Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

The Acute Care Services Utilization Database Meets Statutory Requirements; Limitations Exist for Certain Types of Analyses

Report 19-12, November 2019




Report Summary

  • As directed by the 2016 Legislature, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) developed, implemented, and now maintains the ACSU database to collect and report utilization data from public receiving facilities and detoxification and addictions receiving facilities under contract with a managing entity.
  • Service providers submit ACSU data to managing entities, which, in turn, submit the data to DCF. DCF posts the data on its website and updates the information monthly. Service providers, managing entities, and DCF are collectively responsible for aggregating and reconciling ACSU data submissions and working together to make necessary corrections. The information contained in the ACSU database meets statutory requirements.
  • OPPAGA's analyses highlight instances in which multiple providers may have received payment from more than one payor for the same bed day during Fiscal Years 2017-18 and 2018-19. However, utilization information reported to the ACSU database may not reflect final payment sources or amounts received by providers; therefore, analysis of ACSU data can only provide information on the potential for providers to have received payment from more than one payor. DCF could consider working with managing entities to analyze the financial records of providers for which ACSU data indicates the potential for double billing of bed days to determine whether this occurred.
  • State-funded beds had higher utilization rates than those for all payors during Fiscal Years 2017-18 and 2018-19, and we found considerable variation in bed utilization rates across providers of all payor types. Managing entities could consider analyzing utilization and payment data by provider, facility type, and age group served to determine whether resources should be redistributed across providers.
  • There appear to be quality issues in the ACSU data for Fiscal Year 2018-19, and department staff report that this likely resulted from the transition to a new data system in January 2019.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
public receiving facilities, detoxification facilities, addictions receiving facilities, crisis stabilization unit, behavioral health services, managing entity, Acute Care Services Utilization database