Medicare Program; Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System-Update for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2014 (FY 2015)

As Enacted ( Federal Register)

Cited authorities 12

Cited in

Federal Register, Volume 79 Issue 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)

Federal Register Volume 79, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)

Proposed Rules

Pages 26039-26090

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2014-10306

Page 26039

Vol. 79

Tuesday,

No. 87

May 6, 2014

Part III

Department of Health and Human Services

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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

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42 CFR Part 412

Medicare Program; Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System--Update for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2014 (FY 2015); Proposed Rule

Page 26040

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Part 412

CMS-1606-P

RIN 0938-AS08

Medicare Program; Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System--Update for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2014 (FY 2015)

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

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposed rule would update the prospective payment rates for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs). These changes would be applicable to IPF discharges occurring during the fiscal year (FY) beginning October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. This proposed rule would also address implementation of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes; propose a new methodology for updating the cost of living adjustment (COLA), and propose new quality measures and reporting requirements under the IPF quality reporting program.

DATES: To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below, no later than 5 p.m. on June 30, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothy Myrick or Jana Lindquist, (410) 786-4533, for general information.

Hudson Osgood, (410) 786-7897 or Bridget Dickensheets, (410) 786-

8670, for information regarding the market basket and labor-related share.

Theresa Bean, (410) 786-2287, for information regarding the regulatory impact analysis.

Rebecca Kliman, (410) 786-9723 or Jeffrey Buck, (410) 786-0407, for information regarding the inpatient psychiatric facility quality reporting program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

To assist readers in referencing sections contained in this document, we are providing the following table of contents.

Executive Summary

A. Purpose

B. Summary of the Major Provisions

C. Summary of Transfers
Background

A. Annual Requirements for Updating the IPF PPS

B. Overview of the Legislative Requirements of the IPF PPS

C. General Overview of the IPF PPS
Changing the IPF PPS Payment Rate Update Period From a Rate Year to a Fiscal Year
Proposed Market Basket for the IPF PPS

A. Background

B. Proposed Development of an IPF-Specific Market Basket

C. Proposed FY 2015 Market Basket Update

D. Proposed Labor-Related Share
Proposed Updates to the IPF PPS for FY Beginning October 1, 2014

A. Determining the Standardized Budget-Neutral Federal Per Diem Base Rate

B. Proposed Update of the Federal Per Diem Base Rate and Electroconvulsive Therapy Rate
Proposed Update of the IPF PPS Adjustment Factors

A. Overview of the IPF PPS Adjustment Factors

B. Proposed Patient-Level Adjustments

1. Proposed Adjustment for MS-DRG Assignment

2. Proposed Payment for Comorbid Conditions

3. Proposed Patient Age Adjustments

4. Proposed Variable Per Diem Adjustments

C. Facility-Level Adjustments

1. Proposed Wage Index Adjustment

a. Background

b. Proposed Wage Index for FY 2015

c. OMB Bulletins

2. Proposed Adjustment for Rural Location

3. Proposed Teaching Adjustment

a. FTE Intern and Resident Cap Adjustment

b. Temporary Adjustment to the FTE Cap To Reflect Residents Added Due to Hospital Closure

c. Temporary Adjustment to FTE Cap To Reflect Residents Affected By Residency Program Closure

i. Receiving IPF

ii. IPF That Closed Its Program

4. Proposed Cost of Living Adjustment for IPFs Located in Alaska and Hawaii

5. Proposed Adjustment for IPFs With a Qualifying Emergency Department (ED)

D. Other Payment Adjustments and Policies

1. Proposed Outlier Payments

a. Proposed Update to the Outlier Fixed Dollar Loss Threshold Amount

b. Proposed Update to IPF Cost-to-Charge Ratio Ceilings

2. Future Refinements
Secretary's Recommendations
Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting Program
Collection of Information Requirements
Response to Comments
Regulatory Impact Analysis

Addenda

Acronyms

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

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

CBSA--Core-Based Statistical Area

CCR--Cost-to-Charge Ratio

CAH--Critical Access Hospital

DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition--Text Revision

DRGs--Diagnosis-Related Groups

FY--Federal Fiscal Year (October 1 through September 30)

ICD-9-CM--International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification

ICD-10-CM--International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification

ICD-10-PCS--International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System

IPFs--Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities

IPFQR--Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting

IRFs--Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

LTCHs--Long-Term Care Hospitals

MAC--Medicare Administrative Contractor

MedPAR--Medicare Provider Analysis and Review File

RPL--Rehabilitation, Psychiatric, and Long-Term Care

RY--Rate Year (July 1 through June 30)

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

248)
Executive Summary

A. Purpose

This proposed rule would update the prospective payment rates for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities for discharges occurring during the fiscal year (FY) beginning October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015.

B. Summary of the Major Provisions

In this proposed rule, we would update the IPF PPS, as specified in 42 CFR 412.428. The updates include the following:

The FY 2008-based Rehabilitation, Psychiatric, and Long Term Care (RPL) market basket update (currently estimated to be 2.7 percent) would be adjusted by a 0.3 percentage point reduction as required by section 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) of the Social Security Act (the Act) and a reduction for economy-wide productivity (currently estimated to be 0.4 percentage point) as required by 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act.

The FY 2015 per diem rate would be updated from $713.19 to $727.67.

The electroconvulsive therapy payment would be updated from $307.04 to $313.27.

