Hospital Challenges State Medicaid Policy

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CN) – A West Virginia hospital claims Pennsylvania is unconstitutionally denying it Medicaid money for treating injured Pennsylvanians. West Virginia University Hospital, in Morgantown, 6 miles from the state line, is the closest Level 1 Trauma Center for many Pennsylvanians, but the state has restricted Medicaid payments to in-state hospitals, according to the federal complaint.     West Virginia University Hospital says it “provides a significant amount of trauma care to Pennsylvania Medicaid recipients,” but the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Stabilization Act unfairly excludes out-of-state hospitals from receiving state Medicaid money. It claims that restriction is unconstitutional.     The hospital wants the law amended so it can continue to provide trauma care for Pennsylvanians.      West Virginia University Hospitals Inc. is represented by Jay Levin with Reed Smith of Philadelphia.