Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Proposed Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; and Proposed Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Part 412 and 413

[CMS-1529-P]

RIN 0938-AO30

Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Proposed Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; and Proposed Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes

AGENCY:

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

This proposed rule would update the annual payment rates for the Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for inpatient hospital services provided by long-term care hospitals (LTCHs). The proposed payment amounts and factors used to determine the updated Federal rates that are described in this proposed rule were determined based on the LTCH PPS rate year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The annual update of the long-term care diagnosis-related group (LTC-DRG) classifications and relative weights remains linked to the annual adjustments of the acute care hospital inpatient diagnosis-related group system, and would continue to be effective each October 1. The proposed outlier threshold for July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008, would also be derived from the LTCH PPS rate year calculations. We are also proposing to make policy changes which include proposed revisions to the GME and IME policies. In addition, we are adding a technical amendment correcting the regulations text at § 412.22.

DATES:

To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on April 2, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-1529-P. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.

You may submit comments in one of four ways (no duplicates, please):

1.

Electronically.

You may submit electronic comments on specific issues in this regulation to

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking/.

(Attachments should be in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Excel; however, we prefer Microsoft Word.)

2.

By regular mail.

You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services,

Attention:

CMS-1529-P, P.O. Box 8015, Baltimore, MD 21244-8015.

Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.

3.

By express or overnight mail.

You may send written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services,

Attention:

CMS-1529-P, Mail Stop C4-26-5, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

4.

By hand or courier.

If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or courier) your written comments (one original and two copies) before the close of the comment period to one of the following addresses. If you intend to deliver your comments to the Baltimore address, please call telephone number (410) 786-7197 in advance to schedule your arrival with one of our staff members. Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201; or 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

(Because access to the interior of the HHH Building is not readily available to persons without Federal Government identification, commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in the CMS drop slots located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-in clock is available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing by stamping in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being filed.)

Comments mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand or courier delivery may be delayed and received after the comment period.

Submission of comments on paperwork requirements.

You may submit comments on this document's paperwork requirements by mailing your comments to the addresses provided at the end of the “Collection of Information Requirements” section in this document.

For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of the

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tzvi Hefter, (410) 786-4487 (General information).

Judy Richter, (410) 786-2590 (General information, payment adjustments for special cases, and onsite discharges and readmissions, interrupted stays, co-located providers, and short-stay outliers).

Michele Hudson, (410) 786-5490 (Calculation of the payment rates, LTC-DRGs, relative weights and case-mix index, market basket, wage index, budget neutrality, and other payment adjustments).

Ann Fagan, (410) 786-5662 (Patient classification system).

Miechal Lefkowitz, (410) 786-5316 (Graduate Medical Education payments).

Linda McKenna, (410) 786-4537 (Payment adjustments, interrupted stay, and transition period).

Renate Rockwell, (410) 786-4645 (Graduate Medical Education payments).

Elizabeth Truong, (410) 786-6005 (Federal rate update, budget neutrality, other adjustments, and calculation of the payment rates).

Michael Treitel, (410) 786-4552 (High cost outliers and cost-to-charge ratios).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Submission of Public Comments:

We welcome comments from the public on all issues set forth in this rule to assist us in fully considering issues and developing policies. You can assist us by referencing the file code [CMS-1529-P] and the specific “issue identifier” that precedes the section on which you choose to comment.

Inspection of Public Comments:

All comments received before the close of the comment period are available for viewing by the public, including any personally identifiable or confidential business information that is included in a comment. We post all comments received before the close of the comment period on the following Web site as soon as possible after they have been received:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking.

Click on the link “Electronic Comments on CMS Regulations” on that Web site to view public comments.

Comments received timely will also be available for public inspection as they are received, generally beginning approximately 3 weeks after publication of a document, at the headquarters of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments, phone 1-800-743-3951.

Table of Contents

I. Background

A. Legislative and Regulatory Authority

B. Criteria for Classification as a LTCH

1. Classification as a LTCH

2. Hospitals Excluded From the LTCH PPS

C. Transition Period for Implementation of the LTCH PPS

D. Limitation on Charges to Beneficiaries

E. Administrative Simplification Compliance Act (ASCA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Compliance

II. Summary of Major Contents of This Proposed Rule

III. Long-Term Care Diagnosis-Related Group (LTC-DRG) Classifications and Relative Weights

A. Background

B. Patient Classifications Into DRGs

C. Organization of DRGs

D. Proposed Update of LTC-DRGs

1. Background

2. Proposed Budget Neutrality (BN) Requirement for the Annual LTC-DRG Update

E. ICD-9-CM Coding System

1. Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS) Definitions

2. Maintenance of the ICD-9-CM Coding System

3. Coding Rules and Use of ICD-9-CM Codes in LTCHs

F. Method for Updating the LTC-DRG Relative Weights

IV. Proposed Changes to the LTCH PPS Payment Rates for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

A. Overview of the Development of the Payment Rates

B. LTCH PPS Market Basket

1. Overview of the RPL Market Basket

2. Proposed Market Basket Estimate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

C. Proposed Standard Federal Rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

1. Background

2. Proposed Update to the Standard Federal Rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

3. Proposed Standard Federal Rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

D. Calculation of Proposed LTCH Prospective Payments for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

1. Proposed Adjustment for Area Wage Levels

a. Background

b. Geographic Classifications/Labor Market Area Definitions

c. Proposed Labor-Related Share

d. Proposed Wage Index Data

2. Proposed Adjustment for Cost-of-Living in Alaska and Hawaii

3. Proposed Adjustment for High-Cost Outliers (HCOs)

a. Background

b. Cost-to-Charge Ratios (CCRs)

c. Establishment of the Proposed Fixed-Loss Amount

d. Reconciliation of Outlier Payments Upon Cost Report Settlement

e. Application of Outlier Policy to Short-Stay Outlier (SSO) Cases

4. Other Payment Adjustments

5. Proposed Budget Neutrality (BN) Offset To Account for the Transition Methodology

6. One-Time Prospective Adjustment to the Standard Federal Rate

V. Other Proposed Policy Changes for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

A. Short-Stay Outlier (SSO) Cases

1. Background

2. Additional Discussion of SSO Payment Formula (includes Technical Correction)

3. Determination of Cost-to-Charge Ratios (CCRs)

4. Reconciliation of SSO Cases

B. Proposed expansion of special payment provisions for LTCH hospitals within hospitals (HwHs) and LTCH satellites: Proposed expansion of the 25 percent rule to certain situations not currently covered under existing § 412.534

VI. Computing the Proposed Adjusted Federal Prospective Payments for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

VII. Transition Period

VIII. Payments to New LTCHs

IX. Method of Payment

X. Monitoring

XI. MedPAC Recommendations: The RTI Contract

XII. Graduate Medical Education (GME)

A. GME Background

B. Resident Training in Nonhospital Settings

1. Background

2. Moratorium on Disallowances of Allopathic or Osteopathic Family Practice Residents Training Time in Nonhospital Settings, and Questions and Answers (Qs&As) on CMS Web Site (Section 713 of the MMA and § 413.78)

3. Requirements for Written Agreements for Residency Training in Nonhospital Settings (§ 413.78(e))

4. Modification of the Definition of “All or Substantially All of the Costs for the Training Program in the Nonhospital Setting”

5. Implementation of a 90 Percent Cost Threshold

C. Other Issues To Be Considered

XIII. Technical Amendment

XIV. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking and Delay in the Effective Date

XV. Collection of Information Requirements

XVI. Regulatory Impact Analysis

Addendum A: Tables

Addendum B: Executive Summary of RTI's Report

Acronyms

Because of the many terms to which we refer by acronym in this proposed rule, we are listing the acronyms used and their corresponding terms in alphabetical order below:

AAMC Association of American Medical Colleges

AFMAA Academic Family Medicine Advocacy Alliance

AHA American Hospital Association

AHIMA American Health Information Management Association

ALOS Average length of stay

ALTHA Acute Long Term Hospital Association

AMGA American Medical Group Association

AMPRA American Medical Peer Review Association

AOA American Osteopathic Association

APR All patient refined

ASCA Administrative Simplification Compliance Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-105)

BBA Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-33)

BBRA Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP [State Children's Health Insurance Program] Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-113)

BIPA Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP [State Children's Health Insurance Program] Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-554)

BN Budget neutrality

CBSA Core-based statistical area

CCR Cost-to-charge ratio

C&M Coordination and maintenance

CMI Case-mix index

CMS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

COLA Cost of living adjustment

CS Consolidated severity-adjusted

CY Calendar year

DSH Disproportionate share of low-income patients

DRGs Diagnosis-related groups

FI Fiscal intermediary

FMC Family Medicine Center

FTE Full-time equivalent

FY Federal fiscal year

GME Graduate medical education

HCO High-cost outlier

HCRIS Hospital cost report information system

HHA Home health agency

HHS (Department of) Health and Human Services

HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Pub. L. 104-191)

HIPC Health Information Policy Council

HwHs Hospitals within hospitals

ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (codes)

IME Indirect medical education

I-O Input-Output

IPF Inpatient psychiatric facility

IPPS [Acute Care Hospital] Inpatient Prospective Payment System

IRF Inpatient rehabilitation facility

LOS Length of stay

LTC-DRG Long-term care diagnosis-related group

LTCH Long-term care hospital

MCE Medicare code editor

MDC Major diagnostic categories

MedPAC Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

MedPAR Medicare provider analysis and review

MMA Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 108-173)

MSA Metropolitan statistical area

NAICS North American Industrial Classification System

NALTH National Association of Long Term Hospitals

NCHS National Center for Health Statistics

OACT [CMS'] Office of the Actuary

OBRA 86 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-509)

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OPM U.S. Office of Personnel Management

O.R. Operating room

OSCAR Online Survey Certification and Reporting (System)

OTN One-Time Notification

PIP Periodic interim payment

PLI Professional liability insurance

PMSA Primary metropolitan statistical area

PPI Producer Price Indexes

PPS Prospective payment system

PRA Per resident amount

PSF Provider specific file

QIO Quality Improvement Organization (formerly Peer Review organization (PRO))

RIA Regulatory impact analysis

RPL Rehabilitation psychiatric long-term care (hospital)

RTI Research Triangle Institute, International

RY Rate year (begins July 1 and ends June 30)

SIC Standard industrial code

SNF Skilled nursing facility

SSO Short-stay outlier

TEFRA Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-248)

TEP Technical expert panel

UHDDS Uniform hospital discharge data set

I. Background

[If you choose to comment on issues in this section, please include the caption “BACKGROUND” at the beginning of your comments.]

A. Legislative and Regulatory Authority

Section 123 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP [State Children's Health Insurance Program] Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA) (Pub. L. 106-113) as amended by section 307(b) of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) (Pub. L. 106-554) provides for payment for both the operating and capital-related costs of hospital inpatient stays in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) under Medicare Part A based on prospectively set rates. The Medicare prospective payment system (PPS) for LTCHs applies to hospitals described in section 1886(d)(1)(B)(iv) of the Social Security Act (the Act), effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2002.

Section 1886(d)(1)(B)(iv)(I) of the Act defines a LTCH as “a hospital which has an average inpatient length of stay (as determined by the Secretary) of greater than 25 days.” Section 1886(d)(1)(B)(iv)(II) of the Act also provides an alternative definition of LTCHs: specifically, a hospital that first received payment under section 1886(d) of the Act in 1986 and has an average inpatient length of stay (LOS) (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary)) of greater than 20 days and has 80 percent or more of its annual Medicare inpatient discharges with a principal diagnosis that reflects a finding of neoplastic disease in the 12-month cost reporting period ending in fiscal year (FY) 1997.

Section 123 of the BBRA requires the PPS for LTCHs to be a “per discharge” system with a diagnosis-related group (DRG) based patient classification system that reflects the differences in patient resources and costs in LTCHs. It also requires that the “per discharge” system maintain budget neutrality (BN). We believe the statutory mandate for BN applies only to the first year of the implementation of the LTCH PPS such that estimated payments in the first year of the PPS were projected to equal payments that would have been paid for operating and capital-related costs of LTCHs had this new payment system not been enacted.

Section 307(b)(1) of the BIPA, among other things, mandates that the Secretary shall examine, and may provide for, adjustments to payments under the LTCH PPS, including adjustments to DRG weights, area wage adjustments, geographic reclassification, outliers, updates, and a disproportionate share adjustment.

In the August 30, 2002

Federal Register

, we issued a final rule that implemented the LTCH PPS authorized under BBRA and BIPA (67 FR 55954). This system uses information from LTCH patient records to classify patients into distinct long-term care diagnosis-related groups (LTC-DRGs) based on clinical characteristics and expected resource needs. Payments are calculated for each LTC-DRG and provisions are made for appropriate payment adjustments. Payment rates under the LTCH PPS are updated annually and published in the

Federal Register

.

The LTCH PPS replaced the reasonable cost-based payment system under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) (Pub. L. 97-248) for payments for inpatient services provided by a LTCH with a cost reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 2002. (The regulations implementing the TEFRA reasonable cost-based payment provisions are located at 42 CFR part 413.) With the implementation of the PPS for acute care hospitals authorized by the Social Security Amendments of 1983 (Pub. L. 98-21), which added section 1886(d) to the Act, certain hospitals, including LTCHs, were excluded from the PPS for acute care hospitals and were paid their reasonable costs for inpatient services subject to a per discharge limitation or target amount under the TEFRA system. For each cost reporting period, a hospital-specific ceiling on payments was determined by multiplying the hospital's updated target amount by the number of total current year Medicare discharges. (Generally, in this document when we refer to discharges, the intent is to describe Medicare discharges.) The August 30, 2002 final rule further details the payment policy under the TEFRA system (67 FR 55954).

In the August 30, 2002 final rule, we also presented an in-depth discussion of the LTCH PPS, including the patient classification system, relative weights, payment rates, additional payments, and the BN requirements mandated by section 123 of the BBRA. The same final rule that established regulations for the LTCH PPS under 42 CFR part 412, subpart O, also contained LTCH provisions related to covered inpatient services, limitation on charges to beneficiaries, medical review requirements, furnishing of inpatient hospital services directly or under arrangement, and reporting and recordkeeping requirements. We refer readers to the August 30, 2002 final rule for a comprehensive discussion of the research and data that supported the establishment of the LTCH PPS (67 FR 55954).

In the June 6, 2003

Federal Register

, we published a final rule that set forth the FY 2004 annual update of the payment rates for the Medicare PPS for inpatient hospital services furnished by LTCHs (68 FR 34122). It also changed the annual period for which the payment rates are effective. The annual updated rates are now effective from July 1 through June 30 instead of from October 1 through September 30. We refer to the July through June time period as a “long-term care hospital rate year” (LTCH PPS RY). In addition, we changed the publication schedule for the annual update to allow for an effective date of July 1. The payment amounts and factors used to determine the annual update of the LTCH PPS Federal rate is based on a LTCH PPS rate year. While the LTCH payment rate update is effective July 1, the annual update of the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights are linked to the annual adjustments of the acute care hospital inpatient DRGs and are effective each October 1.

In the Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2007: Annual Payment Rate Updates, Policy Changes, and Clarifications final rule (71 FR 27798) (hereinafter referred to as the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule), we set forth the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year annual update of the payment rates for the Medicare PPS for inpatient hospital services provided by LTCHs. We also adopted the “Rehabilitation, Psychiatric, Long-Term Care (RPL)” market basket under the LTCH PPS in place of the excluded hospital with capital market basket. In addition, we implemented a zero percent update to

the LTCH PPS Federal rate for RY 2007. We also revised the existing payment adjustment for short stay outlier (SSO) cases by reducing part of the current payment formula and adding a fourth component to that payment formula. Also, we sunsetted the surgical DRG exception to the payment policy established under the 3-day or less interruption of stay policy. Finally, we clarified the policy at § 412.534(c) for adjusting the LTCH PPS payment so that the LTCH PPS payment is equivalent to what would otherwise be payable under § 412.1(a).