The fixed dollar loss threshold amount would be updated from $10,245 to $10,125 in order to maintain outlier payments that are 2 percent of total IPF PPS payments.

The national urban and rural cost-to-charge ratio (CCR) ceilings for FY

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2015 would be 1.7049 and 1.8823, respectively, and the national median CCR would be 0.6220 for rural IPFs and 0.4700 for urban IPFs. These amounts are used in the outlier calculation to determine if an IPF's CCR is statistically accurate and for new providers without an established CCR.

The cost of living adjustment factors for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii would be updated using the approach finalized in the FY 2014 inpatient hospital prospective payment system (IPPS) final rule (78 FR 50985 through 50987).

In addition:

We are proposing the ICD-10-CM/PCS codes that would be eligible for the MS-DRG and comorbidity payment adjustments under the IPF PPS. The effective date of those changes would be the date when ICD-10-CM becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims.

We are proposing the ICD-9-CM/PCS codes that would be eligible for the MS-DRG and comorbidity payment adjustments under the IPF PPS.

We would use the best available hospital wage index and establish the wage index budget-neutrality adjustment of 1.0003.

We would retain the 17 percent payment adjustment for IPFs located in rural areas, the 1.31 payment adjustment factor for IPFs with a qualifying emergency department, the coefficient value of 0.5150 for the teaching adjustment, and the MS-DRG adjustment factors and comorbidity adjustment factors currently being paid to IPFs in FY 2014.

C. Summary of Impacts

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Provision description Total transfers

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FY 2015 IPF PPS payment rate The overall economic impact of this

update. proposed rule is an estimated $100

million in increased payments to

IPFs during FY 2015.

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Provision description Costs

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New quality reporting program The total costs in FY 2015 for IPFs

requirements. as a result of the proposed new

quality reporting requirements are

estimated to be $33,372,508.

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Background

A. Annual Requirements for Updating the IPF PPS

In November 2004, we implemented the inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) in a final rule that appeared in the November 15, 2004 Federal Register (69 FR 66922). In developing the IPF PPS, in order to ensure that the IPF PPS is able to account adequately for each IPF's case-mix, we performed an extensive regression analysis of the relationship between the per diem costs and certain patient and facility characteristics to determine those characteristics associated with statistically significant cost differences on a per diem basis. For characteristics with statistically significant cost differences, we used the regression coefficients of those variables to determine the size of the corresponding payment adjustments.

In that final rule, we explained that we believe it is important to delay updating the adjustment factors derived from the regression analysis until we have IPF PPS data that include as much information as possible regarding the patient-level characteristics of the population that each IPF serves. Therefore, we indicated that we did not intend to update the regression analysis and the patient- and facility-level adjustments until we complete that analysis. Until that analysis is complete, we stated our intention to publish a notice in the Federal Register each spring to update the IPF PPS (71 FR 27041). We have begun the necessary analysis to make refinements to the IPF PPS using more current data to set the adjustment factors, however, we are not proposing those refinements in this proposed rule. Rather, as explained in section V.D.3 of this proposed rule, we expect that in future rulemaking, possibly for FY 2017, we will be ready to propose potential refinements.

In the May 6, 2011 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 26432), we changed the payment rate update period to a rate year (RY) that coincides with a fiscal year (FY) update. Therefore, update notices are now published in the Federal Register in the summer to be effective on October 1. When proposing changes in IPF payment policy, a proposed rule would be issued in the spring and the final rule in the summer in order to be effective on October 1. For further discussion on changing the IPF PPS payment rate update period to a RY that coincides with a FY, see the IPF PPS final rule published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2011 (76 FR 26434 through 26435). For a detailed list of updates to the IPF PPS, see 42 CFR 412.428.

Our most recent IPF PPS annual update occurred in an August 1, 2013, Federal Register notice (78 FR 46734) (hereinafter referred to as the August 2013 IPF PPS notice) that set forth updates to the IPF PPS payment rates for FY 2014. That notice updated the IPF PPS per diem payment rates that were published in the August 2012 IPF PPS notice (77 FR 47224) in accordance with our established policies.

B. Overview of the Legislative Requirements for the IPF PPS

Section 124 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA) (Pub. L. 106-113) required the establishment and implementation of an IPF PPS. Specifically, section 124 of the BBRA mandated that the Secretary develop a per diem PPS for inpatient hospital services furnished in psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units including an adequate patient classification system that reflects the differences in patient resource use and costs among psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units.

Section 405(g)(2) of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (Pub. L. 108-173) extended the IPF PPS to distinct part psychiatric units of critical access hospitals (CAHs).

Section 3401(f) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Pub. L. 111-148) as amended by section 10319(e) of that Act and by section 1105(d) of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-152) (hereafter referred to as ``the Affordable Care Act'') added subsection (s) to section 1886 of the Act.

Section 1886(s)(1) of the Act titled ``Reference to Establishment and Implementation of System'' refers to section 124 of the BBRA, which relates to the establishment of the IPF PPS.

Section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act requires the application of the productivity adjustment described in

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section 1886(b)(3)(B)(xi)(II) of the Act to the IPF PPS for the RY beginning in 2012 (that is, a RY that coincides with a FY) and each subsequent RY. For the RY beginning in 2014 (that is, FY 2015), the current estimate of the productivity adjustment would be equal to 0.4 percentage point, which we are proposing in this FY 2015 proposed rule.

