Formula for fed funds helps private hospitals

Thursday, April 26, 2001 | 11:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center and Lake Mead Hospital Medical Center are the big winners with a bill that would distribute an additional $2 million a year in federal funds to pay for the treatment of indigent patients.

The Senate Wednesday approved Senate Bill 377, which allows private hospitals in Clark County to share some Medicaid money with University Medical Center.

Sunrise would receive $994,000 a year, and Lake Mead will get $487,000 annually. University Medical Center, which treats the majority of indigent patients, will receive $107,000 next fiscal year and $197,800 the following year.

This upset Sen. Joe Neal, D-North Las Vegas, who said Sunrise did not deserve the funding but UMC needs it.

"UMC is the hospital that generates these funds (the extra $2 million), and it is located in the fastest growing area," Neal said.

Neal had no objection to the money going to Lake Mead Hospital, which he said cares for more indigent patients than does Sunrise.

But Sen. Ray Rawson countered that Sunrise "does a fair amount of work" for the indigent.

Rawson, R-Las Vegas, said UMC already receives $14 million a year in federal funds to care for the needy in Clark County. He said the new formula is based on the amount of patients seen and for which the hospital is not compensated.

Sensing he would not prevail, Neal said he was addressing his arguments to the Assembly, which is where S377 is headed.