B. Criteria for Classification as a LTCH

1. Classification as a LTCH

Under the existing regulations at § 412.23(e)(1) and (e)(2)(i), which implement section 1886(d)(1)(B)(iv)(I) of the Act, to qualify to be paid under the LTCH PPS, a hospital must have a provider agreement with Medicare and must have an average Medicare inpatient LOS of greater than 25 days. Alternatively, § 412.23(e)(2)(ii) states that for cost reporting periods beginning on or after August 5, 1997, a hospital that was first excluded from the PPS in 1986 and can demonstrate that at least 80 percent of its annual Medicare inpatient discharges in the 12-month cost reporting period ending in FY 1997 have a principal diagnosis that reflects a finding of neoplastic disease must have an average inpatient LOS for all patients, including both Medicare and non-Medicare inpatients, of greater than 20 days.

Section 412.23(e)(3) provides that, subject to the provisions of paragraphs (e)(3)(ii) through (e)(3)(iv) of this section, the average Medicare inpatient LOS, specified under § 412.23(e)(2)(i) is calculated by dividing the total number of covered and noncovered days of stay for Medicare inpatients (less leave or pass days) by the number of total Medicare discharges for the hospital's most recent complete cost reporting period. Section 412.23 also provides that subject to the provisions of paragraphs (e)(3)(ii) through (e)(3)(iv) of this section, the average inpatient LOS specified under § 412.23(e)(2)(ii) is calculated by dividing the total number of days for all patients, including both Medicare and non-Medicare inpatients (less leave or pass days) by the number of total discharges for the hospital's most recent complete cost reporting period.

In the RY 2005 LTCH PPS final rule (69 FR 25674), we specified the procedure for calculating a hospital's inpatient average length of stay (ALOS) for purposes of classification as a LTCH. That is, if a patient's stay includes days of care furnished during two or more separate consecutive cost reporting periods, the total days of a patient's stay would be reported in the cost reporting period during which the patient is discharged (69 FR 25705). Therefore, we revised § 412.23(e)(3)(ii) to specify that, effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2004, in calculating a hospital's ALOS, if the days of an inpatient stay involve days of care furnished during two or more separate consecutive cost reporting periods, the total number of days of the stay are considered to have occurred in the cost reporting period during which the inpatient was discharged.

Fiscal intermediaries (FIs) verify that LTCHs meet the ALOS requirements. We note that the inpatient days of a patient who is admitted to a LTCH without any remaining Medicare days of coverage, regardless of the fact that the patient is a Medicare beneficiary, will not be included in the above calculation. Because Medicare would not be paying for any of the patient's treatment, data on the patient's stay would not be included in the Medicare claims processing systems. As described in § 409.61, in order for both covered and noncovered days of a LTCH hospitalization to be included, a patient admitted to the LTCH must have at least one remaining benefit day (68 FR 34123).

The FI's determination of whether or not a hospital qualifies as an LTCH is based on the hospital's discharge data from the hospital's most recent complete cost reporting period as specified in § 412.23(e)(3) and is effective at the start of the hospital's next cost reporting period as specified in § 412.22(d). However, if the hospital does not meet the ALOS requirement as specified in § 412.23(e)(2)(i) and (ii), the hospital may provide the FI with data indicating a change in the ALOS by the same method for the period of at least 5 months of the immediately preceding 6-month period (69 FR 25676). Our interpretation of § 412.23(e)(3) was to allow hospitals to submit data using a period of at least 5 months of the most recent data from the immediately preceding 6-month period.

As we stated in the FY 2004 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule, published in the August 1, 2003

Federal Register

, prior to the implementation of the LTCH PPS, we did rely on data from the most recently submitted cost report for purposes of calculating the ALOS (68 FR 45464). The calculation to determine whether an acute care hospital qualifies for LTCH status was based on total days and discharges for LTCH inpatients. However, with the implementation of the LTCH PPS, for the ALOS specified under § 412.23(e)(2)(i), we revised § 412.23(e)(3)(i) to only count total days and discharges for Medicare inpatients (67 FR 55970 through 55974). In addition, the ALOS specified under § 412.23(e)(2)(ii) is calculated by dividing the total number of days for all patients, including both Medicare and non-Medicare inpatients (less leave or pass days) by the number of total discharges for the hospital's most recent complete cost reporting period. As we discussed in the FY 2004 IPPS final rule, we are unable to capture the necessary data from our present cost reporting forms (68 FR 45464). Therefore, we have notified FIs and LTCHs that until the cost reporting forms are revised, for purposes of calculating the ALOS, we will be relying upon census data extracted from Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MedPAR) files that reflect each LTCH's cost reporting period (68 FR 45464). Requirements for hospitals seeking classification as LTCHs that have undergone a change in ownership, as described in § 489.18, are set forth in § 412.23(e)(3)(iv).

2. Hospitals Excluded From the LTCH PPS

The following hospitals are paid under special payment provisions, as described in § 412.22(c) and, therefore, are not subject to the LTCH PPS rules:

• Veterans Administration hospitals.

• Hospitals that are reimbursed under State cost control systems approved under 42 CFR part 403.

• Hospitals that are reimbursed in accordance with demonstration projects authorized under section 402(a) of the Social Security Amendments of 1967 (Pub. L. 90-248) (42 U.S.C. 1395b-1) or section 222(a) of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-603) (42 U.S.C. 1395b-1 (note)) (Statewide all-payer systems, subject to the rate-of-increase test at section 1814(b) of the Act).

• Nonparticipating hospitals furnishing emergency services to Medicare beneficiaries.

C. Transition Period for Implementation of the LTCH PPS

In the August 30, 2002 final rule (67 FR 55954), we provided for a 5-year transition period. During this 5-year transition period, a LTCH's total payment under the PPS was based on an increasing percentage of the Federal rate with a corresponding decrease in the percentage of the LTCH PPS payment that is based on reasonable cost

concepts. However, effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006, total LTCH PPS payments are based on 100 percent of the Federal rate.

D. Limitation on Charges to Beneficiaries

In the August 30, 2002 final rule, we presented an in-depth discussion of beneficiary liability under the LTCH PPS (67 FR 55974 through 55975). In the RY 2005 LTCH PPS final rule (69 FR 25676), we clarified that the discussion of beneficiary liability in the August 30, 2002 final rule was not meant to establish rates or payments for, or define Medicare-eligible expenses. Under § 412.507, if the Medicare payment to the LTCH is the full LTC-DRG payment amount, as consistent with other established hospital prospective payment systems, a LTCH may not bill a Medicare beneficiary for more than the deductible and coinsurance amounts as specified under § 409.82, § 409.83, and § 409.87 and for items and services as specified under § 489.30(a). However, under the LTCH PPS, Medicare will only pay for days for which the beneficiary has coverage until the SSO threshold is exceeded. (See section V.A.1.a. of this preamble.) Therefore, if the Medicare payment was for a SSO case (§ 412.529) that was less than the full LTC-DRG payment amount because the beneficiary had insufficient remaining Medicare days, the LTCH could also charge the beneficiary for services delivered on those uncovered days (§ 412.507).

E. Administrative Simplification Compliance Act (ASCA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Compliance

Claims submitted to Medicare must comply with both the Administrative Simplification Compliance Act (ASCA) (Pub. L. 107-105), and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Pub. L. 104-191). Section 3 of the ASCA requires that the Medicare Program deny payment under Part A or Part B for any expenses incurred for items or services “for which a claim is submitted other than in an electronic form specified by the Secretary.” Section 1862(h) of the Act (as added by section 3(a) of the ASCA) provides that the Secretary shall waive such denial in two specific types of cases and may also waive such denial “in such unusual cases as the Secretary finds appropriate” (68 FR 48805). Section 3 of the ASCA operates in the context of the ASCA provisions of HIPAA, which include, among other provisions, the transactions and code sets standards requirements codified as 45 CFR parts 160 and 162, subparts A and I through R (generally known as the Transactions Rule). The Transactions Rule requires covered entities, including covered health care providers, to conduct the covered electronic transactions according to the applicable transactions and code sets standards.

II. Summary of the Major Contents of This Proposed Rule

In this proposed rule, we are setting forth the proposed annual update to the payment rates for the Medicare LTCH PPS, as well as, proposing other policy changes. The following is a summary of the major areas that we are addressing in this proposed rule.

In section III. of this preamble, we discuss the LTCH PPS patient classification and the relative weights which remain linked to the annual adjustments of the acute care hospital inpatient DRG system, and are based on the annual revisions to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes effective each October 1.

Also, in section III. of this preamble, we are proposing to establish a BN requirement for when the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights are updated annually to reflect changes in relative LTCH resource use. This requirement would ensure that estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments would not decrease or increase as a result of the annual update to the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights.

As discussed in section IV.C. of this preamble, we are proposing a 0.71 percent update to the LTCH PPS Federal rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year based on an adjustment to the most recent estimate of the LTCH PPS market basket to account for changes in coding practices. Also in section IV. of this preamble, we discuss the proposed prospective payment rate for RY 2008, and in section VI. we discuss the applicable adjustments to the proposed payment rates, including the proposed revisions to the wage index, proposed labor-related share, the proposed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) factors, and the proposed outlier threshold, for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year.

In section V.A.1.b. of this preamble, we discuss an approach being considered to make a change to our present payment methodology for certain SSO cases. Under this approach, payment for SSO cases would be subject to a further adjustment where the patient's LOS at the LTCH is less than or equal to an IPPS LOS threshold for the DRG.

In section V.B. of this preamble, we discuss the proposed expansion of the present 25 percent admission policy at existing § 412.534(c) to those certain situations not already affected by that existing policy. We are proposing to specify that for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2007, that “grandfathered” LTCH HwHs and LTCH satellites, at § 412.22(f) and § 412.22(h)(3)(i) respectively, would also be included in the policy set forth at existing § 412.534. We are also proposing that if the percentage of LTCH's or LTCH satellite facility's discharges that were admitted from any non-co-located referring hospital exceeds 25 percent (or the applicable percentage) for a particular cost reporting period, an adjusted amount would be made for those Medicare discharges that were admitted from that referring hospital beyond the 25 percent (or the applicable percentage) threshold.

In section X. of this preamble, we will discuss our on-going monitoring protocols under the LTCH PPS.

In section XI. of this preamble, we will discuss the recommendations made by the Research Triangle Institute, International's (RTI) evaluation of the feasibility of adopting recommendations made in the June 2004 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) Report. (Addendum B will include the executive summary of the RTI report.)

In section XII. of this preamble, we discuss our proposal to redefine the statutory term “all or substantially all of the costs for the training program in the nonhospital setting.” The statute requires that hospitals must pay all of substantially all of the costs for training in a nonhospital site in order to count FTE residents training in the nonhospital setting for Medicare graduate medical education (GME) payment purposes. We are proposing to revise § 413.75(b) to introduce a new definition of “all or substantially all of the costs for the training program in the nonhospital setting” to mean, at least 90 percent of the residents' salaries and fringe benefits (including travel and lodging where applicable) and the portion of the cost of teaching physicians' salaries attributable to direct GME. In addition, we are proposing to revise § 412.105(f)(1)(ii)(C) for IME and § 413.78 to reflect this new definition of “all or substantially all” of the GME costs in a nonhospital setting, effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2007.

In section XVI. of this preamble, we analyze the impact of the proposed changes presented in this proposed rule on Medicare expenditures, Medicare-

participating LTCHs, and Medicare beneficiaries.

III. Long-Term Care Diagnosis-Related Group (LTC-DRG) Classifications and Relative Weights

[If you choose to comment on issues in this section, please include the caption “LTC-DRG CLASSIFICATIONS AND RELATIVE WEIGHTS” at the beginning of your comments.]

A. Background

Section 123 of the BBRA requires that the Secretary implement a PPS for LTCHs (that is, a per discharge system with a DRG-based patient classification system reflecting the differences in patient resources and costs. Section 307(b)(1) of the BIPA modified the requirements of section 123 of the BBRA by requiring that the Secretary examine “the feasibility and the impact of basing payment under such a system [the LTCH PPS] on the use of existing (or refined) hospital DRGs that have been modified to account for different resource use of LTCH patients, as well as the use of the most recently available hospital discharge data.”

In accordance with section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b)(1) of the BIPA and § 412.515, we use information derived from LTCH PPS patient records to classify these cases into distinct LTC-DRGs based on clinical characteristics and estimated resource needs. The LTC-DRGs used as the patient classification component of the LTCH PPS correspond to the hospital inpatient DRGs in the IPPS. We assign an appropriate weight to the LTC-DRGs to account for the difference in resource use by patients exhibiting the case complexity and multiple medical problems characteristic of LTCHs.

In a departure from the IPPS, we use low volume LTC-DRGs (less than 25 LTCH cases) in determining the LTC-DRG weights, since LTCHs do not typically treat the full range of diagnoses as do acute care hospitals. To manage the large number of low volume DRGs (all DRGs with fewer than 25 cases), we group low volume DRGs into 5 quintiles based on average charge per discharge. (A listing of the current composition of low volume quintiles used in determining the FY 2007 LTC-DRG relative weights appears in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47974 through 47978).) We also account for adjustments to payments for cases in which the stay at the LTCH is less than or equal to five-sixths of the geometric ALOS and classify these cases as SSO cases. (A detailed discussion of the application of the Lewin Group model that was used to develop the LTC-DRGs appears in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 55978).)

B. Patient Classifications Into DRGs

Generally, under the LTCH PPS, a Medicare payment is made at a predetermined specific rate for each discharge; that payment varies by the LTC-DRG to which a beneficiary's stay is assigned. Cases are classified into LTC-DRGs for payment based on the following six data elements:

(1) Principal diagnosis.

(2) Up to eight additional diagnoses.

(3) Up to six procedures performed.

(4) Age.

(5) Sex.

(6) Discharge status of the patient.

As indicated in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule, upon the discharge of the patient from a LTCH, the LTCH must assign appropriate diagnosis and procedure codes from the most current version of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (codes) (ICD-9-CM). HIPAA Transactions and Code Sets Standards regulations at 45 CFR parts 160 and 162 require that no later than October 16, 2003, all covered entities must comply with the applicable requirements of subparts A and I through R of part 162. Among other requirements, those provisions direct covered entities to use the ASC X12N 837 Health Care Claim: Institutional, Volumes 1 and 2, version 4010, and the applicable standard medical data code sets for the institutional health care claim or equivalent encounter information transaction (see 45 CFR 162.1002 and 45 CFR 162.1102).

Medicare FIs enter the clinical and demographic information into their claims processing systems and subject this information to a series of automated screening processes called the Medicare Code Editor (MCE). These screens are designed to identify cases that require further review before assignment into a DRG can be made. During this process, the following types of cases are selected for further development:

• Cases that are improperly coded. (For example, diagnoses are shown that are inappropriate, given the sex of the patient. Code 68.6, Radical abdominal hysterectomy, would be an inappropriate code for a male.)

• Cases including surgical procedures not covered under Medicare. (For example, organ transplant in a non-approved transplant center.)

• Cases requiring more information. (For example, ICD-9-CM codes are required to be entered at their highest level of specificity. There are valid 3-digit, 4-digit, and 5-digit codes. That is, code 262, Other severe protein-calorie malnutrition, contains all appropriate digits, but if it is reported with either fewer or more than 3 digits, the claim will be rejected by the MCE as invalid.)