Section 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act requires the application of an ``other adjustment'' that reduces any update to an IPF PPS base rate by percentages specified in section 1886(s)(3) of the Act for the RY beginning in 2010 through the RY beginning in 2019. For the RY beginning in 2014 (that is, FY 2015), section 1886(s)(3)(C) of the Act requires the reduction to be 0.3 percentage point. We are proposing that reduction in this FY 2015 IPF PPS proposed rule.

Section 1886(s)(4) of the Act requires the establishment of a quality data reporting program for the IPF PPS beginning in RY 2014. We proposed and finalized new requirements for quality reporting for IPFs in the ``Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Fiscal Year 2014 Rates'' proposed rule published on May 10, 2013 (78 FR 27486, 27734 through 27744) and final rule published on August 19, 2013 (78 FR 50496, 50887 through 50903).

To implement and periodically update these provisions, we have published various proposed and final rules in the Federal Register. For more information regarding these rules, see the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/InpatientPsychFacilPPS/.

C. General Overview of the IPF PPS

The November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66922) established the IPF PPS, as required by section 124 of the BBRA and codified at subpart N of part 412 of the Medicare regulations. The November 2004 IPF PPS final rule set forth the per diem Federal rates for the implementation year (the 18-month period from January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006), and provided payment for the inpatient operating and capital costs to IPFs for covered psychiatric services they furnish (that is, routine, ancillary, and capital costs, but not costs of approved educational activities, bad debts, and other services or items that are outside the scope of the IPF PPS). Covered psychiatric services include services for which benefits are provided under the fee-for-service Part A (Hospital Insurance Program) of the Medicare program.

The IPF PPS established the Federal per diem base rate for each patient day in an IPF derived from the national average daily routine operating, ancillary, and capital costs in IPFs in FY 2002. The average per diem cost was updated to the midpoint of the first year under the IPF PPS, standardized to account for the overall positive effects of the IPF PPS payment adjustments, and adjusted for budget-neutrality.

The Federal per diem payment under the IPF PPS is comprised of the Federal per diem base rate described above and certain patient- and facility-level payment adjustments that were found in the regression analysis to be associated with statistically significant per diem cost differences.

The patient-level adjustments include age, DRG assignment, comorbidities, and variable per diem adjustments to reflect higher per diem costs in the early days of an IPF stay. Facility-level adjustments include adjustments for the IPF's wage index, rural location, teaching status, a cost-of-living adjustment for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii, and the presence of a qualifying emergency department (ED).

The IPF PPS provides additional payment policies for: Outlier cases; interrupted stays; and a per treatment adjustment for patients who undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). During the IPF PPS mandatory 3-year transition period, stop-loss payments were also provided; however, since the transition ended in 2008, these payments are no longer available.

A complete discussion of the regression analysis that established the IPF PPS adjustment factors appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66933 through 66936).

Section 124 of the BBRA did not specify an annual rate update strategy for the IPF PPS and was broadly written to give the Secretary discretion in establishing an update methodology. Therefore, in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule, we implemented the IPF PPS using the following update strategy:

Calculate the final Federal per diem base rate to be budget-neutral for the 18-month period of January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.

Use a July 1 through June 30 annual update cycle.

Allow the IPF PPS first update to be effective for discharges on or after July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
Changing the IPF PPS Payment Rate Update Period From a Rate Year to a Fiscal Year

Prior to RY 2012, the IPF PPS was updated on a July 1 through June 30 annual update cycle. Effective with RY 2012, we switched the IPF PPS payment rate update from a rate year that begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 to a period that coincides with a fiscal year. In order to transition from a RY to a FY, the IPF PPS RY 2012 covered a 15-month period from July 1 through September 30. As proposed and finalized, after RY 2012, the rate year update period for the IPF PPS payment rates and other policy changes begin on October 1 through September 30. Therefore, the update cycle for FY 2015 will be October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015.

For further discussion of the 15-month market basket update for RY 2012 and changing the payment rate update period from a RY to a FY, we refer readers to the RY 2012 IPF PPS proposed rule (76 FR 4998) and the RY 2012 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 26432).
Proposed Market Basket for the IPF PPS

A. Background

The input price index (that is, the market basket) that was used to develop the IPF PPS was the Excluded Hospital with Capital market basket. This market basket was based on 1997 Medicare cost report data and included data for Medicare participating IPFs, inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs), long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), cancer hospitals, and children's hospitals. Although ``market basket'' technically describes the mix of goods and services used in providing hospital care, this term is also commonly used to denote the input price index (that is, cost category weights and price proxies combined) derived from that market basket. Accordingly, the term ``market basket'' as used in this document refers to a hospital input price index.

Beginning with the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27046 through 27054), IPF PPS payments were updated using a FY 2002-based market basket reflecting the operating and capital cost structures for IRFs, IPFs, and LTCHs (hereafter referred to as the Rehabilitation, Psychiatric, and Long-Term Care (RPL) market basket).

We excluded cancer and children's hospitals from the RPL market basket because these hospitals are not reimbursed through a PPS; rather, their payments are based entirely on reasonable costs subject to rate-of-increase limits established under the authority of section 1886(b) of the Act, which are implemented in regulations at Sec. 413.40. Moreover, the FY 2002 cost structures for cancer and children's hospitals are noticeably different than the cost structures of the IRFs, IPFs, and

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LTCHs. A complete discussion of the FY 2002-based RPL market basket appears in the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27046 through 27054).

