AL SB388

Extends the private hospital assessment and Medicaid funding program through fiscal years 2012 and 2013, with automatic termination on September 30, 2013 unless further extended.

Reduces the assessment rate on private hospitals from 5.38 percent to 4.94 percent of net patient revenue for fiscal years 2012 and 2013, using fiscal year 2009 as the base year instead of fiscal year 2007.

Changes the quarterly payment due date from the first day of each quarter to within 10 business days of the first day of each quarter, with penalties of 5 percent for late payments.

Modifies outpatient base payments for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 to use the outpatient fee schedule in effect on September 30, 2009, plus a 6 percent inflation factor, replacing the previous per-unit methodology.

Allows assessment rate adjustments if a hospital experiences an extraordinary increase in capital costs of at least 50 percent that increases its upper payment limit, with certification required by August 31, 2012 for 2013 assessment changes.