• Cases with principal diagnoses that do not usually justify admission to the hospital. (For example, code 437.9, unspecified cerebrovascular disease. While this code is valid according to the ICD-9-CM coding scheme, a more precise code should be used for the principal diagnosis.)

After screening through the MCE, each claim will be classified into the appropriate LTC-DRG by the Medicare LTCH GROUPER software. As indicated in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule, the Medicare GROUPER software, which is used under the LTCH PPS, is specialized computer software, and is the same GROUPER software program used under the IPPS. The GROUPER software was developed as a means of classifying each case into a DRG on the basis of diagnosis and procedure codes and other demographic information (age, sex, and discharge status). Following the LTC-DRG assignment, the Medicare FI determines the prospective payment by using the Medicare PRICER program, which accounts for hospital-specific adjustments. Under the LTCH PPS, we provide an opportunity for the LTCH to review the LTC-DRG assignments made by the FI and to submit additional information within a specified timeframe as specified in § 412.513(c).

The GROUPER software is used both to classify past cases to measure relative hospital resource consumption to establish the DRG weights and to classify current cases for purposes of determining payment. The records for all Medicare hospital inpatient discharges are maintained in the MedPAR file. The data in this file are used to evaluate possible DRG classification changes and to recalibrate the DRG weights during our annual update under both the IPPS (§ 412.60(e)) and the LTCH PPS (§ 412.517). As discussed in greater detail in sections III.D. and E. of this preamble, with the implementation of section 503(a) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173), there is the possibility that one feature of the GROUPER software program may be updated twice during a Federal FY (October 1 and April 1) as required by the statute for the IPPS (69 FR 48954 through 48957). Specifically, as we discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, diagnosis and procedure codes for new medical technology may be created

and added to existing DRGs in the middle of the Federal FY on April 1 (71 FR 47959 and 47971). However, this policy change will have no effect on the LTC-DRG relative weights (during the FY), which will continue to be updated only once a year (October 1), nor will there be any impact on Medicare payments under the LTCH PPS during the FY as result of this policy. The use of the ICD-9-CM code set is also compliant with the current requirements of the Transactions and Code Sets Standards regulations at 45 CFR parts 160 and 162, published in accordance with HIPAA.

C. Organization of DRGs

The DRGs are organized into 25 major diagnostic categories (MDCs), most of which are based on a particular organ system of the body; the remainder involve multiple organ systems (such as MDC 22, Burns). Accordingly, the principal diagnosis determines MDC assignment. Within most MDCs, cases are then divided into surgical DRGs and medical DRGs. Surgical DRGs are assigned based on a surgical hierarchy that orders operating room (O.R.) procedures or groups of O.R. procedures by resource intensity. The GROUPER software program does not recognize all ICD-9-CM procedure codes as procedures that affect DRG assignment, that is, procedures which are not surgical (for example, EKG), or minor surgical procedures (for example, 86.11, Biopsy of skin and subcutaneous tissue).

The medical DRGs are generally differentiated on the basis of diagnosis. Both medical and surgical DRGs may be further differentiated based on age, sex, discharge status, and presence or absence of complications or comorbidities (CC). We note that CCs are defined by certain secondary diagnoses not related to, or not inherently a part of, the disease process identified by the principal diagnosis. (For example, the GROUPER software would not recognize a code from the 800.0x series, Skull fracture, as a CC when combined with principal diagnosis 850.4, Concussion with prolonged loss of consciousness, without return to preexisting conscious level.) In addition, we note that the presence of additional diagnoses does not automatically generate a CC, as not all DRGs recognize a comorbid or complicating condition in their definition. (For example, DRG 466, Aftercare without History of Malignancy as Secondary Diagnosis, is based solely on the principal diagnosis, without consideration of additional diagnoses for DRG determination.)

As discussed in greater detail in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47898 through 47912 and 47973), in its March 2005 Report to Congress, “Physician-Owned Specialty Hospitals,” MedPAC recommended that the Secretary improve payment accuracy in the hospital IPPS by, among other things, “refining the current DRGs to more fully capture differences in severity of illness among patients.” (Recommendation 1, p. 93.) As we discussed in that same final rule (71 FR 47973), although we did not adopt a new severity-adjusted patient classification system under the IPPS, for FY 2007, we refined the current CMS-DRG patient classification system by creating 20 new CMS-DRGs and modifying 32 others across 13 different clinical areas for Version 24.0 of the GROUPER software that we expect will improve the CMS-DRG system's recognition of severity of illness for FY 2007. As noted previously in this section, the LTCH PPS patient classification system (that is, LTC-DRGs) is the same patient classification system used under the IPPS (that is, CMS DRGs). As such, the updates to the CMS DRG patient classification system used under the IPPS for FY 2007 (GROUPER Version 24.0), are the updates that apply to the LTC-DRGs used under the LTCH PPS for FY 2007.

In the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, we present the changes to the DRG patient classification system for FY 2007 (71 FR 47939 through 47962). In that rule, we adopted the IPPS GROUPER Version 24.0 for FY 2007 to process LTCH PPS claims for LTCH discharges occurring from October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007 (71 FR 47973). As noted above in this section and as we also discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, in its March 1, 2005 Report to Congress on Medicare Payment Policy (page 64) and Recommendation 1 in the 2005 Report to Congress on Physician-Owned Specialty Hospitals, MedPAC recommended that CMS, among other things, refine the current DRGs under the IPPS to more fully capture differences in severity of illness among patients. In evaluating this MedPAC recommendation for the IPPS, we evaluated the APR-DRG Grouper used by MedPAC in its analysis. Based on that analysis, we concur with MedPAC that the modified version of the APR DRGs would account more completely for differences in severity of illness and associated costs among hospitals. However, as we clarified in the FY 2007 IPPS proposed rule and reiterated in section II.C.6. of the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, there are still further changes that are important to make to the consolidated severity-adjusted (CS) DRG system before it is ready for adoption. Therefore, in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, we did not adopt a new CS DRG system, such as the APR DRGs or a modified version of the APR DRGs, under the IPPS. However, we refined the current CMS-DRG patient classification system by creating 20 new CMS-DRGs and modifying 32 others across 13 different clinical areas for Version 24.0 of the GROUPER software that we expect will improve the CMS DRG system's recognition of severity of illness for FY 2007. As noted previously in this section, the LTCH PPS patient classification system (that is, LTC-DRGs) is the same patient classification system used under the IPPS (that is, CMS DRGs). As such, the updates to the CMS DRG patient classification system used under the IPPS for FY 2007 (GROUPER Version 24.0), are the updates that apply under the LTCH PPS for FY 2007.

As discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47906), we have engaged a contractor to assist us with completing an evaluation of alternative DRG systems for use under the IPPS that may better recognize severity than the current CMS DRGs and meet other criteria that would make them suitable to adopt for purposes of payment under the IPPS. We expect to complete this evaluation of alternative DRG systems quickly as part of moving forward on adopting a revised DRG system that better recognizes severity in the IPPS rulemaking for FY 2008.

As we also stated in that same FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47990), if and when a severity adjusted patient classification system is adopted under the IPPS, we would need to consider whether to propose revisions to the current patient classification system under the LTCH PPS. Any proposed changes to the patient classification system would be done through notice and comment rulemaking. We believe that it is advantageous to the LTCH community to wait for CMS to first finalize its policies regarding any refinements to the DRG patient classification system used under the IPPS so that we can fully analyze what the effects of such changes would be on LTCH PPS payments. To the extent any changes to the patient classification system used under the IPPS are proposed and subsequently finalized, an analysis could then be performed to determine whether it is appropriate to propose the same patient classification for LTCHs. As noted above in this section, at that time, we would need to consider whether to propose revisions to the patient classification system

under the LTCH PPS, which, if proposed would be done through notice and comment rulemaking.

D. Proposed Update of LTC-DRGs

1. Background

As discussed in greater detail in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47974), under the LTCH PPS, relative weights for each LTC-DRG are a primary element used to account for the variations in cost per discharge and resource utilization among the payment groups (that is, LTC-DRGs). To ensure that Medicare patients classified to each LTC-DRG have access to an appropriate level of services and to encourage efficiency, each year based on the best available data, we calculate a relative weight for each LTC-DRG that represents the resources needed by an average inpatient LTCH case in that LTC-DRG. For example, cases in a LTC-DRG with a relative weight of 2 will, on average, cost twice as much as cases in a LTC-DRG with a relative weight of 1. Under § 412.517, the LTC-DRG classifications and weighting factors (that is, relative weights) are adjusted annually to reflect changes in factors affecting the relative use of LTCH resources, including treatment patterns, technology and number of discharges. For FY 2007, the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights were updated based on LTCH data from the FY 2005 MedPAR file, which contained hospital bills data from the March 2006 update. The LTC-DRG patient classification system consists of 538 DRGs that formed the basis of the FY 2007 LTCH PPS GROUPER program. The 538 LTC-DRGs included two “error DRGs.” As in the IPPS, we included two error DRGs in which cases that cannot be assigned to valid DRGs will be grouped. These two error DRGs are DRG 469 (Principal Diagnosis Invalid as a Discharge Diagnosis) and DRG 470 (Ungroupable). The other 536 LTC-DRGs are the same DRGs used in the IPPS GROUPER program for FY 2007 (Version 24.0).

In the past, the annual update to the CMS-DRGs was based on the annual revisions to the ICD-9-CM codes and was effective each October 1. The ICD-9-CM coding update process was revised as discussed in greater detail in the FY 2005 IPPS final rule (69 FR 48953 through 48957). Specifically, section 503(a) of the MMA includes a requirement for updating diagnosis and procedure codes for twice a year instead of the current process of annual updates on October 1 of each year. This requirement is included as part of the amendments to the Act relating to recognition of new medical technology under the IPPS. (For additional information on this provision, including its implementation and its impact on the LTCH PPS, refer to the FY 2005 IPPS final rule (69 FR 48953 through 48957) and the RY 2006 LTCH PPS final rule (70 FR 24172 through 24177).)

As noted above in this section, with the implementation of section 503(a) of the MMA, there is the possibility that one feature of the GROUPER software program may be updated twice during a Federal FY (October 1 and April 1) as required by the statute for the IPPS. Specifically, diagnosis and procedure codes for new medical technology may be created and added to existing DRGs in the middle of the Federal FY on April 1. No new LTC-DRGs will be created or deleted. Consistent with our current practice, any changes to the DRGs or relative weights will be made at the beginning of the next Federal FY (October 1). Therefore, there will not be any impact on LTC-DRG payments under the LTCH PPS until the following October 1 (although the new ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes would be recognized April 1). The use of the ICD-9-CM code set is also compliant with the current requirements of the Transactions and Code Sets Standards regulations at 45 CFR parts 160 and 162, issued under HIPAA.

As we explained in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, annual changes to the ICD-9-CM codes historically were effective for discharges occurring on or after October 1 each year (71 FR 47971). Thus, the manual and electronic versions of the GROUPER software, which are based on the ICD-9-CM codes, were also revised annually and effective for discharges occurring on or after October 1 each year. The patient classification system used under the LTCH PPS (LTC-DRGs) is the same DRG patient classification system used under the IPPS, which historically had been updated annually and was effective for discharges occurring on or after October 1 through September 30 each year. As we mentioned previously in this section, the ICD-9-CM coding update process was revised as a result of the implementation of section 503(a) of the MMA, which includes a requirement for updating diagnosis and procedure codes as often as twice a year instead of the current process of annual updates on October 1 of each year (as discussed in greater detail in section II.D.10. of the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47957 through 47960)). We currently use the ICD-9-CM codes as the code set for diagnoses and procedures. Therefore, the ICD-9-CM codes currently used under both the IPPS and LTCH PPS may be updated as often as twice a year. As described above in this section, this requirement is included as part of the amendments to the Act relating to recognition of new medical technology under the IPPS.

Despite the fact that aspects of the GROUPER software may be updated to recognize any new technology ICD-9-CM codes, there will be no impact on either LTC-DRG assignments or payments under the LTCH PPS at that time. That is, changes to the LTC-DRGs (such as the creation or deletion of LTC-DRGs) and the relative weights will continue to be updated in the manner and timing (October 1) as they are now. Updates to the GROUPER software for both the IPPS and the LTCH PPS (for relative weights and the creation or deletion of DRGs) are made in the annual IPPS proposed and final rules and are effective each October 1. We have also explained that since we do not publish a mid-year IPPS rule, we will assign any new diagnosis or procedure codes implemented on April 1 to the same DRG in which its predecessor code was assigned, so that there will be no impact on the DRG assignments until the following October 1. Any coding updates will be available through the Web sites provided in section III.E. of this preamble and through the

Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM.

Publishers and software vendors currently obtain code changes through these sources to update their code books and software system. If new codes are implemented on April 1, revised code books and software systems, including the GROUPER software program, will be necessary because we must use current ICD-9-CM codes. Therefore, for purposes of the LTCH PPS, because each ICD-9-CM code must be included in the GROUPER algorithm to classify each case into a LTC-DRG, the GROUPER software program used under the LTCH PPS would need to be revised to accommodate any new codes.

In implementing section 503(a) of the MMA, there will only be an April 1 update if diagnosis and procedure codes are requested and approved. We note that any new codes created for April 1 implementation will be limited to those diagnosis and procedure code revisions primarily needed to describe new technologies and medical services. However, we reiterate that the process of discussing updates to the ICD-9-CM has been an open process through the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance (C&M) Committee since 1995. Requestors will be given the opportunity to present the merits for a new code and make a clear and convincing case for the need to update

ICD-9-CM codes through an April 1 update.

At the September 2006 ICD-9-CM C&M Committee meeting, there were no requests for an April 1, 2007 implementation of ICD-9-CM codes, and therefore, the next update to the ICD-9-CM coding system will not occur until October 1, 2007 (FY 2008). Presently, as there were no coding changes suggested for an April 1, 2007 update, the ICD-9-CM coding set implemented on October 1, 2006, will continue through September 30, 2007 (FY 2007). The next update to the LTC-DRGs and relative weights for FY 2008 will be presented in the FY 2008 IPPS proposed and final rules. Furthermore, we would notify LTCHs of any revisions to the GROUPER software used under the IPPS and LTCH PPS that would be implemented April 1, 2008. As noted previously in this section, in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47973), we used Version 24.0 of the CMS GROUPER, which was used under the IPPS for FY 2007, to classify cases for LTCH PPS discharges that would occur on or after October 1, 2006 and on or before September 30, 2007.

2. Proposed Budget Neutrality (BN) Requirement for the Annual LTC-DRG Update

As noted above in this section, currently under § 412.517, the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights are adjusted annually to reflect changes in factors affecting the relative use of LTCH resources, such as treatment patterns, technology and number of discharges. Currently, there are no statutory or regulatory requirements that the annual update to the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights be done in a budget neutral manner. Historically, since the initial implementation of the LTCH PPS in FY 2003, we have updated the LTC-DRG relative weights each year without a BN adjustment based on the most recent available LTCH claims data, which reflect current LTCH patient mix and coding practices, and appropriately reflected more or less resource use than the previous year's LTC-DRG relative weights (71 FR 47991). When we proposed changes to the LTC-DRGs for FY 2007 in the FY 2007 IPPS proposed rule, we estimated that those proposed changes to the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights would result in about an estimated 1.4 percent decrease in estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments (71 FR 24413). As we discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47991), several commenters, including MedPAC, urged us to establish a BN requirement for the annual reclassification and recalibration of the LTC-DRGs so that, in future years, the LTCH PPS could avoid an estimated decrease in estimated aggregate payments, such as the estimated 1.4 percent decrease that resulted from the proposed update to the LTC-DRGs and relative weights for FY 2007. In response to previous proposed annual updates to the LTC-DRG relative weights, we also received comments recommending that a BN adjustment be applied in determining the LTC-DRG relative weights to mitigate LTCH PPS payment fluctuations. (See the FY 2005 IPPS final rule (69 FR 48999 through 49000), and the FY 2006 IPPS final rule (70 FR 47333 through 47334).)