In the RY 2012 IPF PPS proposed rule (76 FR 4998) and final rule (76 FR 26432), we proposed and finalized the use of a rebased and revised FY 2008-based RPL market basket to update IPF payments.

B. Development of an IPF-Specific Market Basket

In the May 1, 2009 IPF PPS notice (74 FR 20362), we expressed our interest in exploring the possibility of creating a stand-alone, or IPF-specific market basket that reflects the cost structures of only IPF providers. We noted that, of the available options, one would be to join the Medicare cost report data from freestanding IPF providers with data from hospital-based IPF providers. We indicated that an examination of the Medicare cost report data comparing freestanding and hospital-based IPFs revealed considerable differences between the two with respect to cost levels and cost structures. At that time, we stated that we were unable to fully explain the differences in costs between freestanding and hospital-based IPF providers. As a result, we felt that further research was required and we solicited public comments for additional information that might help explain the reasons for the variations in costs and cost structures, as indicated by the cost report data (74 FR 20376). We summarized the public comments we received and our responses in the April 2010 IPF PPS notice (75 FR 23111 through 23113).

Since the April 2010 IPF PPS notice was published, we have made significant progress on the development of a stand-alone, or IPF-

specific, market basket. Our research has focused on addressing several concerns regarding the use of the hospital-based IPF Medicare cost report data in the calculation of the major market basket cost weights. As discussed above, one concern is the cost level differences for hospital-based IPFs relative to freestanding IPFs that were not readily explained by the specific characteristics of the individual providers and the patients that they serve (for example, case mix, urban/rural status, teaching status). Furthermore, we are concerned about the variability in the cost report data among these hospital-based IPF providers and the potential impact on the market basket cost weights. These concerns led us to consider whether it is appropriate to use the universe of IPF providers to derive an IPF-specific market basket.

Recently, we have investigated the use of regression analysis to evaluate the effect of including hospital-based IPF Medicare cost report data in the calculation of cost distributions. We created preliminary regression models to try to explain variations in costs per day across both freestanding and hospital-based IPFs. These models were intended to capture the effects of facility-level and patient-level characteristics (for example, wage index, urban/rural status, ownership status, length-of-stay, occupancy rate, case mix, and Medicare utilization) on IPF costs per day. Using the results from the preliminary regression analyses, we identified smaller subsets of hospital-based and freestanding IPF providers where the predicted costs per day using the regression model closely matched the actual costs per day for each IPF. We then derived different sets of cost distributions using (1) these subsets of IPF providers and (2) the entire universe of freestanding and hospital-based IPF providers (including those IPFs for which the variability in cost levels remains unexplained). After comparing these sets of cost distributions, the differences were not substantial enough for us to conclude that the inclusion of those IPF providers with unexplained variability in costs in the calculation of the cost distributions is a major cause for concern.

Another concern with incorporating the hospital-based IPF data in the derivation of an IPF-specific market basket is the complexity of the Medicare cost report data for these providers. The freestanding IPFs independently submit a Medicare cost report for their facilities, making it relatively straightforward to obtain the cost categories necessary to determine the major market basket cost weights. However, cost report data submitted for a hospital-based IPF are embedded in the Medicare cost report submitted for the entire hospital facility in which the IPF is located. Therefore, adjustments would have to be made to obtain cost weights that represent just the hospital-based IPF (as opposed to the hospital as a whole). For example, ancillary costs for services such as clinic services, drugs charged to patients, and emergency services for the entire hospital would need to be appropriately converted to a value that only represents the hospital-

based IPF unit's cost. The preliminary method we have developed to allocate these costs is complex and still needs to be fully evaluated before we are ready to propose an IPF-specific market basket that would reflect both hospital-based and freestanding IPF data.

We would also note that our current preliminary data show higher labor costs for IPFs than observed for the 2008-based RPL market basket. This increase is driven primarily by higher compensation cost as a percent of total costs for IPFs. In our ongoing research, we are also evaluating the differences in salary costs as a percent of total costs for both hospital-based and freestanding IPFs. Salary costs are historically the largest component of the market baskets. Based on our review of the data reported on the applicable Medicare cost reports, our initial findings (using the preliminary allocation method as discussed above) have shown that the hospital-based IPF salary costs as a percent of total costs tend to be lower than those of freestanding IPFs. We are still evaluating the methods for deriving salary costs as a percent of total costs and need to further investigate the percentage of ancillary costs that should be appropriately allocated to the IPF salary costs for the hospital-based IPF, as discussed above.

Also, effective for cost reports beginning on or after May 1, 2010, we finalized a revised Hospital and Hospital Health Care Complex Cost Report, Form CMS 2552-10, (74 FR 31738). The report is available for download from the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Files-for-Order/CostReports/Hospital-2010-form.html. The revised Hospital and Hospital Health Care Complex Cost Report includes a new worksheet (Worksheet S-3, part V) that identifies the contract labor costs and benefit costs for the hospital/hospital care complex and is applicable to sub-providers and units. Our analysis of Worksheet S-3, part V shows significant underreporting of this data with fewer than 20 freestanding IPF providers reporting it. We encourage providers to submit this data so we can use it to calculate benefits and contract labor cost weights for the market basket. In the absence of this data, we will likely use the 2008-based RPL market basket methodology (76 FR 5003) to calculate the IPF benefit cost weight. This methodology calculates the ratio of the IPPS benefit cost weight to the IPPS salary cost weight and applies this ratio to the IPF salary cost weight in order to estimate the IPF benefit cost weight. For contract labor, in the absence of IPF-specific data, we will use a similar methodology.

