Payment of Hospital Assessment

(1) Acute Hospital Monthly Assessment. Beginning October 1, 2025, each acute hospital must pay a monthly assessment to EOHHS in a form and manner specified by the Health Safety Net Office, equal to one twelfth of its total annual assessment. (2) Non-acute Hospital Quarterly Assessment. Beginning October 1, 2025, each non-acute hospital must pay a quarterly assessment to EOHHS in a form and manner specified by the Health Safety Net Office, equal to one fourth of its total annual assessment. (3) Due Date. (a) Acute hospital assessment payments are due on a monthly basis, with each assessment payment due on the last day of each month. (b) Non-acute hospital assessment payments are due on a quarterly basis, with each quarterly assessment payment due on the last day of each calendar quarter. (c) If a hospital closes, it must pay any outstanding hospital assessment obligations within 30 days of the date of closure. If a hospital is acquired by or merges with another hospital, any outstanding hospital assessments owed by the hospital being acquired or merging must be paid within 30 days of the date of the acquisition or merger. (4) Administration. EOHHS may provide updates and further details, by administrative bulletin or other written issuance, regarding procedures for the payment and collection of the hospital assessment. (5) Interest and Late Fees. (a) EOHHS may assess interest and late fees on unpaid liabilities. If a hospital fails to remit an assessment by the due date, EOHHS may assess interest at up to 3% per month on the outstanding balance and calculate the interest from the due date. EOHHS will calculate the interest on the outstanding balance as of the due date. (b) EOHHS may assess up to an additional 3% penalty against the outstanding balance and prior penalties for each month that a hospital remains delinquent. EOHHS will credit partial payments from delinquent hospitals to the current outstanding liability. If any amount remains from the partial payment, EOHHS will then credit such amount to the penalty amount. (c) In determining the penalty amount, EOHHS may consider factors including, but not limited to, the hospital’s payment history, financial situation, and relative share of the payments. (6) Assessment Revenue. An amount equal to the total amount of assessments collected, plus any penalties and interest, will be credited to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund.