Initial Gross Payments to Qualifying Acute Care Hospitals

SECTION 92.   Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not later than October 1, 2018 and without further appropriation, the comptroller shall transfer from the General Fund to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund established in section 66 of chapter 118E of the General Laws the greater of $45,000,000 or 1/12 of the total expenditures to hospitals and community health centers required pursuant to this act, to make initial gross payments to qualifying acute care hospitals for the hospital fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018. The payments shall be made to hospitals before, and in anticipation of, the payment by hospitals of their gross liability to the Health Safety Net Trust Fund. The comptroller shall transfer from the Health Safety Net Trust Fund to the General Fund, not later than June 30, 2019, the amount of the transfer authorized by this section and any allocation of that amount as certified by the director of the health safety net office.