For the reasons discussed above, while we believe we have made significant progress on the development of an IPF-specific market basket, we

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believe that further research is required at this time. As a result, we are not proposing an IPF-specific market basket for FY 2015. We plan to complete our research during the remainder of this year and, provided that we are prepared to draw conclusions from our research, may propose an IPF-specific market basket for the FY 2016 rulemaking cycle. We welcome public comments on the preliminary findings discussed above.

C. Proposed FY 2015 Market Basket Update

The proposed FY 2015 update for the IPF PPS using the FY 2008-based RPL market basket and IHS Global Insight's first quarter 2014 forecast of the market basket components is 2.7 percent (prior to the application of statutory adjustments). IHS Global Insight, Inc. (IGI) is a nationally recognized economic and financial forecasting firm that contracts with CMS to forecast the components of the market baskets.

As previously described in section I.B, section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act requires the application of the productivity adjustment described in section 1886(b)(3)(B)(xi)(II) of the Act to the IPF PPS for the RY beginning in 2012 and each subsequent RY. The statute defines the productivity adjustment to be equal to the 10-year moving average of changes in annual economy-wide private nonfarm business multifactor productivity (MFP) (as projected by the Secretary for the 10-year period ending with the applicable FY, year, cost reporting period, or other annual period) (the ``MFP adjustment'').

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes the official measure of private non-farm business MFP. We refer readers to the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/mfp to obtain the BLS historical published MFP data. The MFP adjustment for FY 2015 applicable to the IPF PPS is derived using a projection of MFP that is currently produced by IGI. For a detailed description of the model currently used by IGI to project MFP, as well as a description of how the MFP adjustment is calculated, we refer readers to the FY 2012 IPPS/LTCH final rule (76 FR 51690 through 51692). Based on IGI's first quarter 2014 forecast, the proposed productivity adjustment for FY 2015 is 0.4 percentage point. Section 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act also requires the application of an ``other adjustment'' that reduces any update to an IPF PPS base rate by percentages specified in section 1886(s)(3) of the Act for rate years beginning in 2010 through the RY beginning in 2019. For the RY beginning in 2014 (that is, FY 2015), the reduction is 0.3 percentage point. We are proposing to implement the productivity adjustment and ``other adjustment'' in this FY 2015 IPF PPS proposed rule.

In summary, we propose to base the FY 2015 market basket update, which is used to determine the applicable percentage increase for the IPF payments, on the most recent estimate of the FY 2008-based RPL market basket (currently estimated to be 2.7 percent based on IGI's first quarter 2014 forecast). We propose to then reduce this percentage increase by the current estimate of the MFP adjustment for FY 2015 of 0.4 percentage point (the 10-year moving average of MFP for the period ending FY 2015 based on IGI's first quarter 2014 forecast). Following application of the MFP, we propose to further reduce the applicable percentage increase by 0.3 percentage point, as required by section 1886(s)(3) of the Act. The current estimate of the proposed FY 2015 IPF update is 2.0 percent (2.7 percent market basket update, less 0.4 percentage point MFP adjustment, less 0.3 percentage point ``other'' adjustment). Furthermore, we also are proposing that if more recent data are subsequently available (for example, a more recent estimate of the market basket and MFP adjustment), we would use such data, if appropriate, to determine the FY 2015 market basket update and MFP adjustment in the final rule.

D. Proposed Labor-Related Share

Due to variations in geographic wage levels and other labor-related costs, we believe that payment rates under the IPF PPS should continue to be adjusted by a geographic wage index, which would apply to the labor-related portion of the Federal per diem base rate (hereafter referred to as the labor-related share).

The labor-related share is determined by identifying the national average proportion of total costs that are related to, influenced by, or vary with the local labor market. We classify a cost category as labor-related if the costs are labor-intensive and vary with the local labor market. Based on our definition of the labor-related share, we include in the labor-related share the sum of the relative importance of Wages and Salaries, Employee Benefits, Professional Fees: Labor-

related, Administrative and Business Support Services, All Other: Labor-related Services, and a portion of the Capital-Related cost weight.

Therefore, to determine the proposed labor-related share for the IPF PPS for FY 2015, we used the FY 2008-based RPL market basket cost weights relative importance to determine the labor-related share for the IPF PPS. This estimate of the FY 2015 labor-related share is based on IGI's first quarter 2014 forecast, which is the same forecast used to derive the FY 2015 market basket update.

Table 1 below shows the FY 2015 relative importance labor-related share using the FY 2008-based RPL market basket along with the FY 2014 relative importance labor-related share.

Table 1--Proposed FY 2015 Relative Importance Labor-Related Share and

the FY 2014 Relative Importance Labor-Related Share Based on the FY 2008-

Based RPL Market Basket

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Proposed FY 2015

FY 2014 relative relative

importance labor- importance labor-

related share \1\ related share \2\

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Wages and Salaries.............. 48.394 48.409

Employee Benefits............... 12.963 13.016

Professional Fees: Labor-Related 2.065 2.065

Administrative and Business 0.415 0.417

Support Services...............

All Other: Labor-Related 2.080 2.070

Services.......................

