CMS Published revised FY 2015 wage index and occupational mix files as PUFs on the CMS Web site. These data will have been desk reviewed and verified by the FIs/MACs before being published. The deadline for hospitals to submit requests (including supporting documentation) for: 1) corrections to errors in the February PUFs due to CMS or FI/MAC mishandling of the wage index data, or 2) revisions of desk review adjustments to their wage index data as included in the February PUFs (and to provide documentation to support the request). FIs/MACs must receive the requests and supporting documentation by this date. No new requests for wage index and occupational mix data revisions will be accepted by the FIs/MACs at this point, as it is too late in the process for FIs/MACs to handle data that is new in a timely manner.
The following file has been created and can be downloaded and used with the Wage Index Verification Tool for Federal Fiscal Year 2015:
FY 2015 February 2014 Wage Index PUF HFS Modified CSV 2552-10
CMS published the Preliminary Public Use File (PUF) for the FY 2015 wage index and occupational mix on 9/13/2013. This file reflects the Worksheet S-3, Parts II and III wage data from cost reports for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 (FY Beginning from 10/1/10 to 9/30/2011). Hospitals will have until November 21, 2013 to request revisions to the wage data posted in the September PUF.
The following files have been created and can be downloaded and used with the Wage Index Verification Tool for Federal Fiscal Year 2015:
For cost reports filed on the Form 2552-10: 5-3-2014 Hospital WI PUF HFS modified CSV 2552-10
The American Taxpayer Relief Act passed on January 1, 2013 included Medicare provisions that will impact some hospitals for cost reporting periods ending after September 30, 2012. Section 605 of the Act extends the current Low Volume Payment adjustment through September 30, 2013. The temporary improvements to the Low Volume Payment Adjustment established by ACA Sections 3125 and 10314 were set to expire for services rendered on or after October 1, 2012. ACA of 2010,
In addition Section 606 of the Act, extended the Medicare Dependent Hospital (MDH) program for services through September 30, 2013. The MDH program was set to expire for services on or after September 30, 2012.
Both of these provisions will require changes to the 2552-10 cost reporting instructions and we will incorporate these changes into the software when we receive revised instructions from CMS. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at eric@hfssoft.com.