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Proposed RuleSignificant08-11352008-04-30

Medicare Program; Proposed Changes to the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems and Fiscal Year 2009 Rates; Proposed Changes to Disclosure of Physician Ownership in Hospitals and Physician Self-Referral Rules; Proposed Collection of Information Regarding Financial Relationships Between Hospitals and Physicians

Health and Human Services Department, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Abstract

We are proposing to revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs to implement changes arising from our continuing experience with these systems, and to implement certain provisions made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the Medicare Improvements and Extension Act, Division B, Title I of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, and the TMA, Abstinence Education, and QI Programs Extension Act of 2007. In addition, in the Addendum to this proposed rule, we describe the proposed changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. These proposed changes would be applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2008. We also are setting forth the proposed update to the rate-of-increase limits for certain hospitals and hospital units excluded from the IPPS that are paid on a reasonable cost basis subject to these limits. The proposed updated rate-of-increase limits would be effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2008. Among the other policy decisions and changes that we are proposing to make are changes related to: Limited proposed revisions of the classification of cases to Medicare severity diagnosis-related groups (MS-DRGs), proposals to address charge compression issues in the calculation of MS-DRG relative weights, the proposed revisions to the classifications and relative weights for the Medicare severity long- term care diagnosis-related groups (MS-LTC-DRGs); applications for new medical services and technologies add-on payments; wage index reform changes and the wage data, including the occupational mix data, used to compute the proposed FY 2009 wage indices; submission of hospital quality data; proposed changes to the postacute care transfer policy relating to transfers to home for the furnishing of home health services; and proposed policy changes relating to the requirements for furnishing hospital emergency services under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 (EMTALA). In addition, we are proposing policy changes relating to disclosure to patients of physician ownership or investment interests in hospitals and soliciting public comments on a proposed collection of information regarding financial relationships between hospitals and physicians. We are also proposing changes or soliciting comments on issues relating to policies on physician self-referrals.

Action & Dates

Action
Proposed rule.
Dates
To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provide below, no later than 5 p.m. E.S.T. on June 13, 2008.

CFR References

Topics

Administrative practice and procedureGrant programs-healthHealth careHealth facilitiesHealth insuranceHealth maintenance organizations (HMO)Kidney diseasesLoan programs-healthMedicarePuerto RicoReporting and recordkeeping requirements

Public Comment

Comments Close
2008-06-13

Document Excerpt

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 42 CFR Parts 411, 412, 413, 422, and 489 [CMS-1390-P] RIN 0938-AP15 AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: We are proposing to revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) for operating and capital-related costs to implement changes arising from our continuing experience with these systems, and to implement certain provisions made by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the Medicare Improvements and Extension Act, Division B, Title I of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, and the TMA, Abstinence Education, and QI Programs Extension Act of 2007. In addition, in the Addendum to this proposed rule, we describe the proposed changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. These proposed changes would be applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2008. We also are setting forth the proposed update to the rate-of-increase limits for certain hospitals and hospital units excluded from the IPPS that are paid on a reasonable cost basis subject to these limits. The proposed updated rate-of-increase limits would be effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2008. Among the other policy decisions and changes that we are proposing to make are changes related to: Limited propo

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Full Document

Citation: 73 FR 23528