In response to those comments, we explained that we understood the commenters' concern with the estimated decrease in payments under LTCH PPS based upon the changes in the LTC-DRGs and relative weights proposed for FY 2007. However, as we discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, we did not postpone the proposed FY 2007 reclassification and recalibration of the LTC-DRGs, nor did we implement those changes in a budget neutral manner. We noted several reasons for the annual fluctuations in LTC-DRG relative weights that have resulted in both estimated increases and decreases in estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments in the 4 years since the implementation of the LTCH PPS in FY 2003. Specifically, we reiterated our belief that several factors have affected the changes to the LTC-DRG relative weights over the past 4 years, including actual improvements in coding so that cases are appropriately assigned to LTC-DRGs. We also explained that, as noted above in this section, historically we recalibrated the LTC-DRG relative weights each year based on the most recent available LTCH claims data, which reflect current LTCH patient mix and coding practices, and appropriately reflects more or less resource use than the previous year's LTC-DRG relative weights. The intended purpose of the annual recalibration of the LTC-DRG relative weights is to reflect any variation in coding practices and charges from the previous year and to help ensure that the LTC-DRG relative weights in the upcoming fiscal year will result in appropriate and accurate payments to LTCHs for the resources they expend to treat their Medicare patients. (71 FR 47984 through 47989)

We also reminded the commenters that under the IPPS, there is a statutory requirement that the annual DRG reclassification and recalibration changes be made in a manner that assures that the estimated aggregate payments are neither greater than nor less than the estimated aggregate payments that would have been made without the changes, but there is no corresponding statutory requirement under the LTCH PPS. However, we noted that, given the considerable discretion granted to the Secretary under section 123 of the BBRA and section 307(b) of the BIPA of 2000 to develop the LTCH PPS, it is possible that, at some point, the Secretary would consider using this broad authority to establish a BN policy for the annual update of the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights. We further stated that if we find that it would be appropriate to propose making the updates to the LTC-DRGs and relative weights in a budget neutral manner, the public would have the opportunity to submit comments on any proposed change during the rulemaking process.

As we explained in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47985 through 47986), a LTCH's case-mix index (CMI) is defined as its case weighted average LTC-DRG relative weight for all its discharges in a given period. Changes in CMI consist of two components: “real” CMI changes and “apparent” CMI changes. Real CMI increase is defined as the increase in the average LTC-DRG relative weights resulting from the hospital's treatment of more resource intensive patients. Apparent CMI increase is defined as the increase in CMI due to changes in coding practices. The computed (or observed) CMI increase is defined as real CMI increase (due to an increase in patient severity) plus the increase due to changes in coding practices (including better documentation of the medical record by physicians and more complete coding of the medical record by coders). If LTCH patients have more costly impairments, lower functional status, or increased comorbidities, and thus require more resources in the LTCH, we consider this a real change in case-mix. Conversely, if LTCH patients have the same impairments, functional status, and comorbidities but are coded differently resulting in higher payment, we consider this an apparent change in case-mix. We believe that changes in payment rates, including the LTC-DRG relative weights, should accurately reflect changes in LTCHs' true cost of treating patients (real CMI increase), and should not be influenced by changes in coding practices (apparent CMI increase).

As stated above in this section, apparent CMI increase results from cases being grouped to a LTC-DRG with a higher weight than it would be

without such changes in coding practices. As we discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48343 through 48344), in discussing the impact of the changes to the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights established for FY 2007 that were estimated to result in an aggregate decrease in LTCH PPS payments of approximately 1.3 percent, we explained that changes in coding practices (rather than patient severity) primarily resulted in fluctuations in the LTC-DRG relative weights in the past. Specifically, based on an analysis of FY 2005 LTCH claims data, we continued to observe that the average LTC-DRG relative weight decreases due to an increase of relatively lower charge cases being assigned to LTC-DRGs with higher relative weights in the prior year. Contributing to this increase in these relatively lower charge cases being assigned to LTC-DRGs with higher relative weights in the prior year are improvements in coding practices, which are typical when moving from a reasonable cost-based payment system to a PPS. The impact of including cases with relatively lower charges into LTC-DRGs that had a relatively higher relative weight in the previous version of the GROUPER software is a decrease in the average relative weight for those LTC-DRGs in the updated version of the GROUPER software.

We note that this same phenomenon of relatively lower charge cases being assigned to LTC-DRGs with higher relative weights in the prior year was also observed when we analyzed the LTCH claims data from FY 2003 and FY 2004 to update the LTC-DRG relative weights for FY 2005 and FY 2006, respectively (see the FY 2005 IPPS final rule (69 FR 48999) and the FY 2006 IPPS final rule (70 FR 47701 through 47702).) However, this phenomenon was more notable based on the FY 2004 LTCH claims data that were used to update the LTC-DRG relative weights for FY 2006, where the changes to the LTC-DRG weights established were estimated to result in a decrease in aggregate LTCH PPS payments of 4.2 percent (as compared to the estimated 1.3 percent decrease in aggregate LTCH PPS payments based on the FY 2005 LTCH claims data used to determine the FY 2007 LTC-DRG relative weights). Because the estimated decrease in aggregate LTCH PPS payments due to the update to the LTC-DRG relative weights based on more recent (FY 2005) LTCH claims data was significantly lower (1.3 percent estimated based on the LTC-DRG changes for FY 2007) than it was based on FY 2004 LTCH claims data (4.2 percent estimated based on the LTC-DRG changes for FY 2006), we believe that, as LTCHs have become more familiar with the ICD-9-CM coding principles and guidelines used under a DRG-based system, annual changes in LTCH CMI are approaching the point where the observed CMI increase is primarily due to changes in real CMI (that is, increased patient severity) rather than apparent CMI (that is, changes in coding practices). In other words, because we have observed that, over time as LTCHs have gained more experience with ICD-9-CM coding, estimated changes in LTCH PPS payments due to recalibration of the LTC-DRG relative weights based on more recent claims data (for example, the FY 2007 LTC-DRG relative weights calculated from FY 2005 LTCH claims data as compared to the FY 2006 LTC-DRG relative weights calculated from FY 2004 LTCH claims data) have diminished over time. That is, we have estimated smaller fluctuations in aggregate LTCH PPS payments as a result of the annual recalibration of the LTC-DRG relative weights based on more recent LTCH claims data generated after the implementation of the LTCH PPS (for example, the 1.3 percent estimated decrease in aggregate LTCH PPS payments for FY 2007 based on FY 2004 LTCH claims data as compared to the 4.2 percent estimated decrease in aggregate LTCH PPS payments for FY 2007 based on FY 2005 LTCH claims data). For these reasons, we believe that LTCH coding practices have stabilized such that the most recent available LTCH claims data now primarily reflect changes in the resources used by the average LTCH patient in a particular LTC-DRG (and not changes in coding practices). Thus, we believe that the most recent available data (as described below in this section) mainly reflect the true costs of treating LTCH patients, and as discussed above, we believe changes in payment rates, including the LTC-DRGs, should reflect such costs.

Furthermore, a LTCH CMI analysis based on the most recent available LTCH claims data, which is discussed in section IV.C. of this preamble, also supports our belief that observed CMI increase is primarily due to changes in real CMI (that is, increased patient severity) rather than apparent CMI (that is, changes in coding practices). Specifically, this CMI analysis indicates that changes in LTCH coding practices, which resulted in fluctuations in the LTC-DRG relative weights in the past, appear to be stabilizing as LTCHs have become more familiar with a DRG-based system. As discussed in section IV.C.2. of this preamble, the overall observed change in LTCH CMI from FY 2003 compared to FY 2004 was an increase of approximately 6.75 percent while the overall observed change in LTCH CMI from FY 2004 compared to FY 2005 was an increase of approximately 3.49 percent, which is only about half of the LTCH CMI growth measured from the prior period (that is, the 6.75 percent from FY 2003 to FY 2004). Furthermore, preliminary analysis of FY 2006 LTCH claims data, which reflects over 3 full years of experience under the LTCH PPS for most LTCHs, shows an even smaller overall observed CMI increase of about 1.9 percent from FY 2005 compared to FY 2006. Again, the observed CMI increase from FY 2005 to FY 2006 is only about half of the LTCH CMI growth measured from the prior period (that is, the 3.49 percent from FY 2004 to FY 2005). Because this LTCH CMI analysis shows that observed CMI is declining, we believe that LTCH coding practices have stabilized such that changes in LTCH CMI are now primarily due to changes in real CMI (that is, increased patient severity) rather than apparent CMI (that is, changes in coding practices). In other words, because we believe that the observed annual CMI increase is primarily “real” and not “apparent,” it is no longer necessary to update the LTC-DRGs in a non-budget neutral manner (as discussed in greater detail below in this section). As stated above in this section, we believe that changes in payment rates, including the LTC-DRG relative weights, should accurately reflect changes in LTCHs' true cost of treating patients (real CMI increase) and should not be influenced by changes in coding practices (apparent CMI increase).

In light of these facts, in order to mitigate estimated fluctuations in estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments, as urged by past commenters, we have given further consideration to the issue of establishing a BN requirement for annual LTC-DRG reclassification and recalibration. Therefore, in this proposed rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary under section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of the BIPA to develop the LTCH PPS, we are proposing that, beginning with the LTC-DRG update for FY 2008, the annual update to the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights would be done in a budget neutral manner such that estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments would be unaffected, that is, would be neither greater than nor less than the estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments that

would have been made without the proposed LTC-DRG classification and relative weight changes. Accordingly, we are proposing to revise § 412.517 to specify that annual changes to the LTC-DRG classifications and the recalibration of the LTC-DRG relative weights are made in a budget neutral manner such that estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments are not affected. We believe that it would be appropriate to update the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights in a budget neutral manner at this time for the reasons discussed below.

As noted above in this section, the relative weight for each LTC-DRG represents the resources needed by an average inpatient LTCH case in that LTC-DRG, such that LTCH cases in a LTC-DRG with a relative weight of 2 will, on average, cost twice as much as cases in a LTC-DRG with a relative weight of 1. As also noted above in this section, in the past when we recalibrated the LTC-DRG relative weights each year without a BN adjustment based on the most recent available LTCH claims data, we believe that the resulting LTC-DRG relative weights appropriately reflected more or less resource use than the previous year's LTC-DRG relative weights, and that the estimated aggregate payment changes were appropriate given that the LTCH claims data used to determine those LTC-DRG relative weights reflected changes in coding practices, as well as changes in actual resource use. Historically, we have not updated the LTC-DRGs in a budget neutral manner because, as discussed above in this section, we believed that past fluctuations in the LTC-DRG relative weights were primarily due to changes in LTCH coding practices, which included both “real” and “apparent” changes in LTCHs” case-mix. We believe that changes in the LTCH PPS payment rates, including the LTC-DRG relative weights, should accurately reflect changes in LTCHs' true cost of treating patients (real CMI increase), and should not be influenced by changes in coding practices (apparent CMI increase). Therefore, in the past we did not update the LTC-DRGs in a budget neutral manner so that “apparent” CMI changes were not permanently built into the LTCH PPS payment rates. Because LTCH 2006 claims data does not appear to significantly reflect changes in LTCH coding practices in response to the implementation of the LTCH PPS (as explained above in this section), we believe that it may be appropriate to update the LTC-DRGs so that estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments would neither increase or decrease since we believe that changes in the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights should accurately reflect changes in LTCHs' resource use (that is, true cost of treating patients) and should not be influenced by changes in coding practices, and that the most recent such LTCH claims data primarily reflects changes in the resources needed by an average LTCH case in a particular LTC-DRG (and not changes in coding practices). Thus, we now believe it would be reasonable and appropriate to update the LTC-DRGs in a budget neutral manner, beginning in FY 2008, so that estimated aggregate payments under the LTCH PPS would be unaffected (that is, estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments would not be greater than or less than they would have been without the proposed LTC-DRG classification and relative weight changes) by any changes resulting from the annual reclassification and recalibration of the LTC-DRGs. Updating the LTC-DRGs in a budget neutral manner would result in an annual update to the individual LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights based on the most recent available data to reflect changes in relative LTCH resource use; however, the LTC-DRG relative weights would be uniformly adjusted to ensure that estimated aggregate payments under the LTCH PPS would not be affected (that is, decreased or increased).

Under this proposal, we intend to update the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights for FY 2008 based on the best available data at the time to allow for changes in factors affecting hospital resource use, including but not limited to, practice patterns and new technology. This would be done in a budget neutral manner, such that estimated aggregate payments under the LTCH PPS would neither decrease or increase as a result of the changes due to the annual reclassification and recalibration of the LTC-DRGs. Because, under this proposal, we would continue to use the most recent available LTCH data, the updated LTC-DRG relative weights would continue to reflect changes in LTCH resource use (as is the case under the current (non-budget neutral) LTC-DRG update methodology). Thus, for example, if the most recent LTCH claims data showed that the resource use for hypothetical LTC-DRG “ABC” is double the resource use for hypothetical LTC-DRG “XYZ,” then the value of the relative weight for LTC-DRG “ABC” would be about twice the value of relative weight for LTC-DRG “XYZ.”

In addition to accounting for changes in relative resource use, to include a BN requirement for the annual update to the LTC-DRGs under this proposal, the updated LTC-DRG relative weights would need to be uniformly adjusted to ensure that estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments would not be affected. That is, a BN factor would need to be computed to ensure that the LTC-DRG reclassification and recalibration process, by itself, neither increases nor decreases estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments. To accomplish BN when annually updating the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights under the proposed change to § 412.517, we are proposing to use a method that is similar to the methodology used under the IPPS. Specifically, we are proposing that after recalibrating the LTC-DRG relative weights, as we do under our existing methodology (as described in detail in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47978 through 47981)), we would apply a single BN adjustment factor (which would be published annually in the IPPS proposed and final rules when we update the LTC-DRGs and relative weights) to each of those relative weights. The LTC-DRG BN adjustment factor would ensure that estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments (based on the most recent available LTCH claims data) after recalibration (the “new” relative weights) would be equal to estimated aggregate LTCH PPS payments (for the same most recent available LTCH claims data) before recalibration (the current or “old” relative weights). (Information on the IPPS DRG BN adjustment can be found in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47970).) As noted above in this section, the annual update to the LTC-DRG classifications and relative weights provided for under the current § 412.517 is presented in the IPPS proposed and final rules, and under the proposed changes to § 412.517 presented in this proposed rule, the proposed BN update to the LTC-DRGs for FY 2008 would be presented in the FY 2008 IPPS proposed rule in the spring of 2007.

