Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Extension of Comment Period

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Parts 409, 410, 411, 413, 424, 483, and 489

[HCFA-1913-N]

RIN 0938-AI47

Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated

Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Extension of Comment Period

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period for interim final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for an interim final

rule with comment period that was published in the Federal Register on

May 12, 1998 (63 FR 26252). That interim final rule implements

provisions in section 4432 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 related

to Medicare payment for skilled nursing facility services. Those

include the implementation of a Medicare prospective payment system for

skilled nursing facilities, consolidated billing, and a number of

related changes. The comment period is extended for 60 days.

DATES: The comment period is extended to 5 p.m. on September 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments (one original and three copies) to the

following address: Health Care Financing Administration, Department of

Health and Human Services, Attention: HCFA-1913-IFC, P.O. Box 26688,

Baltimore, MD 21207-0488.

If you prefer, you may deliver your written comments (one original

and three copies) to one of the following addresses: Room 309-G, Hubert

H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, ashington, DC 20201,

or Room C5-09-26, Central Building, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore,

MD 21244-1850.

Because of staffing and resource limitations, we cannot accept

comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission. In commenting, please refer

to file code HCFA-1913-IFC. Comments received timely will be available

for public inspection as they are received, generally beginning

approximately 3 weeks after publication of a document, in Room 309-G of

the Department's offices at 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,

DC, on Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(phone: (202) 690-7890).

For comments that relate to information collection requirements,

mail a copy of comments to: Office of Information and Regulatory

Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10235, New Executive

Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, Attn: Allison Herron Eydt, HCFA

Desk Officer.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurence Wilson, (410) 786-4603 (for

general information). John Davis, (410) 786-0008 (for information

related to the Federal rates). Dana Burley, (410) 786-4547 (for

information related to the case-mix classification methodology). Steve

Raitzyk, (410) 786-4599 (for information related to the facility-

specific transition payment rates). Bill Ullman, (410) 786-5667 (for

information related to consolidated billing and related provisions).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 12, 1998, we issued an interim final

rule with comment period in the Federal Register (63 FR 26252) that

implements provisions in section 4432 of the Balanced Budget Act of

1997 related to Medicare payment for skilled nursing facility services.

Those include the implementation of a Medicare prospective payment

system for skilled nursing facilities, consolidated billing, and a

number of related changes. We indicated that comments would be

considered if we received them by July 13, 1998.

Because of the complexity and scope of the interim final rule and

because numerous members of the industry and professional associations

have requested more time to analyze the potential consequences of the

rule, we have decided to extend the comment period for an additional 60

days. This document announces the extension of the public comment

period to September 11, 1998.

Authority: Secs. 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act.

(42 U.S.C. 1302 and 1395hh).

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,

Medicare--Hospital Insurance; Program No. 93.774, Medicare--

Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

[[Page 37499]]

Dated: June 30, 1998.

Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,

Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

Dated: July 9, 1998.

Donna E. Shalala,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-18746 Filed 7-10-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P