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Subtotal.................... 65.917 65.977

Labor-Related Portion of Capital 3.577 3.561

Costs (46%)....................

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Total Labor-Related 69.494 69.538

Share..................

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1. Published in the FY 2014 IPF PPS notice (78 FR 46738) and based on

IHS Global Insight, Inc.'s second quarter 2013 forecast of the FY 2008-

based RPL market basket.

2. Based on IHS Global Insight, Inc.'s first quarter 2014 forecast of

the FY 2008-based RPL market basket.

The proposed labor-related share for FY 2015 is the sum of the FY 2015 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 2008) and FY 2015. The sum of the relative importance for FY 2015 for operating costs (Wages and Salaries, Employee Benefits, Professional Fees: Labor-Related, Administrative and Business Support Services, and All Other: Labor-related Services) is 65.977 percent, as shown in Table 1 above. The portion of Capital-

related cost that is influenced by the local labor market is estimated to be 46 percent. Since the relative importance for Capital-Related Costs is 7.742 percent of the FY 2008-based RPL market basket in FY 2015, we take 46 percent of 7.742 percent to determine the labor-

related share of Capital-related cost for FY 2015. The result is 3.561 percent, which we add to 65.977 percent for the operating cost amount to determine the total labor-related share for FY 2015. Therefore, the proposed labor-related share for the IPF PPS in FY 2015 is 69.538 percent. This labor-related share is determined using the same general methodology as employed in calculating all previous IPF labor-related shares (see, for example, 69 FR 66952 through 66953). Furthermore, we are also proposing that if more recent data are subsequently available (for example, a more recent estimate of the labor-related share), we would use such data, if appropriate, to determine the FY 2015 labor-

related share in the final rule. The wage index and the labor-related share are reflected in budget-neutrality adjustments.
Proposed Updates to the IPF PPS for FY 2015 (Beginning October 1, 2014)

The IPF PPS is based on a standardized Federal per diem base rate calculated from the IPF average per diem costs and adjusted for budget-

neutrality in the implementation year. The Federal per diem base rate is used as the standard payment per day under the IPF PPS and is adjusted by the patient-level and facility-level adjustments that are applicable to the IPF stay. A detailed explanation of how we calculated the average per diem cost appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66926).

A. Determining the Standardized Budget-Neutral Federal Per Diem Base Rate

Section 124(a)(1) of the BBRA required that we implement the IPF PPS in a budget-neutral manner. In other words, the amount of total payments under the IPF PPS, including any payment adjustments, must be projected to be equal to the amount of total payments that would have been made if the IPF PPS were not implemented. Therefore, we calculated the budget-neutrality factor by setting the total estimated IPF PPS payments to be equal to the total estimated payments that would have been made under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA) (Pub. L. 97-248) methodology had the IPF PPS not been implemented. A step-by-step description of the methodology used to estimate payments under the TEFRA payment system appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66926).

Under the IPF PPS methodology, we calculated the final Federal per diem base rate to be budget-neutral during the IPF PPS implementation period (that is, the 18-month period from January 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006) using a July 1 update cycle. We updated the average cost per day to the midpoint of the IPF PPS implementation period (that is, October 1, 2005), and this amount was used in the payment model to establish the budget-neutrality adjustment.

Next, we standardized the IPF PPS Federal per diem base rate to account for the overall positive effects of the IPF PPS payment adjustment factors by dividing total estimated payments under the TEFRA payment system by estimated payments under the IPF PPS. Additional information concerning this standardization can be found in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66932) and the RY 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27045). We then reduced the standardized Federal per diem base rate to account for the outlier policy, the stop loss provision, and anticipated behavioral changes. A complete discussion of how we calculated each component of the budget-neutrality adjustment appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66932 through 66933) and in the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27044 through 27046). The final standardized budget-neutral Federal per diem base rate established for cost reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2005 was calculated to be $575.95.

The Federal per diem base rate has been updated in accordance with applicable statutory requirements and 42 CFR 412.428 through publication of annual notices or proposed and final rules. These documents are available on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/InpatientPsychFacilPPS/. A detailed discussion on the standardized budget-neutral Federal per diem base rate and the electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) rate appears in the August 2013 IPF PPS update notice (78 FR 46738 through 46739).

B. Proposed FY 2015 Update of the Federal Per Diem Base Rate and Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Rate

In accordance with section 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act, which requires the application of an ``other adjustment,'' described in section 1886(s)(3) of the Act (specifically, section 1886(s)(3)(C)) for RY 2014 that reduces the update to the IPF PPS base rate for the FY beginning in Calendar Year (CY) 2014, we are proposing to adjust the IPF PPS update by a 0.3 percentage point reduction for FY 2015. In addition, in accordance with section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act, which requires the application of the productivity adjustment that reduces the update to the IPF PPS base rate for the FY beginning in CY 2014, we are proposing to adjust the IPF PPS update by a 0.4 percentage point reduction for FY 2015.

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The current (that is, FY 2014) Federal per diem base rate is $713.19 and the ECT base rate is $307.04. For FY 2015, we are proposing to apply an update of 2.0 percent (that is the proposed FY 2008-based RPL market basket increase for FY 2015 of 2.7 percent less the proposed productivity adjustment of 0.4 percentage point less the 0.3 percentage point required under section1886(s)(3)(C) of the Act), and the wage index budget-neutrality factor of 1.0003 (as discussed in section VI.C.1. of this proposed rule) to the FY 2014 Federal per diem base rate of $713.19, yielding a proposed Federal per diem base rate of $727.67 for FY 2015. Similarly, we are proposing to apply the 2.0 percent payment update, and the 1.0003 wage index budget-neutrality factor to the FY 2014 ECT base rate, yielding a proposed ECT base rate of $313.27 for FY 2015.

