Hospitals appeal ruling on outpatient payments

Dozens of hospitals across the state have appealed an administrative law judge's decision in a dispute about reimbursement rates for outpatient care of Medicaid beneficiaries.

The hospitals filed notices of appeal last week at the 1st District Court of Appeal, after a decision in April by Judge J. Lawrence Johnston in favor of the state Agency for Health Care Administration.

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As is common, the notices of appeal do not detail the hospitals' legal arguments.

The cases began late last year when hospitals challenged a methodology for determining reimbursement rates.

The hospitals argued, in part, that the methodology had not been adopted as a rule, as required, Johnston's decision said.

The hospitals filed additional challenges in January, after the Agency for Health Care Administration said it was amending a rule to incorporate the methodology.

But Johnston, in a 28-page decision April 18, turned down the hospitals' arguments.

 


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