E. ICD-9-CM Coding System

1. Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS) Definitions

Because the assignment of a case to a particular LTC-DRG will help determine the amount that will be paid for the case, it is important that the coding is accurate. Classifications and terminology used in the LTCH PPS are consistent with the ICD-9-CM and the UHDDS, as recommended to the Secretary by the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (“Uniform

Hospital Discharge Data: Minimum Data Set, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), April 1980”) and as revised in 1984 by the Health Information Policy Council (HIPC) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

We note that the ICD-9-CM coding terminology and the definitions of principal and other diagnoses of the UHDDS are consistent with the requirements of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Act of 1996 (45 CFR part 162). Furthermore, the UHDDS was used as a standard for the development of policies and programs related to hospital discharge statistics by both governmental and nongovernmental sectors for over 30 years. In addition, the following definitions (as described in the 1984 Revision of the UHDDS, approved by the Secretary for use starting January 1986) are requirements of the ICD-9-CM coding system, and have been used as a standard for the development of the CMS-DRGs:

• Diagnoses are defined to include all diagnoses that affect the current hospital stay.

• Principal diagnosis is defined as the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for occasioning the admission of the patient to the hospital for care.

• Other diagnoses (also called secondary diagnoses or additional diagnoses) are defined as all conditions that coexist at the time of admission, that develop subsequently, or that affect the treatment received or the LOS or both. Diagnoses that relate to an earlier episode of care that have no bearing on the current hospital stay are excluded.

• All procedures performed will be reported. This includes those that are surgical in nature, carry a procedural risk, carry an anesthetic risk, or require specialized training.

We provide LTCHs with a 60-day window after the date of the notice of the initial LTC-DRG assignment to request review of that assignment of the discharge to a LTC-DRG. Additional information may be provided by the LTCH to the FI as part of that review.

2. Maintenance of the ICD-9-CM Coding System

The ICD-9-CM C&M Committee is a Federal interdepartmental committee, co-chaired by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and CMS, that is charged with maintaining and updating the ICD-9-CM system. The C&M Committee is jointly responsible for approving coding changes, and developing errata, addenda, and other modifications to the ICD-9-CM to reflect newly developed procedures and technologies and newly identified diseases. The C&M Committee is also responsible for promoting the use of Federal and non-Federal educational programs and other communication techniques with a view toward standardizing coding applications and upgrading the quality of the classification system.

The NCHS has lead responsibility for the ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes included in the Tabular List and Alphabetic Index for Diseases, while we have the lead responsibility for the ICD-9-CM procedure codes included in the Tabular List and Alphabetic Index for Procedures. The C&M Committee encourages participation by health-related organizations in this process and holds public meetings for discussion of educational issues and proposed coding changes twice a year at the CMS Central Office located in Baltimore, Maryland. The agenda and dates of the meetings can be accessed on our Web site at

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes

.

As discussed previously in this section, for the IPPS, section 503(a) of the MMA includes a requirement for updating diagnosis and procedure codes twice a year instead of annual updates on October 1 of each year. This requirement will improve the recognition of new technologies under the IPPS by accounting for them in the GROUPER software at an earlier date. Because this statutory requirement could have a significant impact on health care providers, coding staff, publishers, system maintainers, and software systems, among others, we solicited comments on our proposed provisions to implement this requirement as part of the FY 2005 IPPS proposed rule (69 FR 28220 through 28221). We responded to comments and published our new policy regarding the updating of diagnosis and procedure codes (currently the ICD-9-CM) in the FY 2005 IPPS final rule (69 FR 48953 through 48957). In addition, we established a policy for the possibility of an April 1 ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure code update in the RY 2006 LTCH PPS final rule (70 FR 24176) since LTCH systems would be expected to recognize and report those new codes through the channels described in this section even though no DRG additions or deletions or changes to relative weights will occur prior to the usual October 1 update. (For more detailed information on the affect of the statutory mandates directed at the IPPS as amended by section 503(a) of the MMA, refer to the FY 2005 IPPS final rule (69 FR 48954 through 48957) and the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27806 through 27808)).

Current addendum and code title information is published on the CMS Web site at:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/04_addendum.asp

. Summary tables showing new, revised, and deleted code titles are also posted on the CMS Web site at

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/07_summarytables.asp

. Information on ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes can be found at

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/

. Information on new, revised, and deleted ICD-9-CM codes is also available in the American Hospital Association (AHA) publication,

the Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM.

AHA also distributes information to publishers and software vendors. We also send copies of all ICD-9-CM coding changes to our contractors for use in updating their systems and providing education to providers. In addition, of particular note to LTCHs are the invalid diagnosis codes (Table 6C) and the invalid procedure codes (Table 6D) located in the annual proposed and final rules for the IPPS. Claims with invalid codes are not processed by the Medicare claims processing system.

3. Coding Rules and Use of ICD-9-CM Codes in LTCHs

We continue to urge LTCHs to focus on improved coding practices. Inappropriate coding of cases can adversely affect the uniformity of cases in each LTC-DRG and produce inappropriate weighting factors at recalibration. Because of concerns raised by LTCHs concerning correct coding, we have asked the AHA to provide additional clarification and instruction on proper coding in the LTCH setting. The AHA will provide this instruction via their established process of addressing questions through their publication, the

Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM.

Written questions or requests for clarification may be addressed to the Central Office on ICD-9-CM, American Hospital Association, One North Franklin, Chicago, IL 60606. A form for question(s) is available for download and can be mailed on AHA's Web site at:

www.ahacentraloffice.org.

In addition, current coding guidelines are available at the NCHS Web site:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/datawh/ftpserv/ftpicd9/ftpicd9.htm#conv.

In conjunction with the cooperating parties (AHA, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and NCHS), we reviewed actual medical records and continue to emphasize the importance of the quality

of the documentation under the LTCH PPS. Based on the LTCH claims data analysis described above in section III.D.2. of this preamble, we fully believe that with some experience under a PPS, the quality of the documentation and coding of LTCHs has improved, as it did for the IPPS. However, because of the need for proper coding by LTCHs, the cooperating parties have plans to assist their members with continued improvement in documentation and coding issues for the LTCHs through specific questions and coding guidelines. The importance of consistent and complete documentation is emphasized in the revised ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting: “A joint effort between the attending physician and coder is essential to achieve complete and accurate documentation, code assignment, and reporting of diagnoses and procedures. The importance of consistent, complete documentation in the medical record cannot be overemphasized. Without this documentation, the application of all coding guidelines is a difficult, if not impossible task” (Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM, Fourth Quarter 2002, page 115).

To improve medical record documentation, LTCHs should be aware that if the patient is being admitted for continuation of treatment of an acute or chronic condition, guidelines at Section I.B.10 of the Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM, Fourth Quarter 2002 (page 129) are applicable for the selection of principal diagnosis. To clarify coding advice issued in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 55979), at Guideline I.B.12, Late Effects, we state that a late effect is considered to be the residual effect (condition produced) after the acute phase of an illness or injury has terminated (

Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM,

Fourth Quarter 2002, page 129). Regarding whether a LTCH should report the ICD-9-CM code(s) for an unresolved acute condition instead of the code(s) for late effects of rehabilitation, we emphasize that each case must be evaluated on its unique circumstances and coded appropriately. Depending on the documentation in the medical record, either a code reflecting the acute condition or rehabilitation could be appropriate in a LTCH.

Since implementation of the LTCH PPS, our Medicare FIs have conducted training and provided assistance to LTCHs in correct coding. We have also issued manuals containing procedures, as well as coding instructions to LTCHs and FIs. We will continue to conduct training and provide guidance on an “as needed” basis. We also refer readers to the detailed discussion on correct coding practices in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 55981 through 55983). Additional coding instructions and examples will be published in the

Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM.

F. Method for Updating the LTC-DRG Relative Weights

As discussed in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule that implemented the LTCH PPS, under the LTCH PPS, each LTCH will receive a payment that represents an appropriate amount for the efficient delivery of care to Medicare patients (67 FR 55984). The system must be able to account adequately for each LTCH's case-mix to ensure both a fair distribution of Medicare payments and access to care for those Medicare patients whose care is more costly. Therefore, in § 412.523(c), we adjust the standard Federal PPS rate by the LTC-DRG relative weights in determining payment to LTCHs for each case.

Under this payment system, relative weights for each LTC-DRG are a primary element used to account for the variations in cost per discharge and resource utilization among the payment groups as described in § 412.515. To ensure that Medicare patients who are classified to each LTC-DRG have access to services and to encourage efficiency, we calculate a relative weight for each LTC-DRG that represents the resources needed by an average inpatient LTCH case in that LTC-DRG. For example, cases in a LTC-DRG with a relative weight of 2 will, on average, cost twice as much as cases in a LTC-DRG with a weight of 1.

As we discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule, the LTC-DRG relative weights effective under the LTCH PPS for Federal FY 2007 were calculated using the March 2006 update of FY 2005 MedPAR data and Version 24.0 of the GROUPER software (71 FR 47973). We use total days and total charges in the calculation of the LTC-DRG relative weights.

LTCHs often specialize in certain areas, such as ventilator-dependent patients and rehabilitation or wound care. Some case types (DRGs) may be treated, to a large extent, in hospitals that have (from a perspective of charges) relatively high (or low) charges. Distribution of cases with relatively high (or low) charges in specific LTC-DRGs has the potential to inappropriately distort the measure of average charges. To account for the fact that cases may not be randomly distributed across LTCHs, we use a hospital-specific relative value method to calculate relative weights. We believe this method removes this hospital-specific source of bias in measuring average charges. Specifically, we reduce the impact of the variation in charges across providers on any particular LTC-DRG relative weight by converting each LTCH's charge for a case to a relative value based on that LTCH's average charge. (See the FY 2007 IPPS final rule for further information on the application of the hospital-specific relative value methodology under the LTCH PPS (71 FR 47974 through 47975).)

To account for LTC-DRGs with low volume (that is, with fewer than 25 LTCH cases), we grouped those low volume LTC-DRGs into 1 of 5 categories (quintiles) based on average charges, for the purposes of determining relative weights. For FY 2007 based on the FY 2005 MedPAR data, we identified 180 LTC-DRGs that contained between 1 and 24 cases. This list of low volume LTC-DRGs was then divided into 1 of the 5 low volume quintiles, each containing 36 LTC-DRGs (180 / 5 = 36). Each of the low volume LTC-DRGs grouped to a specific quintile received the same relative weight and ALOS using the formula applied to the regular LTC-DRGs (25 or more cases). (See the FY 2007 IPPS final rule for further explanation of the development and composition of each of the 5 low volume quintiles for FY 2007 (71 FR 47975 through 47978).)

After grouping the cases in the appropriate LTC-DRG, we calculated the relative weights by first removing statistical outliers and cases with a LOS of 7 days or less. Next, we adjusted the number of cases remaining in each LTC-DRG for the effect of SSO cases under § 412.529. The short-stay adjusted discharges and corresponding charges were used to calculate “relative adjusted weights” in each LTC-DRG using the hospital-specific relative value method. We also adjusted the LTC-DRG relative weights to account for nonmonotonically increasing relative weights. That is, we made an adjustment if cases classified to the LTC-DRG “with CCs” of a “with CC”/“without CC” pair had a lower average charge than the corresponding LTC-DRG “without CCs” by assigning the same weight to both LTC-DRGs in the “with CC”/“without CC” pair. (See the FY 2007 IPPS final rule for further details on the steps for calculating the LTC-DRG relative weights (71 FR 47978 through 47984).)

In addition, of the 538 LTC-DRGs in the LTCH PPS for FY 2007, based on LTCH cases in the FY 2005 MedPAR files, we identified 183 LTC-DRGs for which there were no LTCH cases in the

database. That is, no patients who would have been classified to those DRGs were treated in LTCHs during FY 2005 and, therefore, no charge data were reported for those DRGs. Thus, in the process of determining the relative weights of LTC-DRGs, we were unable to determine weights for these 183 LTC-DRGs using the method described in this section of the preamble. However, since patients with a number of the diagnoses under these LTC-DRGs may be treated at LTCHs beginning in FY 2007, we assigned relative weights to each of the 183 “no volume” LTC-DRGs based on clinical similarity and relative costliness to one of the remaining 355 (538−183 = 355) LTC-DRGs for which we were able to determine relative weights, based on the FY 2005 claims data. (A list of the current no-volume LTC-DRGs and further explanation of their FY 2007 relative weight assignment can be found in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 47980 through 47984).)

Furthermore, for FY 2007, we established LTC-DRG relative weights of 0.0000 for heart, kidney, liver/intestinal, lung, simultaneous pancreas/kidney, and pancreas transplants (LTC-DRGs 103, 302, 480, 495, 512 and 513, respectively) because presently no LTCH meets the applicable requirements to perform Medicare covered transplant procedures. However, if in the future, a LTCH seeks to meet such requirements as a Medicare-approved transplant center to perform Medicare-covered transplant procedures, we believe that the application and approval procedure would allow sufficient time for us to propose appropriate weights for the LTC-DRGs affected. At the present time, we included these 6 transplant LTC-DRGs in the GROUPER software program for administrative purposes. As the LTCH PPS uses the same GROUPER software program for LTCHs as is used under the IPPS, removing these DRGs would be administratively burdensome.

As we noted previously in this proposed rule, there were no new ICD-9-CM code requests for an April 1, 2007 update. Therefore, Version 24.0 of the DRG GROUPER software established in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule will continue to be effective until October 1, 2007. Moreover, the LTC-DRGs and relative weights for FY 2007 established in Table 11 of that same IPPS final rule (71 FR 48321 through 48331) will continue to be effective until October 1, 2007, (just as they would have been even if there had been any new ICD-9-CM code requests for an April 1, 2007 update). Accordingly, Table 3 in Addendum A to this proposed rule lists the LTC-DRGs and their respective relative weights, geometric ALOS, and five-sixths of the geometric ALOS that we will continue to use for the period of July 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007. (This table is the same as Table 11 of the Addendum to the FY 2007 IPPS final rule.) The next update to the ICD-9-CM coding system will be presented in the FY 2008 IPPS proposed rule (since there will be no April 1, 2007 updates to the ICD-9-CM coding system). In addition, the proposed DRGs and GROUPER for FY 2008 that would be used for the IPPS and the LTCH PPS, effective October 1, 2007, will be presented in the IPPS FY 2008 proposed rule that will be published in the

Federal Register

.

IV. Proposed Changes to the LTCH PPS Payment Rates for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

[If you choose to comment on issues in this section, please include the caption “PROPOSED CHANGES TO LTCH PPS PAYMENT RATES FOR THE 2007 LTCH PPS RATE YEAR” at the beginning of your comments.]

A. Overview of the Development of the Payment Rates

The LTCH PPS was effective for a LTCH's first cost reporting period beginning on or after October 1, 2002. Effective with that cost reporting period, LTCHs are paid, during a 5-year transition period, a total LTCH prospective payment that is comprised of an increasing proportion of the LTCH PPS Federal rate and a decreasing proportion based on reasonable cost-based principles, unless the hospital makes a one-time election to receive payment based on 100 percent of the Federal rate as specified in § 412.533. New LTCHs (as defined at § 412.23(e)(4)) are paid based on 100 percent of the Federal rate, with no phase-in transition payments.

The basic methodology for determining LTCH PPS Federal prospective payment rates is set forth at § 412.515 through § 412.532. In this section, we discuss the proposed factors that would be used to update the LTCH PPS standard Federal rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year that would be effective for LTCH discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. When we implemented the LTCH PPS in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56029 through 56031), we computed the LTCH PPS standard Federal payment rate for FY 2003 by updating the best latest available (FY 1998 or FY 1999) Medicare inpatient operating and capital cost data, using the excluded hospital market basket.