As noted above, section 1886(s)(4) of the Act requires the establishment of a quality data reporting program for the IPF PPS beginning in RY 2014. We finalized new requirements for quality reporting for IPFs in the ``Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals and the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Fiscal Year 2014 Rates'' proposed rule published on May 10, 2013 (78 FR 27486, 27734 through 27744) and final rule published on August 19, 2013 (78 FR 50496, 50887 through 50903). Section 1886(s)(4)(A)(i) of the Act requires that, for RY 2014 and each subsequent rate year, the Secretary shall reduce any annual update to a standard Federal rate for discharges occurring during the rate year by 2.0 percentage points for any IPF that does not comply with the quality data submission requirements with respect to an applicable year. Therefore, we are proposing to apply a 2.0 percentage point reduction to the Federal per diem base rate and the ECT base rate as follows:

For IPFs that fail to submit quality reporting data under the IPFQR program, we are applying a 0 percent annual update (that is 2 percent reduced by 2 percentage points in accordance with section 1886(s)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act) and the wage index budget-neutrality factor of 1.0003 to the FY 2014 Federal per diem base rate of $713.19, yielding a Federal per diem base rate of $713.40 for FY 2015.

Similarly, we are applying the 0 percent annual update and the 1.0003 wage index budget-neutrality factor to the FY 2014 ECT base rate of $307.04, yielding an ECT base rate of $307.13 for FY 2015.

In the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR50496), we adopted two new measures for the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years for the IPFQR Program. We also finalized a request for voluntary information whereby IPFs will be asked to provide information on the patient experience of care survey. For the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years, we are proposing to add two new measures to those already adopted for the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years. For the FY 2017 payment determination and subsequent years, we are proposing to adopt four new measures.
Proposed Update of the IPF PPS Adjustment Factors

A. Overview of the IPF PPS Adjustment Factors

The IPF PPS payment adjustments were derived from a regression analysis of 100 percent of the FY 2002 MedPAR data file, which contained 483,038 cases. For a more detailed description of the data file used for the regression analysis, see the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66935 through 66936). While we have since used more recent claims data to simulate payments to set the fixed dollar loss threshold amount for the outlier policy and to assess the impact of the IPF PPS updates, we continue to use the regression-derived adjustment factors established in 2005 for FY 2015.

As we stated previously, we have begun an analysis of more current IPF claims and cost report data however; we are not proposing refinements to the IPF PPS in this proposed rule. Once our analysis is complete, we will propose to update the adjustment factors in a future notice of proposed rulemaking. However, we continue to monitor claims and payment data independently from cost report data to assess issues, to determine whether changes in case-mix or payment shifts have occurred among freestanding governmental, non-profit and private psychiatric hospitals, and psychiatric units of general hospitals, and CAHs and other issues of importance to IPFs.

On April 1, 2014, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) (Pub. L. 113-93) was enacted. Section 212 of PAMA, titled ``Delay in Transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 Code Sets,'' provides that ``the Secretary of Health and Human Services may not, prior to October 1, 2015, adopt ICD-10 code sets as the standard for code sets under section 1173(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2(c)) and Sec. 162.1002 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations.'' As of now, the Secretary has not implemented this provision under HIPAA. We are proposing the conversion of ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS codes for the IPF PPS in this proposed rule, but in light of PAMA, the effective date of those changes would be the date when ICD-10 becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims, whenever that date may be. Until that time, we will continue to require use of the ICD-9-

CM codes for reporting the MS-DRG and comorbidity adjustment factors for IPF services.

B. Proposed Patient-Level Adjustments

The IPF PPS includes payment adjustments for the following patient-

level characteristics: Medicare Severity diagnosis related groups (MS-

DRGs) assignment of the patient's principal diagnosis, selected comorbidities, patient age, and the variable per diem adjustments.

1. Proposed Adjustment for MS-DRG Assignment

We believe it is important to maintain the same diagnostic coding and DRG classification for IPFs that are used under the IPPS for providing psychiatric care. For this reason, when the IPF PPS was implemented for cost reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2005, we adopted the same diagnostic code set (ICD-9-CM) and DRG patient classification system (that is, the CMS DRGs) that were utilized at the time under the IPPS. In the May 2008 IPF PPS notice (73 FR 25709), we discussed CMS's effort to better recognize resource use and the severity of illness among patients. CMS adopted the new MS-DRGs for the IPPS in the FY 2008 IPPS final rule with comment period (72 FR 47130). In the 2008 IPF PPS notice (73 FR 25716) we provided a crosswalk to reflect changes that were made under the IPF PPS to adopt the new MS-DRGs. For a detailed description of the mapping changes from the original DRG adjustment categories to the current MS-DRG adjustment categories, we refer readers to the May 2008 IPF PPS notice (73 FR 25714).

