Section 16920.

(a) It is the intention of the Legislature to appropriate a portion of the 1988–89 fiscal year one-time revenues from the Hospital Services Account for distribution to each county and noncounty hospital which provides uncompensated care to unsponsored patients, with payments based upon the proportion of each hospital's share of the 1988 calendar year statewide total of uncompensated care rendered to unsponsored patients.

(b) It is the intention of the Legislature to partially and proportionately compensate each hospital that provides care to unsponsored patients and to provide an economic incentive for all hospitals to provide, maintain, and enhance access to care.

(c) For purposes of this section, "uncompensated care charges" means the sum of the charges related to patients falling within charity care and 50 percent of bad debts, as reported quarterly to the office pursuant to Section 128740 of the Health and Safety Code. The office shall use the data as published by the office for each quarter of 1988.

(d) As used in this section, "uncompensated care costs" means that amount calculated by applying an overall hospital cost-to-charge ratio, calculated by dividing gross operating expenses by gross inpatient and outpatient revenue, as reported quarterly to the office, to uncompensated charges.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 489. Effective September 29, 1996.)