80 FR 60069 - Medicare Program; FY 2016 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements; Correction

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 192 (October 5, 2015)

Page Range		60069-60070
FR Document		2015-25267

This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the final rule published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2014 entitled ``Medicare Program; FY 2016 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements.''

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 192 (Monday, October 5, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 192 (Monday, October 5, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60069-60070]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25267]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Part 418

[CMS-1629-CN]
RIN 0938-AS39


Medicare Program; FY 2016 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate 
Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements; Correction

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

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the 
final rule published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2014 entitled 
``Medicare Program; FY 2016 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update 
and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements.''

DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Ventura, (410) 786-1985. 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In FR Doc. 2015-19033 of August 6, 2015 (80 FR 47142), there were a 
number of technical errors that are identified and corrected in the 
Correction of Errors section below. The provisions in this correction 
document are effective as if they had been included in the document 
published August 6, 2015. Accordingly, the corrections are effective 
October 1, 2015.

II. Summary of Errors

    On page 47182, we inadvertently listed the incorrect hourly rate 
for continuous home care. We listed $38.67 instead of $38.59. On page 
47203, we referenced Table H1 instead of Table 29. In addition, on page 
47205, we referenced Table H2 instead of Table 30. This notice corrects 
theses errors.

III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    We ordinarily publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register to provide a period for public comment before the 
provisions of a rule take effect in accordance with section 553(b) of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). However, we 
can waive this notice and comment

[[Page 60070]]

procedure if the Secretary finds, for good cause, that the notice and 
comment process is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the 
public interest, and incorporates a statement of the finding and the 
reasons therefore in the notice.
    Section 553(d) of the APA ordinarily requires a 30-day delay in 
effective date of final rules after the date of their publication in 
the Federal Register. This 30-day delay in effective date can be 
waived; however, if an agency finds for good cause that the delay is 
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and the 
agency incorporates a statement of the findings and its reasons in the 
rule issued.

IV. Correction of Errors

    In FR Doc. 2015-19033 of August 6, 2015 (80 FR 47142), make the 
following corrections:
    1. On page 47182, in Table 25--``FY 2016 Hospice Payment Rates For 
CHC, IRC, and GIP For Hospices That Do Not Submit The Required Quality 
Data,'' for Code 652, in the ``Description'' column, the figure 
``38.67'' is corrected to read ``38.59''.
    2. On page 47203, in the third column, in the first full paragraph, 
first line, the reference to ``Table H1'' is corrected to read ``Table 
29''.
    3. On page 47205, in the second column, third line, the reference 
to ``Table H2'' is corrected to read ``Table 30''.

    Dated: September 30, 2015.
Madhura Valverde,
Executive Secretary to the Department, Department of Health and Human 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-25267 Filed 9-30-15; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE 4120-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 192 / Monday, October 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 60069

TABLE III—COMPARISON OF TOTAL PAYMENTS PER CASE—Continued
[FY 2015 payments compared to FY 2016 payments]

Average Average
Number of FY 2015 FY 2016 Change
hospitals payments/case payments/case

Teaching and no DSH ....................................................................... 122 899 920 2.3
No teaching and DSH ....................................................................... 1,066 780 797 2.3
No teaching and no DSH .................................................................. 433 797 816 2.4
Rural Hospital Types:
Non special status hospitals .............................................................. 2,562 904 926 2.4
RRC/EACH ........................................................................................ 189 729 737 1.1
SCH/EACH ........................................................................................ 327 665 672 1.1
SCH, RRC and EACH ....................................................................... 126 721 733 1.6
Hospitals Reclassified by the Medicare Geographic Classification Review
Board:
FY 2016 Reclassifications:
All Urban Reclassified ....................................................................... 551 923 949 2.8
All Urban Non-Reclassified ............................................................... 1,925 902 922 2.2
All Rural Reclassified ........................................................................ 279 623 634 1.8
All Rural Non-Reclassified ................................................................. 504 545 551 1.2
Other Reclassified Hospitals (Section 1886(d)(8)(B) of the Act) ...... 46 600 589 ¥1.9
Type of Ownership:
Voluntary ........................................................................................... 1,934 884 904 2.3
Proprietary ......................................................................................... 879 785 803 2.3
Government ....................................................................................... 529 917 938 2.4
Medicare Utilization as a Percent of Inpatient Days:
0–25 ................................................................................................... 533 1,046 1,074 2.7
25–50 ................................................................................................. 2,134 876 896 2.3
50–65 ................................................................................................. 571 717 731 2.0
Over 65 .............................................................................................. 97 523 534 2.1

