KHA is excited to announce the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved Kentucky's submission of a proposal for the Hospital Rate Improvement Program (HRIP) — a delivery system and payment initiative under Mediaid managed care plan contracts.

According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), they have included a request for the funds with the Cabinet's draw from CMS that will happen in the first quarter of calendar year 2020. KHA expects the review of data files will be finalized in the next several weeks. Once these are approved, KHA hopes CHFS will commence its official process in January or February.

See the CMS approval letter for the official announcement.

Hospital system presidents from across the state met last week to learn details on the issues KHA is addressing on behalf of member hospitals.

Attendees heard a summary of the findings from KHA’s Value of Certificate of Need (CON) report. KHA will provide the results of the CON study to all members at the upcoming District Meetings, so please plan to attend one of those meetings.

The system presidents also received an update on the Medicaid Hospital Rate Improvement Program (HRIP) — formerly known as the upper payment limit (UPL) program. Carl Herde, KHA vice president of financial policy and Wes Butler, KHA’s legal counsel, will be conduct a webinar for all members on Wednesday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) to discuss HRIP. Every hospital should attend this webinar to hear an update on the timetable and process for implementation....