorize intergovernmental transfers to area hospitals.
Jacqueline Harrison, Northeast Texas regional chief financial officer for Christus Health, told the court staff recommended rebasing the net patient–revenue assessment base to FY2024 figures. "We would like to update it to 24 which would then increase the assessments by about 4.7 million to the hospitals," Harrison said, adding the assessments would be paid by the hospitals and "there is no burden to the county or the county taxpayers." The court scheduled and held the required public hearing under Texas Health and Safety Code Sec. 292.101; no members of the public spoke.
After brief questions from commissioners about the percentages shown in the backup materials, staff explained that the incremental assessment percentages differ because each facility’s net patient revenue changed between the prior and updated base years. The court approved an order continuing Gregg County’s FY2027 participation in the LPPF and approved resolutions authorizing intergovernmental transfers (IGTs) to Good Shepherd Medical Center, Long Beach Regional Medical Center and approved affiliates up to the balance remaining in the LPPF as determined by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
The court also authorized the county auditor’s office to submit required information to HHSC via the LFTS portal pursuant to Texas House Bill 4289 and Texas Administrative Code 355.8704. The auditor said those filings are submitted each October for the just-ended fiscal year.
Motions to approve the LPPF order and the IGT resolutions were made and seconded from the bench; each motion passed on voice vote with the court saying "All in favor signify by saying I." No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
The actions taken affect how mandatory hospital assessment funds will be collected and disbursed through the county’s LPPF structure and authorize county staff to complete the technical filings required by state law. The court’s next procedural step will be executing the approved resolutions and ensuring the auditor completes the HHSC portal submissions.