Section 123(a)(1) of the BBRA requires that the PPS developed for LTCHs be budget neutral for the initial year of implementation. Therefore, in calculating the standard Federal rate under § 412.523(d)(2), we set total estimated LTCH PPS payments equal to estimated payments that would have been made under the reasonable cost-based payment methodology had the PPS for LTCHs not been implemented. Section 307(a) of the BIPA specified that the increases to the hospital-specific target amounts and the cap on the target amounts for LTCHs for FY 2002 provided for by section 307(a)(1) of the BIPA shall not be considered in the development and implementation of the LTCH PPS.

Furthermore, as specified at § 412.523(d)(1), the standard Federal rate is reduced by an adjustment factor to account for the estimated proportion of outlier payments under the LTCH PPS to total estimated LTCH PPS payments (8 percent). For further details on the development of the FY 2003 standard Federal rate, see the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56027 through 56037), and for subsequent updates to the LTCH PPS Federal rate, refer to the following final rules: RY 2004 LTCH PPS final rule (68 FR 34134 through 34140), RY 2005 LTCH PPS final rule (69 FR 25682 through 25684), RY 2006 LTCH PPS final rule (70 FR 24179 through 24180), and RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27819 through 27827).

B. LTCH PPS Market Basket

1. Overview of the RPL Market Basket

Historically, the Medicare program has used a market basket to account for price increases of the services furnished by providers. The market basket used for the LTCH PPS includes both operating and capital-related costs of LTCHs because the LTCH PPS uses a single payment rate for both operating and capital-related costs. The development of the LTCH PPS standard Federal rate, using the excluded hospital with capital market basket, is discussed in further detail in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56027 through 56033).

In the August 30, 2002 final rule (67 FR 56016 through 56017 and 56030), which implemented the LTCH PPS, we established the use of the excluded hospital with capital market basket as the LTCH PPS market basket. The excluded hospital with capital market basket was also used to update the limits on LTCHs' operating costs for inflation under the TEFRA reasonable cost-based payment system. We

explained that we believe the use of the excluded hospital with capital market basket to update LTCHs' costs for inflation was appropriate because the excluded hospital market basket (with a capital component) measures price increases of the services furnished by excluded hospitals, including LTCHs. For further details on the development of the excluded hospital with capital market basket, see the RY 2004 LTCH PPS final rule (68 FR 34134 through 34137).

In the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27810), we noted that based on our research, we did not develop a market basket specific to LTCH services. We are still unable to create a separate market basket specifically for LTCHs due to the small number of facilities and the limited amount of data that is reported (for instance, only approximately 15 percent of LTCHs reported contract labor cost data for 2002). In that same final rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of the BIPA, we adopted the “Rehabilitation, Psychiatric and Long-Term Care (RPL) market basket” as the appropriate market basket of goods and services under the LTCH PPS for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2006. Specifically, beginning with the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year, for the LTCH PPS, we adopted the use of the RPL market basket based on FY 2002 cost report data as it was the best available data. We choose to use the FY 2002 Medicare cost reports because these are the most recent, relatively complete cost data for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), and LTCHs.

The RPL market basket is determined based on the operating and capital costs of IRFs, IPFs and LTCHs. Since all IRFs are now paid under the IRF PPS Federal payment rate, nearly all LTCHs are paid 100 percent of the Federal rate under the LTCH PPS, and most IPFs are transitioning to payment based on 100 percent of the Federal per diem payment amount under the IPF PPS (payments to IPFs will be based exclusively on 100 percent of the Federal rate for cost reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2008), the RPL market basket reflects changes in the operating and capital costs for these hospitals. As we explained in that same final rule, we believe a market basket based on the data of IRFs, IPFs and LTCHs is appropriate to use under the LTCH PPS since it is the best available data that reflects the cost structures of LTCHs.

For further details on the development of the RPL market basket, including the methodology for determining the operating and capital portions of the RPL market basket, see the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27810 through 27817).

2. Proposed Market Basket Estimate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

Consistent with our historical practice, we estimate market basket increase based on Global Insight's forecast using the most recent available data. The most recent estimate of the RPL market basket for July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 (the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year), based on Global Insight's 3rd quarter 2006 forecast with history through the 2nd quarter of 2006, is 3.2 percent. Global Insight, Inc. is a nationally recognized economic and financial forecasting firm that contracts with CMS to forecast changes in the components of the market baskets. Consistent with our historical practice of using market basket estimates based on the most recent available data, we propose that if more recent data is available when we develop the final rule, we would use such data, if appropriate.

As discussed in greater detail in this section, for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year, we are proposing to update the standard Federal rate by 0.71 percent. The proposed update reflects an adjustment based on the most recent market basket estimate (currently 3.2 percent) and an adjustment to account for the increase in case-mix in the prior period (FY 2005) that resulted from changes in coding practices rather than an increase in patient severity. We are also proposing that if more recent data are available (for example, a more recent estimate of the market basket), we would use such data, if appropriate, to determine the RY 2008 update in the final rule and thus, the rate update noted in regulation text could change.

C. Proposed Standard Federal Rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

1. Background

At § 412.523(c)(3)(ii), for LTCH PPS rate years beginning RY 2004 through RY 2006, we updated the standard Federal rate to adjust for the most recent estimate of the projected increases in prices for LTCH inpatient hospital services. We established the policy of annually updating the standard Federal rate by the increase factor described in the RY 2004 LTCH PPS final rule (68 FR 34138) because at that time we believed that was the most appropriate method for updating the LTCH PPS standard Federal rate annually for years after FY 2003. When we moved the date of the annual update of the LTCH PPS from October 1 to July 1 in the RY 2004 LTCH PPS final rule (68 FR 34138), we revised § 412.523(c)(3) to specify that for LTCH PPS rate years beginning on or after July 1, 2003, the annual update to the standard Federal rate for the LTCH PPS would be equal to the previous rate year's Federal rate updated by the most recent estimate of increases in the appropriate market basket of goods and services included in covered inpatient LTCH services. We believed that was the most appropriate method for updating the LTCH PPS standard Federal rate annually for years after RY 2004. In the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27818), we established at § 412.523(c)(3)(iii) that the update to the standard Federal rate for the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year is zero percent. As discussed in that same final rule, we explained that rather than solely using the most recent estimate of the LTCH PPS market basket as the basis of the update factor for the Federal rate for RY 2007, we believed it was appropriate to adjust the rate to account for the changes in coding practices (rather than patient severity) as indicated by our ongoing monitoring activities.

Accordingly, we established the LTCH PPS standard Federal rate, effective from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 (the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year), at $38,086.04 (71 FR 27818). Additionally, in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS proposed rule (71 FR 4742 through 4747), we provided a description of a preliminary model of an update framework under the LTCH PPS. We received few comments on that update framework preliminary model. As discussed in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27818 through 27819 and 27902 through 27906), although we did not propose to adopt an analytical update framework, we continued to solicit comments on the framework based on the preliminary model, using the best available data and concepts, and we may propose to adopt a framework at some time in the future. We continue to be interested in comments and suggestions on the preliminary model of an update framework under the LTCH PPS that was present in Appendix A of the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27902 through 27906).

In the discussion that follows, we explain how we developed the proposed standard Federal rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year. Specifically, we explain our rationale, which is based on our ongoing monitoring activities, for proposing an annual update to the

standard Federal rate for RY 2008 that reflects an adjustment for the most recent market basket estimate and an adjustment to account for the increase in case-mix in a prior period (FY 2005) that resulted from changes in coding practices rather than an increase in patient severity.

2. Proposed Update to the Standard Federal Rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

Under § 412.523(c)(3)(ii), for RY 2004 through RY 2006, the annual update to the LTCH PPS standard Federal rate was equal to the most recent estimate of increases in the prices of an appropriate market basket of goods and services included in covered inpatient LTCH services. As noted above in this section, in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of BIPA to include appropriate adjustments in the establishment of the LTCH PPS, for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2006 and on or before June 30, 2007 (RY 2007), we specified at § 412.523(c)(3)(iii) that the standard Federal rate from the previous year would be updated by a factor of zero percent. That is, the standard Federal rate for the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year remained the same as the standard Federal rate in effect during the 2006 LTCH PPS rate year (July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006) (that is, $38,086.04).

As discussed in greater detail in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27819 through 27827), the update to the standard Federal rate for RY 2007 was determined based on the estimate of the LTCH PPS market basket and an analysis of LTCH case-mix, in conjunction with a review of LTCHs' margins and our ongoing LTCH monitoring activities. Specifically, from our CMI analysis, we calculated the observed CMI increase between FY 2003 and FY 2004 (6.75 percent) and determined that a significant portion of the 6.75 percent increase in CMI between FY 2003 and FY 2004 is due to changes in coding practices, which we define as “apparent” increase in case-mix, rather than the treatment of more resource intensive patients. We also noted that the large observed increase in LTCH case-mix was not accompanied by a corresponding increase in Medicare costs. Finally, we noted in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27826 through 27827) that although the most recent update of the market basket discussed in that final rule is 0.2 percent lower than the estimate of the market basket discussed in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS proposed rule, we believed that finalizing a zero percent update to the Federal rate for RY 2007 was appropriate for several reasons. First, we did not believe that there was a significant difference between the most recent estimates of the market basket for RY 2007 (3.4 percent) and the estimate used in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS proposed rule (3.6 percent). Furthermore, there could be some minimal variation in how much of the observed case-mix increase represents real case-mix changes. Finally, because the proposed update for RY 2007 at § 412.523(c)(3)(iii) explicitly specified that the RY 2007 standard Federal rate would be the previous LTCH PPS rate year updated by an update factor of zero percent, we believe some commenters may not have been aware that the final update for RY 2007 could have been different than (that is, greater than or less than) zero percent. Thus, we believed that the best approach was to adopt an update factor of zero percent in the final rule for RY 2007, which reflected both the market basket estimate and an adjustment to account for the increase in case-mix in a prior period (FY 2004) that resulted from changes in coding practices rather than an increase in patient severity. In that same final rule (71 FR 27821), we stated that the revision to § 412.523(c)(3) only addressed an update to the LTCH PPS Federal rate for the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year (§ 412.523(c)(3)(iii)), and that we would propose future revisions to § 412.523(c)(3) to address future proposed updates to the LTCH PPS Federal rates in future rate years based on an analysis of the most recent available LTCH data.

In determining the proposed update to the standard Federal rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year, we again performed a CMI analysis using the most recent available LTCH claims data and found the observed CMI increase between FY 2004 and FY 2005 to be 3.49 percent. We believe that there is still some component of apparent CMI increase within the observed CMI increase of 3.49 percent that is due to coding practices rather than the treatment of more resource intensive patients (real CMI increase). Therefore, we believe it is appropriate to propose an adjustment to the market basket update for RY 2008 to account for the apparent CMI increase for a subsequent prior period (that is, CMI increase due to changes in coding practices during FY 2005). As discussed in detail in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27819 through 27827), in determining the update to the LTCH PPS Federal rate for RY 2007, we used 2.75 percent as the proxy for “real” CMI change during RY 2004. We noted in that same final rule (71 FR 27822) that we were aware of a well-established RAND Corporation (RAND) study [“Has DRG Creep Crept Up? Decomposing the Case-Mix Index Change Between 1987 and 1988” by G. M. Carter, J. P. Newhouse, and D. A. Relles, R-4098-HCFA/ProPAC (1991)]. Based upon such study, we determined that real case-mix change for IPPS hospitals was a fairly steady 1.0 and 1.4 percent per year. We also noted that in updating IPPS rates, we have consistently assumed that real case-mix change was between 1.0 to 1.4 percent per year, which is a more conservative estimate of real case-mix increase than the 2.75 percent used in determining the update to the Federal rate for RY 2007 (71 FR 27822). However, we explained that we believed at the time it was appropriate to utilize the estimate of 2.75 percent as a proxy for real CMI increase in determining the update for RY 2007 rather than the estimates based on the RAND study (71 FR 27819 through 27827). We believe it is appropriate to factor the impact of moving from a reasonable cost-based (TEFRA) payment system to a PPS into our CMI analysis for RY 2007. In determining the update for RY 2007, we measured the observed CMI increase from FY 2003 (the year LTCHs began transitioning to PPS payments from reasonable cost-based payments) to FY 2004 (the first full year after implementation of the LTCH PPS). Under the reasonable cost-based payment system, there was little incentive for LTCHs to attempt to influence payments through changes in coding practices. Under the former reasonable cost-based payment system, a LTCH's payments were limited on the costs per discharge of its patients in a base year updated. Since payment was based on the resource use of a particular mix of patients in the base year, there may have been reluctance on the part of LTCHs, in subsequent years, to accept more resource-intensive patients than those patients they treat in their base year. In contrast, under the LTCH PPS, payment is DRG-based. Payments are dependent on the DRG to which a patient is assigned as determined by the patient's diagnosis. Therefore, a LTCH could treat higher severity patients with the expectation that payment will be determined based on the hospital case mix in the current year and without the concern, under the former payment system, that its costs for those more resource intensive patients would be limited by the cost per discharge limits

that were established by its patient mix in its base year. Immediately following the transition to the LTCH PPS, a LTCH could receive payment for treating patients with higher severity that require more intensive resources, which would have caused the LTCH to exceed its set limit under the TEFRA system. Therefore, we expected that in the first full year following implementation of the LTCH PPS, LTCHs would take advantage of this change and treat more severe patients. Accordingly, we believe that it is reasonable to assume that the real CMI increase in that first full year after implementation of the LTCH PPS would be somewhat higher than the 1.0 to 1.4 percent annual increase.

Thus, in the CMI analysis conducted for RY 2007 based on case mix data from FY 2003 to FY 2004, we used 2.75 percent as the proxy for the real CMI increase component of the total 6.75 percent observed CMI increase. (For a more detailed discussion on the 2.75 percent proxy for real CMI increase, refer to the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27819 through 27827).)

Consequently for RY 2007, by removing the real CMI increase component (2.75 percent) from the observed CMI increase (6.75 percent), the apparent CMI increase from FY 2003 to FY 2004 was estimated to be 4.0 percent (6.75−2.75 = 4.0). The rate for RY 2007 was offset by 3.4 percent to account for the changes in coding practices that do not reflect increased severity of LTCH patients (which accounts for the fact that we have already included a 0.34 percent behavioral offset in establishing the initial LTCH PPS Federal rate). For further information on the update to the Federal rate for RY 2007, see the RY 2007 final rule (71 FR 27819 through 27827).

For this proposed rule, the CMI analysis performed in determining the proposed Federal rate update for RY 2008 is based on the observed CMI increase from FY 2004 to FY 2005 (the first and second full years of the LTCH PPS, respectively). We believe that as the LTCH PPS matured and LTCHs have become more familiar with the DRG-based payment system, it is more appropriate to utilize the estimate of real case-mix increase (1.0 percent to 1.4 percent) based on the RAND study that is typically found in acute care hospitals under the IPPS. Furthermore, an analysis of the most recent available LTCH claims data shows a steady decrease in the observed CMI from year to year since FY 2003 (the observed CMI change between FY 2003 and FY 2004 is 6.75 percent, between FY 2004 and FY 2005 is 3.49 percent, and between FY 2005 and FY 2006 is estimated to be 1.9 percent), which suggests that both apparent and real components of CMI are decreasing as the LTCH PPS matures. Given the estimated 1.9 percent observed CMI increase for FY 2006, it appears that it is inappropriate to assume a constant annual real case mix of 2.75 percent.

