New Documentation Requirements for Filing Medicare Cost Reports
CMS published new documentation requirements for filing Medicare Cost Report in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule. These new requirements are effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2018 and additional information can be found in SE 19015 . While CMS initially addressed standardized formats for the submission of the new documentation the following was communicated in the SE 19015.
“As noted in the Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) agrees that requiring this information to be submitted in standardized formats would ensure consistency of the documentation and facilitate the contractor’s review. CMS plans to include standard formats (templates) in a Paperwork Reduction Act notice to request public comment. Therefore, standardized formats will not be required for cost-report periods beginning on or after October 1, 2018, until further notice. [emphasis added]”
HFS will continue to monitor the implementation of the new documentation requirements and will notify clients of any additional information.