13. On page 49840, third column, Dated: September 30, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
third paragraph: Madhura Valverde, Sharon Ventura, (410) 786–1985.
a. Line 11, the figure ‘‘$378’’ is Executive Secretary to the Department, HospicePolicy@cms.hhs.gov.
Department of Health and Human Services. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
corrected to read ‘‘$391’’.
[FR Doc. 2015–25269 Filed 9–30–15; 4:15 pm]
b. Line 23, the figure ‘‘$75’’ is I. Background
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P
corrected to read ‘‘$88’’. In FR Doc. 2015–19033 of August 6,
c. Line 33, the figure ‘‘$75’’ is 2015 (80 FR 47142), there were a
corrected to read ‘‘$88’’. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND number of technical errors that are
d. Line 34, the figure ‘‘$85’’ is HUMAN SERVICES identified and corrected in the
corrected to read ‘‘$98’’. Correction of Errors section below. The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid provisions in this correction document
e. Line 39, the figure ‘‘$187’’ is Services are effective as if they had been
corrected to read ‘‘$188’’. included in the document published
f. Line 43, the figure ‘‘$272’’ is 42 CFR Part 418 August 6, 2015. Accordingly, the
corrected to read ‘‘$285’’. [CMS–1629–CN]
corrections are effective October 1,
2015.
14. On page 49841, first column:
RIN 0938–AS39
a. Third paragraph, line 3, the figure II. Summary of Errors
‘‘$272’’ is corrected to read ‘‘$285’’. Medicare Program; FY 2016 Hospice On page 47182, we inadvertently
b. In the table titled ‘‘Table V— Wage Index and Payment Rate Update listed the incorrect hourly rate for
Accounting Statement: Classification of and Hospice Quality Reporting continuous home care. We listed $38.67
Estimated Expenditures Under the IPPS Requirements; Correction instead of $38.59. On page 47203, we
From FY 2015 to FY 2016’’, the first referenced Table H1 instead of Table 29.
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare &
In addition, on page 47205, we
entry is corrected as follows: Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
referenced Table H2 instead of Table 30.
ACTION: Final rule; correction. This notice corrects theses errors.
TABLE V—ACCOUNTING STATEMENT:
CLASSIFICATION OF ESTIMATED EX- SUMMARY: This document corrects III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking
PENDITURES UNDER THE IPPS technical errors that appeared in the We ordinarily publish a notice of
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

FROM FY 2015 TO FY 2016 final rule published in the Federal proposed rulemaking in the Federal
Register on August 6, 2014 entitled Register to provide a period for public
Category Transfers ‘‘Medicare Program; FY 2016 Hospice comment before the provisions of a rule
Wage Index and Payment Rate Update take effect in accordance with section
Annualized Monetized Transfers ¥$285 mil- and Hospice Quality Reporting 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure
lion. Requirements.’’ Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). However,
DATES: Effective Date: October 1, 2015. we can waive this notice and comment

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60070 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 192 / Monday, October 5, 2015 / Rules and Regulations