Therefore, for periods beyond the first full year of the LTCH PPS, we believe it is no longer appropriate to use such a generous estimate of real CMI. (Many LTCHs have cost reporting periods beginning in August and thus were not paid under the LTCH PPS until August 2003. For those hospitals, the first full year of the LTCH PPS was during FY 2004.) While the well-established “real” case-mix parameters based on the RAND study are based on IPPS data, we believe they are appropriate to apply under the LTCH PPS for the reasons explained below in this section. However, we are soliciting comments on other data sources that could be used to determine a proxy for real LTCH PPS case-mix change other than the 1.0 to 1.4 percent per year case-mix parameters based on the RAND study. As we have discussed numerous times in previous LTCH PPS proposed and final rules, acute care hospitals paid under the IPPS and LTCHs paid under the LTCH PPS have much in common. Hospitals paid under both systems are required to meet the same certification criteria set forth in section 1861(e) of the Act to participate as a hospital in the Medicare program. LTCHs are certified as acute care hospitals but are classified as LTCHs for payment purposes solely because such hospitals generally have an inpatient ALOS of greater than 25 days (as set forth in section 1886(d)(1)(B)(iv)(I) of the Act). Furthermore, the LTCH PPS uses the same patient classification system that is used under the IPPS, and several LTCH PPS payment policies, such as the area wage adjustment (§ 412.525(c)), COLA for Alaska and Hawaii (§ 412.525(b)), and high cost outlier (HCO) policy (§ 412.525(a)) are modeled after the similar IPPS policies.

Therefore, we believe it is appropriate to propose utilizing the estimate of real CMI increase based on the RAND study of 1.0 percent as the proxy for the portion of the observed 3.49 percent CMI increase from FY 2004 to FY 2005 that represents real CMI changes for use in determining the proposed RY 2008 Federal rate update. We propose to use the more conservative 1.0 percent (rather than the 1.4 percent) as a proxy for real CMI increase because it is consistent with what is used under the IPPS and we believe the similarities between LTCHs and acute care hospitals are significant as we explained previously. (For a more detailed discussion on the 1.0 percent for real CMI increase utilized in the IPPS, see the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48156 through 48158), and the FY 1994 IPPS proposed rule (58 FR 30444).) Accordingly, since the observed CMI change for FY 2005 is estimated at 3.49 percent (based on the most recent available LTCH case-mix data from FY 2004 compared to FY 2005), accounting for the real CMI change of 1.0 percent, we believe that 2.49 percent (3.49 − 1.0 = 2.49) of that increase reflects CMI increase that is due to changes in coding practices (rather than patient severity).

As we discussed in greater detail in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27819 through 27827), while we continue to believe that an update to the LTCH PPS Federal rate year should be based on the most recent estimate of the LTCH PPS market basket, we believe it appropriate that the rate be offset by an adjustment to account for changes in coding practices that do not reflect increased patient severity. Such an adjustment protects the integrity of the Medicare Trust Funds by ensuring that the LTCH PPS payment rates better reflect the true costs of treating LTCH patients (71 FR 27798 through 27820). Therefore, in determining the proposed RY 2008 update to the LTCH PPS Federal rate, we believe it is appropriate to apply an adjustment to eliminate the effect of coding or classification changes in a prior period (FY 2005) that do not reflect real changes in LTCHs' case-mix. Specifically, the proposed case-mix adjustment in determining the proposed RY 2008 Federal rate is meant to reduce current payments to account for the increase in payments in FY 2005 that resulted from the CMI increase that was attributable to the apparent case-mix increase in that year. As was the case when we determined the RY 2007 update factor, this adjustment would be necessary to account for payments that were made based on improved coding (rather than increased patient severity) in prior years. Therefore, in this proposed rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of the BIPA to include appropriate adjustments, including updates, in the establishment of the LTCH PPS, we are proposing to revise § 412.523(c)(3), to specify that, for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2007 and on or before June 30, 2008, the standard Federal rate from the previous year would be updated by 0.71 percent, which is based on the most recent market basket estimate (3.2 percent)

adjusted by the apparent CMI (2.49 percent) due to changes in coding practice rather than an increase in patient severity. As explained above in this section, the proposed update factor for RY 2008 is based on the most recent estimate of the LTCH PPS market basket offset by an adjustment to account for changes in case-mix in prior periods due to changes in coding practices rather than increased patient severity. We note that the proposed update factor of 0.71 percent is higher than the zero percent update recommended by the MedPAC for RY 2008 (MedPAC Public Meeting, January 9, 2007, Meeting Transcript pp. 225-226). We are soliciting comments on a possible zero percent update to the standard Federal rate for RY 2008.

Furthermore, since we are proposing to use the most recent estimates of the market basket and CMI increase in the prior period (FY 2005) for calculating the update factor to the LTCH PPS Federal rate, we note that at the time the analysis must be performed for the final rule, we will consider comments received on this proposed rule and would also use the most recent estimates available at that time, if appropriate, which may be different from the data we are using in this proposed rule. Therefore, the proposed update factor applied to the standard Federal rate may change in the final rule. Consequently, the update factor in the regulation text would change accordingly.

At this time, the most recent estimate of the LTCH PPS market basket is 3.2 percent, and the most recent estimate of apparent CMI increase in the prior period (FY 2005), that is, case-mix increase due to changes in coding practices, is 2.49 percent. Therefore, we are proposing that the RY 2008 update factor to the LTCH PPS Federal rate would be an estimated 0.71 percent (3.2 − 2.49 = 0.71), which reflects the proposed adjustment to the most recent market basket estimate and accounts for the increase in case-mix in the prior period that resulted from changes in coding practices rather than an increase in patient severity. Accordingly, under the same broad authority conferred upon the Secretary under the BBRA and the BIPA referenced above in this section, we are proposing to specify under § 412.523(c)(3)(iv), that, for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2007 and on or before June 30, 2008, the standard Federal rate from the previous year would be updated by 0.71 percent, determined based on an adjustment to the most recent estimate of the market basket to account for case-mix increase in the prior period (FY 2005) that is due to changes in coding practices rather than patient severity.

3. Proposed Standard Federal Rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

In the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27827), we established a standard Federal rate of $38,086.04 for the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year that was based on the best available data and policies established in that final rule. In this proposed rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of the BIPA, we are proposing an annual update to the standard Federal rate for RY 2008 that reflects an adjustment for the most recent market basket estimate and an adjustment to account for the increase in case-mix in a prior period (FY 2005) that resulted from changes in coding practices rather than an increase in patient severity. Therefore, based on the proposed update factor for RY 2008 of 0.71 percent, the proposed standard Federal rate for RY 2008 would be $38,356.45. Since the proposed standard Federal rate for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year has already been adjusted for differences in case-mix, wages, COLAs, and HCO payments, we are not proposing to make any additional adjustments in the proposed standard Federal rate for these factors. Finally, we propose that if more recent data becomes available, we would use that data, if appropriate, to determine the update to the standard Federal rate for the RY 2008 final rule.

D. Calculation of Proposed LTCH Prospective Payments for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

The basic methodology for determining prospective payment rates for LTCH inpatient operating and capital-related costs is set forth in § 412.515 through § 412.532. In accordance with § 412.515, we assign appropriate weighting factors to each LTC-DRG to reflect the estimated relative cost of hospital resources used for discharges within that group as compared to discharges classified within other groups. The amount of the prospective payment is based on the standard Federal rate, established under § 412.523, and adjusted for the LTC-DRG relative weights, differences in area wage levels, COLA in Alaska and Hawaii, HCOs, and other special payment provisions (SSOs under § 412.529 and interrupted stays under § 412.531).

In accordance with § 412.533, during the 5-year transition period, which is currently in its final year for LTCH cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006 (FY 2007), a total LTCH PPS payment was based on the applicable transition blend percentage of the adjusted Federal rate and a percentage based on reasonable cost principles unless the LTCH made a one-time election to receive payment based on 100 percent of the Federal rate. In the final year of the 5-year transition period, which begins with LTCH cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006, as specified at § 412.533, a total LTCH PPS payment is based on 100 percent of the Federal rate. A LTCH defined as “new” under § 412.23(e)(4) is paid based on 100 percent of the Federal rate with no blended transition payments as specified in § 412.533(d). As discussed in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56038), the applicable transition blends are set forth in § 412.533(a).

Accordingly, for cost reporting periods that began during FY 2006 (that is, on or after October 1, 2005 and on or before September 30, 2006), blended payments under the transition methodology are based on 20 percent of the LTCH's rate based on reasonable cost principles and 80 percent of the adjusted LTCH PPS Federal rate. For cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006 (FY 2007), Medicare payment to LTCHs are determined entirely (100 percent) under the LTCH PPS Federal rate.

1. Proposed Adjustment for Area Wage Levels

a. Background

Under the authority of section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of the BIPA, we established an adjustment to the LTCH PPS Federal rate to account for differences in LTCH area wage levels at § 412.525(c). The labor-related share of the LTCH PPS Federal rate, currently estimated by the FY 2002-based RPL market basket (as discussed in greater detail in section IV.D.1.c. of this preamble), is adjusted to account for geographic differences in area wage levels by applying the applicable LTCH PPS wage index. The applicable LTCH PPS wage index is computed using wage data from inpatient acute care hospitals without regard to reclassification under sections 1886(d)(8) or 1886(d)(10) of the Act. Furthermore, as we discussed in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56015), we established a 5-year transition to the full wage adjustment. The applicable wage index phase-in percentages are based on the start of a LTCH's cost reporting period as shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Cost reporting periods beginning on or after

Phase-in percentage of the full wage index

October 1, 2002

1/5

(20 percent).

October 1, 2003

2/5

(40 percent).

October 1, 2004

3/5

(60 percent).

October 1, 2005

4/5

(80 percent).

October 1, 2006

5/5

(100 percent).

For example, for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2005 and on or before September 30, 2006 (FY 2006), the applicable LTCH wage index value is four-fifths of the applicable full LTCH PPS wage index value. The wage index adjustment will be completely phased-in beginning with cost reporting periods beginning in FY 2007, that is, for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006, the applicable LTCH wage index value will be the full (five-fifths) LTCH PPS wage index value. Therefore, the majority of LTCHs are currently receiving either the four-fifths or full (five-fifths) LTCH PPS wage index value. As we established in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56018), the applicable full LTCH PPS wage index value is calculated from acute-care hospital inpatient wage index data without taking into account geographic reclassification under sections 1886(d)(8) and (d)(10) of the Act.

b. Geographic Classifications/Labor Market Area Definitions

As discussed in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule, which implemented the LTCH PPS (67 FR 56015 through 56019), in establishing an adjustment for area wage levels under § 412.525(c), the labor-related portion of a LTCH's Federal prospective payment is adjusted by using an appropriate wage index based on the labor market area in which the LTCH is located. In the 2006 LTCH PPS rate year final rule (70 FR 24184 through 24185), in § 412.525(c), we revised the labor market area definitions used under the LTCH PPS effective for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2005 based on the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) designations based on 2000 Census data because we believe that those new labor market area definitions will ensure that the LTCH PPS wage index adjustment most appropriately accounts for and reflects the relative hospital wage levels in the geographic area of the hospital as compared to the national average hospital wage level. As set forth in § 412.525(c)(2), a LTCH's wage index is determined based on the location of the LTCH in an urban or rural area as defined in § 412.64(b)(1)(ii)(A) through (C). An urban area under the LTCH PPS is defined at § 412.64(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (B). In general, an urban area is defined as a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as defined by the OMB. (In addition, a few counties located outside of MSAs are considered urban as specified at § 412.64(b)(1)(ii)(B).) Under § 412.64(b)(1)(ii)(C), a rural area is defined as any area outside of an urban area.

We note that these are the same CBSA-based designations implemented for acute care inpatient hospitals under the IPPS at § 412.64(b) effective October 1, 2004 (69 FR 49026 through 49034). For further discussion of the labor market area (geographic classification) definitions used under the LTCH PPS, see the 2006 LTCH PPS rate year final rule (70 FR 24182 through 24191).

c. Proposed Labor-Related Share

In the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56016), we established a labor-related share of 72.885 percent based on the relative importance of the labor-related share of operating costs (wages and salaries, employee benefits, professional fees, postal services, and all other labor-intensive services) and capital costs of the excluded hospital with capital market basket based on FY 1992 data.

As we discussed in LTCH PPS final rules subsequent to the FY 2003 LTCH PPS final rule in which we established the original LTCH PPS labor-related share (68 FR 34142, 69 FR 25685 through 25686, and 70 FR 24182), once our research into the labor-related share methodology was complete, we would update the IPPS and excluded hospital labor-related shares based on that research and the best available data if necessary. Accordingly, we conducted analysis of our labor share methodology, which was completed prior to the development of the RY 2007 LTCH PPS proposed and final rules. In the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27829), we updated the LTCH PPS labor-related share based on the FY 2002-based RPL market basket (discussed in section IV.B. of this preamble) because we believe that this market basket was developed based on the best available data that reflect the cost structures of LTCHs.

Consistent with our historical practice, the labor-related share currently used under the LTCH PPS is determined by identifying the national average proportion of operating costs and capital costs that are related to, influenced by, or vary with the local labor market. Specifically, in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27829 through 27832), we revised the LTCH PPS labor-related share from 72.885 percent (as established in the August 30, 2002 final rule (67 FR 56016) based on the FY 1997-based excluded hospital with capital market basket) to 75.665 percent based on the relative importance of the labor-related share of operating costs (wages and salaries, employee benefits, professional fees, and all other labor-intensive services) and capital costs of the proposed RPL market basket based on FY 2002 data from the first quarter of 2006.

As discussed in section IV.B.2. of this preamble, we now have data from the 3rd quarter of 2006 (with history through the 2nd quarter of 2006) available for determining the labor-related share of the FY 2002-based RPL market basket. Based on this more recent data, in this proposed rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of the BIPA, consistent with our historical practice of determining the labor-related share by identifying the national average proportion of operating costs and capital costs that are related to, influenced by, or varies with the local labor market, we are proposing to revise the LTCH PPS labor-related share from 75.665 percent to 75.511 percent based on the relative importance of the labor-related share of operating costs (wages and salaries, employee benefits, professional fees, and all other labor-intensive services) and capital costs of the FY 2002-based RPL market basket from the third quarter of 2006, as shown in Table 2. The labor-related share is the sum of the relative importance of wages and salaries, fringe benefits, professional fees, labor-intensive services, and a portion of the capital share from an appropriate market basket. In this proposed rule, for RY 2008, we are proposing to use the FY 2002-based RPL market basket costs based on data from the 3rd quarter of 2006 to determine the labor-related share for the LTCH PPS effective for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2007, as this is the most recent available data. The labor-related share for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year would continue to be the sum of the relative importance of each labor-related cost category, and would reflect the different rates of price change for these cost categories between the base year (FY 2002) and the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year. Consistent with our historical practice of using the best data available, if more recent data are available to determine the labor-related share of the RPL market basket (used under the

LTCH PPS), we propose to use it for determining the labor-related share for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year in the final rule.

Based on the most recent available data, we are proposing that the sum of the relative importance for 2008 LTCH PPS rate year for operating costs (wages and salaries, employee benefits, professional fees, and labor-intensive services) would be 71.484, as shown in Table 2. The portion of capital that is influenced by the local labor market is still estimated to be 46 percent, which is the same percentage used when we established the current labor-related share in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule. Since, based on the most recent available data, the relative importance for capital would be 8.754 percent of the FY 2002-based RPL market basket for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year, we are proposing to multiply the estimated portion of capital influenced by the local labor market (46 percent) by the relative importance for capital (8.754 percent) to determine the proposed labor-related share of capital for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year. The result would be 4.027 percent (0.46 × 8.754 percent), which we would add to the proposed 71.484 percent for the operating cost amount to determine the proposed total labor-related share for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year. Thus, based on the latest available data, we are proposing to use a labor-related share of 75.511 percent (71.484 percent + 4.027 percent) under the LTCH PPS for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year. As noted above in this section, this proposed labor-related share is determined using the same methodology as employed in calculating the current LTCH labor-related share (71 FR 27830) and the labor-related shares used under the IRF PPS and IPF PPS, which also use the RPL market basket.

