Ever wonder why Maricopa County Hospital Sucks?

I have followed this for a while and cannot figure out why there is not more coverage in the press. Although the story is technical, it is very interesting none the less. Oh, I guess I should explain what I am talking about...

There was this blurb in the AZ Republic about the leg taking funds from Maricopa County hospital, but it does not make much sense without more context.

You can never escape past mistakes. Down at the Legislature, the independent Maricopa County health system is fighting the state over federal funds county hospitals earn but the state keeps. It started years ago when the state needed money. Counties acquiesced, but it's a bad deal. The federal program is meant to reimburse county hospitals for treating the poor, not to pad state coffers.

(written by Richard de Uriarte)

I apologize for taking the whole blurb, but it is necessary here. What is this all about you might ask? The Federal government pays money to public hospitals based on a complex formula to support indigent care and to keep the hospitals that provide it afloat. The funds are called Disproportionate Share Hospital Payments or DSH (pronounced dish)Payments. Basically, they determine how many indigent cases a hospital takes and then they pay the State of Arizona the money to offset the costs. The funds are supposed to be forwarded to the County Hospital, but our legislature keeps them... So, how much money are we talking about? If I remember correctly it was about $32 million in 2004. Now keep in mind that Maricopa County Hospital is basically falling down. There is talk about abandoning the building completely because it is in such a bad state.

The long and short of it is that the legislature is short-changing not just health care for the poor, but also the trauma center and burn unit (which are quite good and important for people in car accidents and the like). I know there is stiff competition for the honor of worst action by our legislature, but this is up there...