The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy develops policies that improve the delivery and financing of health care in Massachusetts. The Division collects and analyzes data from the entire health care delivery system and disseminates accurate information and analysis to all interested parties on a timely basis. The Division also facilitates the use of health care information among health care purchasers, providers, consumers, and policy makers. In addition, the Division monitors free care in the Commonwealth through administration of the Uncompensated Care Pool.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1998 will enable the Division to provide the same level of services as in Fiscal Year 1997.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DIVISION OF HEALTH CARE FINANCE AND POLICY
4100-0060	For the operation of the division of health care finance and policy, and the administration of the uncompensated care pool; provided, that the division, in consultation with the division of medical assistance, shall not promulgate any increase in medicaid provider rates above existing rates without taking all measures possible under Title XIX of the Social Security Act or any successor federal statute to ensure that rates of payment to providers do not exceed such rates as are necessary to meet those costs incurred by efficiently and economically operated providers in order to provide services of adequate quality	9,404,510

INITIAL GROSS PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS
4100-1054	For the purpose of making initial gross payments to qualifying acute care hospitals from the uncompensated care pool for the hospital fiscal year beginning October first, nineteen hundred and ninety-seven; provided, that said payments shall be made to hospitals prior to, and in anticipation of, the payment by hospitals of their gross liability to said pool; provided further, that the comptroller is hereby authorized and directed to transfer the amount appropriated herein to said pool for the purpose of making such payments; provided further, that the amount appropriated herein, less any amount that is certified by the commissioner as unable to be collected from said hospitals, shall be returned proportionately to the General Fund and the Local Aid Fund at the end of the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and ninety-eight; and provided further, that in no event shall the amount unable to be collected from a hospital exceed for any hospital which is a net payer to said pool the pool's gross liability to such hospital or for any hospital which is a net payee from said pool the pool's gross liability from such hospital	30,000,000
	General Fund 66.00% Local Aid Fund 34.00%

Trust and Other Spending

4100-1051

UNCOMPENSATED CARE POOL

15,270,607

4100-1056

GROSS PAYMENTS TO HOSPITALS

315,000,000

4100-1057

COMPLIANCE LIABILITY

15,000,000

4100-1500

LABOR SHORTAGE FUND

1,014,724