Table 2 shows the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year relative importance labor-related share of the FY 2002-based RPL market basket (established in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule) and the proposed 2008 LTCH PPS rate year relative importance labor-related share of the FY 2002-based RPL market basket.

Table 2.—RY 2007 Labor-Related Share Relative Importance and Proposed RY 2008 Labor-Related Share Relative Importance of the FY 2002-Based RPL Market Basket

Cost category

RY 2007

relative

importance

*

Proposed RY 2008 relative importance

Wages and Salaries

52.506

52.359

Employee Benefits

14.042

14.095

Professional fees

2.886

2.899

All other labor intensive services

2.152

2.131

Subtotal

71.586

71.484

Labor share of capital costs

4.079

4.027

Total Labor-related share

75.665

75.511

*

As established in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27830).

**

Other labor intensive services includes landscaping services, services to buildings, detective and protective services, repair services, laundry services, advertising, auto parking and repairs, physical fitness facilities, and other government enterprises.

d. Proposed Wage Index Data

In the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27830 through 27831), we established LTCH PPS wage index values for the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year calculated from the same data (generated in cost reporting periods beginning during FY 2002) used to compute the FY 2006 acute care hospital inpatient wage index data without taking into account geographic reclassification under sections 1886(d)(8) and (d)(10) of the Act because that was the best available data at that time. The LTCH wage index values applicable for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 are shown in Table 1 (for urban areas) and Table 2 (for rural areas) in the Addendum to the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27906 through 27930). Acute care hospital inpatient wage index data are also used to establish the wage index adjustment used in the IRF PPS, HHA PPS, and SNF PPS. As we discussed in the August 30, 2002 LTCH PPS final rule (67 FR 56019), since hospitals that are excluded from the IPPS are not required to provide wage-related information on the Medicare cost report and because we would need to establish instructions for the collection of this LTCH data to establish a geographic reclassification adjustment under the LTCH PPS, the wage adjustment established under the LTCH PPS is based on a LTCH's actual location without regard to the urban or rural designation of any related or affiliated provider.

In this proposed rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of BIPA to determine appropriate adjustments under the LTCH PPS, we are proposing that, for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year, the same data (generated in cost reporting periods beginning during FY 2003) used to compute the FY 2007 acute care hospital inpatient wage index data without taking into account geographic reclassification under sections 1886(d)(8) and (d)(10) of the Act would be used to determine the applicable wage index values under the LTCH PPS because these data (FY 2003) are the most recent complete data. We are proposing to continue to use IPPS wage data as a proxy to determine the proposed LTCH wage index values for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year because both LTCHs and acute-care hospitals are required to meet the same certification criteria set forth in section 1861(e) of the Act to participate as a hospital in the Medicare program and they both compete in the same labor markets, and, therefore, experience similar wage-related costs. These data are the same FY 2003 acute care hospital inpatient wage data that were used to compute the FY 2007 wage indices currently used under the IPPS, skilled nursing facility (SNF) PPS and home health agency (HHA) PPS. The proposed LTCH wage index values that would be applicable for discharges occurring on or after July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008, are shown in Table 1 (for urban areas) and Table 2 (for rural areas) in Addendum A to this proposed rule.

As discussed in section IV.D.1.a. of this preamble, the applicable wage index phase-in percentages are based on the start of a LTCH's cost reporting

period beginning on or after October 1st of each year during the 5-year transition period. Thus, cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2005 and before October 1, 2006 (FY 2006), the labor-related portion of the standard Federal rate is adjusted by four-fifths of the applicable LTCH wage index value. The wage index adjustment will be completely phased-in beginning with cost reporting periods beginning in FY 2007. That is, for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 2006, the labor-related portion of the standard Federal rate is adjusted by the full (five-fifths) applicable LTCH wage index value.

Because the phase-in of the wage index does not coincide with the LTCH PPS rate year (July 1st through June 30th), most LTCHs will experience a change in the wage index phase-in percentages during the LTCH PPS rate year. For example, during the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year, for a LTCH with a September 1st fiscal year, the four-fifths wage index will be applicable for the first 2 months of the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year (July 1, 2007 through August 31, 2007) and the full (five-fifths) wage index will be applicable for the next 10 months of the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year (September 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008). For the remainder of such a LTCH's FY 2006 cost reporting periods, which coincides with the first 2 months of RY 2008, the applicable wage index value would be four-fifths of the full FY 2007 acute-care hospital inpatient wage index data, without taking into account geographic reclassification under sections 1886(d)(8) and (d)(10) of the Act (as shown in Tables 1 and 2 in Addendum A to this proposed rule). Beginning with this LTCH's FY 2007 cost reporting period that will begin during RY 2008, the applicable wage index value would be the full (five-fifths) FY 2007 acute care hospital inpatient wage index data, without taking into account geographic reclassification under sections 1886(d)(8) and (d)(10) of the Act (as shown in Tables 1 and 2 in Addendum A to this proposed rule). We note that since there are no longer any LTCHs in their cost reporting periods that began during FY 2003 through FY 2005 (the first three years of the 5-year wage index phase-in), we are no longer showing the 1/5th, 2/5ths and 3/5ths wage index values in Tables 1 and 2 in Addendum A to this proposed rule.

2. Proposed Adjustment for Cost-of-Living in Alaska and Hawaii

In the August 30, 2002 final rule (67 FR 56022), we established, under § 412.525(b), a COLA for LTCHs located in Alaska and Hawaii to account for the higher costs incurred in those States. In the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27832), for the 2007 LTCH PPS rate year, we established a COLA to payments for LTCHs located in Alaska and Hawaii by multiplying the standard Federal payment rate by the appropriate factor listed in Table 8 of that same final rule.

Similarly, in this proposed rule, under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of BIPA to determine appropriate adjustments under the LTCH PPS, for the 2008 LTCH PPS rate year we are proposing a COLA to payments to LTCHs located in Alaska and Hawaii by multiplying the proposed standard Federal payment rate by the proposed factors listed in Table 3 because these are currently the most recent available data. These proposed factors are obtained from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and are currently used under the IPPS. In addition, we propose that if OPM releases revised COLA factors before March 1, 2007, we would use them for the development of the payments for the 2008 LTCH rate year and publish them in the LTCH PPS final rule.

Table 3.—Proposed Cost-of-Living Adjustment Factors for Alaska and Hawaii Hospitals for the 2008 LTCH PPS Rate Year

Alaska:

All areas

1.25

Hawaii:

Honolulu County

1.25

Hawaii County

1.165

Kauai County

1.2325

Maui County

1.2375

Kalawao County

1.2375

3. Proposed Adjustment for High-Cost Outliers (HCOs)

a. Background

Under the broad authority conferred upon the Secretary by section 123 of the BBRA as amended by section 307(b) of BIPA, in the regulations at § 412.525(a), we established an adjustment for additional payments for outlier cases that have extraordinarily high costs relative to the costs of most discharges. Providing additional payments for outliers strongly improves the accuracy of the LTCH PPS in determining resource costs at the patient and hospital level. These additional payments reduce the financial losses that would otherwise be incurred when treating patients who require more costly care and, therefore, reduce the incentives to underserve these patients. We set the outlier threshold before the beginning of the applicable rate year so that total estimated outlier payments are projected to equal 8 percent of total estimated payments under the LTCH PPS. Outlier payments under the LTCH PPS are determined consistent with the IPPS outlier policy.

Under § 412.525(a), we make outlier payments for any discharges if the estimated cost of a case exceeds the adjusted LTCH PPS payment for the LTC-DRG plus a fixed-loss amount. The fixed-loss amount is the amount used to limit the loss that a hospital will incur under the outlier policy for a case with unusually high costs. This results in Medicare and the LTCH sharing financial risk in the treatment of extraordinarily costly cases. Under the LTCH PPS HCO policy, the LTCH's loss is limited to the fixed-loss amount and a fixed percentage of costs above the outlier threshold (LTCH DRG payment plus the fixed loss amount) determined by the marginal cost factor. We calculate the estimated cost of a case by multiplying the overall hospital cost-to-charge ratio (CCR) by the Medicare allowable covered charge. In accordance with § 412.525(a)(3), we pay outlier cases 80 percent of the difference between the estimated cost of the patient case and the outlier threshold (the sum of the adjusted Federal prospective payment for the LTC-DRG and the fixed-loss amount).

Under the LTCH PPS, we determine a fixed-loss amount, that is, the maximum loss that a LTCH can incur under the LTCH PPS for a case with unusually high costs before the LTCH will receive any additional payments. We calculate the fixed-loss amount by estimating aggregate payments with and without an outlier policy. The fixed-loss amount will result in estimated total outlier payments being projected to be equal to 8 percent of projected total LTCH PPS payments. Currently, MedPAR claims data and CCRs based on data from the most recent provider specific file (PSF) (or to the applicable Statewide average CCR if a LTCH's CCR data are faulty or unavailable) are used to establish a fixed-loss threshold amount under the LTCH PPS.

b. Cost-to-Charge Ratios (CCRs)

In determining outlier payments, we calculate the estimated cost of the case by multiplying the LTCH's overall CCR by the Medicare allowable charges for the case. As we discussed in greater detail in the June 9, 2003 IPPS HCO final rule (68 FR 34506 through 34516), because the LTCH PPS HCO policy at § 412.525 is modeled after the IPPS

outlier policy, we believed that it and the SSO policy at § 412.529 are susceptible to the same payment vulnerabilities that became evident under the IPPS and, therefore, merited revision. Thus, we revised the HCO policy at § 412.525(a) and the SSO policy at § 412.529 in that same final rule for the determination of LTCHs' CCRs and the reconciliation of outlier payments.

Under the LTCH PPS, a single prospective payment per discharge is made for both inpatient operating and capital-related costs, and, therefore, we compute a single “overall” or “total” CCR for LTCHs based on the sum of their operating and capital costs (as described in Chapter 3, section 150.24, of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual (CMS Pub. 100-4)) as compared to total charges. Specifically, a LTCH's CCR is calculated by dividing a LTCH's total Medicare costs (that is, the sum of its operating and capital inpatient routine and ancillary costs) by its total Medicare charges (that is, the sum of its operating and capital inpatient routine and ancillary charges). (Instructions regarding the changes established in the June 9, 2003 IPPS HCO final rule for both LTCHs and IPPS hospitals can be found in Transmittal A-03-058 (Change Request 2785; July 3, 2003).)

As a result of the changes established in the June 9, 2003 IPPS HCO final rule, as we discussed in the RY 2007 LTCH PPS final rule (71 FR 27832 through 27833) and the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48119 through 48121), a LTCH is assigned the applicable Statewide average CCR if, among other things, a LTCH's CCR is found to be in excess of the applicable maximum CCR threshold (that is, the LTCH CCR ceiling). As we explained in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48117), CCRs above this threshold are most likely due to faulty data reporting or entry, and, therefore, these CCRs should not be used to identify and make payments for outlier cases. Such data are clearly errors and should not be relied upon. Thus, under our established policy, if a LTCH's CCR is above the applicable ceiling, the applicable LTCH PPS Statewide average CCR is assigned to the LTCH instead of the CCR computed from its most recent (settled or tentatively settled) cost report data.

Under § 412.525(a)(4)(ii), for discharges occurring on or after August 8, 2003, and before October 1, 2006, we determined the applicable LTCH PPS Statewide average CCRs using the “combined” IPPS operating and capital Statewide average CCRs (that is, adding the separate IPPS operating and capital CCRs together to determine the LTCH PPS Statewide average CCRs).

Also, under § 412.525(a)(4)(ii), for discharges occurring on or after August 8, 2003, and before October 1, 2006, if a LTCH's CCR is above the applicable “combined” IPPS operating and capital ceiling (that is, adding the separate IPPS operating and capital CCR ceiling together), the applicable Statewide average CCR may be assigned to the LTCH.

As we explained in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48117 through 48121), we revised our methodology for determining the annual CCR ceiling and Statewide average CCRs under the LTCH PPS because we believe that those changes are consistent with the LTCH PPS single payment rate for inpatient operating and capital costs. Therefore, under the broad authority of section 123 of the BBRA and section 307(b)(1) of BIPA, in that same final rule, we revised our methodology used to determine the LTCH CCR ceiling. For discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2006, we established that the LTCH CCR ceiling specified under § 412.525(a)(4)(iv)(C)(

2

) is calculated as three standard deviations above the corresponding national geometric mean total CCR (established and published annually by CMS). (The FI may use a Statewide average CCR if, among other things, a LTCH's CCR is in excess of the LTCH CCR ceiling.) The LTCH total CCR ceiling is determined based on IPPS CCR data, by first calculating the “total” (that is, operating and capital) IPPS CCR for each hospital and then determining the average “total” IPPS CCR for all IPPS hospitals. (Our rationale for using IPPS hospital data is discussed in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48117) and reiterated below in this section.) The LTCH CCR ceiling is then established at 3 standard deviations from the corresponding national geometric mean total CCR. (For further detail on our methodology for annually determining the LTCH CCR ceiling, refer to the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48117 through 48119).) We also established that the LTCH “total” CCR ceiling used under the LTCH PPS will continue to be published annually in the IPPS proposed and final rules, and the public should continue to consult the annual IPPS proposed and final rules for changes to the LTCH total CCR ceiling that would be effective for discharges occurring on or after October 1 each year. Accordingly, in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48119), we established a FY 2007 LTCH PPS total CCR ceiling of 1.321, effective for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2006.

In addition, under the broad authority of section 123 of the BBRA and section 307(b)(1) of BIPA, we revised our methodology to determine the Statewide average CCRs under § 412.525(a)(4)(iv)(C) for use under the LTCH PPS in a manner similar to the way we compute the “total” CCR ceiling using IPPS CCR data (71 FR 48120). Specifically, under this revised methodology we first calculate the total (that is, operating and capital) CCR for each IPPS hospital. We then calculate the weighted average “total” CCR for all IPPS hospitals in the rural areas of the State and the weighted average “total” CCR for all IPPS hospitals in the urban areas of the State. (For further detail on our methodology for annually determining the LTCH urban and rural Statewide average CCRs, refer to the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48119 through 48121).) We also established that the applicable Statewide average “total” (operating and capital) CCRs used under the LTCH PPS will continue to be published annually in the IPPS proposed and final rules, and the public should continue to consult the annual IPPS proposed and final rules for changes to the applicable Statewide average total CCRs that would be effective for discharges occurring on or after October 1 each year. Accordingly, in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48122), the FY 2007 LTCH PPS Statewide average total CCRs for urban and rural hospitals, effective for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2006, were presented in Table 8C of the Addendum of that final rule (71 FR 48303).

As we explained in the FY 2007 IPPS final rule (71 FR 48117), we continue to believe it is appropriate to use IPPS operating and capital CCRs to compute the LTCH total CCR ceiling and the Statewide average CCRs because LTCHs' cost and charge structures are similar to that of IPPS acute-care hospitals. For instance, LTCHs are certified as acute care hospitals, as set forth in section 1861(e) of the Act to participate as a hospital in the Medicare program, and these hospitals, in general, are paid as LTCHs only because their Medicare ALOS is greater than 25 days as specified in § 412.23(e). Furthermore, prior to qualifying as a LTCH under § 412.23(e)(2)(i), a hospital generally is paid as an acute-care hospita

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