procedure if the Secretary finds, for SUMMARY: This document corrects index values, beginning in row 1240 of
good cause, that the notice and technical errors in the final rule that Table A. Therefore, we eliminated the
comment process is impracticable, appeared in the Federal Register on additional, erroneous values beyond
unnecessary, or contrary to the public August 4, 2015 entitled ‘‘Medicare row 1238 of the table posted to the CMS
interest, and incorporates a statement of Program; Prospective Payment System Web site.
the finding and the reasons therefore in and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Additionally, Table B posted to the
the notice. Nursing Facilities (SNFs) for FY 2016, CMS Web site, which provides the non-
Section 553(d) of the APA ordinarily SNF Value-Based Purchasing Program, urban wage index values by state had
requires a 30-day delay in effective date SNF Quality Reporting Program, and Column A mislabeled as ‘‘CBSA’’ while
of final rules after the date of their Staffing Data Collection.’’ it should have read ‘‘State Code’’ and
publication in the Federal Register. DATES: This document is effective Column B mislabeled as ‘‘Urban Area’’
This 30-day delay in effective date can October 1, 2015. while it should have read ‘‘Non-urban
be waived; however, if an agency finds FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Area’’. Therefore, in Table B, the header
for good cause that the delay is Kane, (410) 786–0557, for information for Column A has been changed from
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary ‘‘CBSA’’ to ‘‘State Code’’ and the header
related to SNF PPS. Charlayne Van,
to the public interest, and the agency for Column B has been changed from
(410) 786–8659, for information related
incorporates a statement of the findings ‘‘Urban Area’’ to ‘‘Non-Urban Area’’.
to SNF QRP. In addition, on page 49492 of the FY
and its reasons in the rule issued. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 2016 hospital inpatient prospective
IV. Correction of Errors I. Background payment system (IPPS) final rule (80 FR
In FR Doc. 2015–19033 of August 6, 49325, August 17, 2015), the estimated
In FR Doc. 2015–18950 of August 4,
2015 (80 FR 47142), make the following percentage change in the employment
2015 (80 FR 46389), there were a
corrections: cost index (ECI) for compensation for
number of technical errors that are
1. On page 47182, in Table 25—‘‘FY the 30-day increment after March 14,
identified and corrected in section IV of 2013, and before April 15, 2013, for
2016 Hospice Payment Rates For CHC, this correcting document. The
IRC, and GIP For Hospices That Do Not private industry hospital workers from
provisions in this correcting document the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS’)
Submit The Required Quality Data,’’ for are effective as if they had been
Code 652, in the ‘‘Description’’ column, ‘‘Compensation and Working
included in the document that appeared Conditions’’ was inadvertently
the figure ‘‘38.67’’ is corrected to read on August 4, 2015 in the Federal
‘‘38.59’’. miscalculated. The ECI is used to adjust
Register (hereinafter referred to as the a hospital’s wage data to calculate the
2. On page 47203, in the third FY 2016 SNF PPS final rule).
column, in the first full paragraph, first wage index, and is based on the
Accordingly, the corrections are midpoint of a cost reporting period.
line, the reference to ‘‘Table H1’’ is effective October 1, 2015.
corrected to read ‘‘Table 29’’. This technical error necessitated
3. On page 47205, in the second II. Summary of Errors recalculation of the pre-reclassified
column, third line, the reference to unadjusted and occupational mix
A. Summary of Errors in the Preamble adjusted wage indexes and Geographic
‘‘Table H2’’ is corrected to read ‘‘Table
30’’. On pages 46436, 46437, 46439, 46450 Adjustment Factors (GAFs) of certain
and 46452 we inadvertently made core-based statistical areas (CBSAs).
Dated: September 30, 2015. typographical and other technical This error is identified, discussed and
Madhura Valverde, errors. corrected in the Medicare Program;
Executive Secretary to the Department, On pages 46400 and 46405, where we Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment
Department of Health and Human Services. provide a link to the CMS Web site Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and
[FR Doc. 2015–25267 Filed 9–30–15; 4:15 pm] listing the wage index for FY 2016, we the Long Term Care Hospital
BILLING CODE 4120–01–P inadvertently omitted reference to Table Prospective Payment System Policy
B. These pages are being corrected to Changes and Fiscal Year 2016 Rates;
state that the wage index applicable for Revisions of Quality Reporting
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FY 2016 is set forth in Tables A and B Requirements for Specific Providers,
HUMAN SERVICES available on the CMS Web site. including Changes Related to the
Electronic Health Record Incentive
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid B. Summary of Errors in and Corrections Program; Extensions of the Medicare-
Services to Tables Posted on the CMS Web Site Dependent, Small Rural Hospital
In Table A setting forth the Wage Program and the Low-Volume Payment
42 CFR Part 483 Index for Urban Areas Based on CBSA Adjustment for Hospitals; Correction
[CMS–1622–CN]
Labor Market Areas, which is available that appears elsewhere in this issue of
exclusively on the CMS Web site at the Federal Register.
RIN 0938–AS44 http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/ This error affected the adjustment
Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/ factor applied to four hospitals with FY
Medicare Program; Prospective SNFPPS/WageIndex.html, following the 2013 cost reporting periods that have
Payment System and Consolidated complete list of correct wage index midpoints after March 14, 2013 and
Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for values, we inadvertently included a before April 15, 2013, which in turn
FY 2016, SNF Value-Based Purchasing number of additional, erroneous values affected the wage index values for these
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES

Program, SNF Quality Reporting in the final wage index table. The hospitals and the areas in which they
Program, and Staffing Data Collection; version of Table A that was initially are located. One of these hospitals is
Correction posted to the CMS Web site on July 30, geographically located in non-urban
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & 2015 correctly included all of the final Arkansas (State Code 04), two hospitals
Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. wage index values for all CBSAs in rows are geographically located in non-urban
1 through 1238, but also inadvertently Maine (State Code 20), and one urban
ACTION: Final rule; correction.
included some of the proposed wage hospital is located in Maine (CBSA

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 08:52:42
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 08:52:42

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Rules and Regulations
Action		Final rule; correction.
Contact		Sharon Ventura, (410) 786-1985. [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 60069
RIN Number		0938-AS39

80 FR 60069 - Medicare Program; FY 2016 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements; Correction

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESCenters for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 192 (October 5, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services