The IPF PPS includes payment adjustments for designated psychiatric DRGs assigned to the claim based on the patient's principal diagnosis. The DRG adjustment factors were expressed relative to the most frequently reported psychiatric DRG in FY 2002, that is, DRG 430 (psychoses). The coefficient values and adjustment factors were derived from the regression analysis. Mapping the DRGs to the MS-DRGs resulted in the current 17 IPF-MS-DRGs, instead of the original 15 DRGs,

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for which the IPF PPS provides an adjustment. For FY 2015, as we did in FY 2013 (77 FR 47231) and FY 2014 (78 FR 46741 through 46741), we propose to make a payment adjustment for psychiatric diagnoses that group to one of the 17 MS-IPF-DRGs listed in Table 2. Psychiatric principal diagnoses that do not group to one of the 17 designated DRGs would still receive the Federal per diem base rate and all other applicable adjustments, but the payment would not include a DRG adjustment.

In the Standards for Electronic Transaction final rule, published in the Federal Register on August 17, 2000 (65 FR 50312), the Department adopted the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) as the HIPAA designated code set for reporting diseases, injuries, impairments, other health related problems, their manifestations, and causes of injury. Therefore, on January 1, 2005 when the IPF PPS began, we used ICD-9-CM as the designated code set for the IPF PPS. IPF claims with a principal diagnosis included in Chapter Five of the ICD-9-CM are paid the Federal per diem base rate and all other applicable adjustments, including any applicable DRG adjustment. However, as we indicated in the FY 2014 IPF PPS notice (78 FR 46741), in accordance with the requirements of the final rule published in the Federal Register on September 5, 2012 (77 FR 54664), we will be discontinuing the use of ICD-9-CM codes. We are proposing the conversion of ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS codes for the IPF PPS in this proposed rule, but in light of PAMA, the effective date of those changes would be the date when ICD-10 becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims. Until that time, we will continue to require use of the ICD-9-CM codes for reporting the MS-DRGs for IPF services. The ICD-10-CM/PCS coding guidelines are available through the CMS Web site at:

www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/downloads/pcs_2012_guidelines.pdf and http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/index.html?redirect=/ICD10 or on the CDC's Web site at www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/icd10/10cmguidelines2012.pdf.

Every year, changes to the ICD-10-CM and the ICD-10-PCS coding system will be addressed in the IPPS proposed and final rules. The changes to the codes are effective October 1 of each year and must be used by acute care hospitals as well as other providers to report diagnostic and procedure information. The IPF PPS has always incorporated ICD-9-CM coding changes made in the annual IPPS update and will continue to do so for the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding changes. We will continue to publish coding changes in a Transmittal/Change Request, similar to how coding changes are announced by the IPPS and LTCH PPS. The coding changes relevant to the IPF PPS are also published in the IPF PPS proposed and final rules, or in IPF PPS update notices. In 42 CFR 412.428(e), we indicate that CMS will publish information pertaining to the annual update for the IPF PPS, which includes describing the ICD-9-CM coding changes and DRG classification changes discussed in the annual update to the hospital IPPS regulations. We are proposing to update 42 CFR 412.428(e) to indicate that we will describe the ICD-10-CM coding changes and DRG classification changes discussed in the annual update to the hospital IPPS regulations when ICD-10-CM/

PCS becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims.

The ICD-9-CM/PCS coding changes are reflected in the FY 2015 GROUPER, Version 32.0, effective for IPPS discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. The GROUPER Version 32.0 software package assigns each case to an MS-DRG on the basis of the diagnosis and procedure codes and demographic information (that is, age, sex, and discharge status). The Medicare Code Editor (MCE) version 32.0 has also been converted to use ICD-9-CM/PCS codes for IPPS discharges on or after October 1, 2014. For additional information on the GROUPER version 32.0 and the MCE 32.0 see Transmittal-XXXX dated XXXX.

The IPF PPS has always used the same GROUPER and MCE as the IPPS. We have posted a Definitions Manual of the ICD-10 MS-DRGs Version 31.0-

R (an updated ICD-10 MS-DRGs version 31.0) on the ICD-10 MS-DRG Conversion Project Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/ICD-10-MS-DRG-Conversion-Project.html. We also prepared a document that describes changes made from Version 31.0 to Version 31.0-

R. We will continue to share ICD-10-MS-DRG conversion activities with the public through this Web site.

The MS-DRGs were converted so that the MS-DRG assignment logic uses ICD-10-CM/PCS codes directly. When a provider submits a claim for discharges, the ICD-10-CM/PCS diagnosis and procedure codes will be assigned to the correct MS-DRG. The MS-DRGs were converted with a single overarching goal: that MS-DRG assignment for a given patient record is the same after ICD-10-CM implementation as it would be if the same record had been coded in ICD-9-CM and submitted prior to ICD-10-

CM/PCS implementation. This goal is referred to as replication, and every effort was made to achieve this goal.

The General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs) were used to assist in converting the ICD-9-CM-based MS-DRGs to ICD-10-CM/PCS. The majority of ICD-9-CM codes (greater than 80 percent) have straightforward translation alternative(s) in ICD-10-CM/PCS, where the diagnoses or procedures classified to a given ICD-9-CM code are replaced by a number of (typically more specific) ICD-10-CM/PCS codes and assigned to the same MS-DRG as the ICD-9-CM code they are replacing. Further information on the assessment of ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRGs and financial impact can be found on the CMS ICD-10 Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/ICD-10-MS-DRG-Conversion-Project.html.

Questions concerning the MS-DRGs should be directed to Patricia E. Brooks, Co-Chairperson, ICD-10-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee, CMS, Center for Medicare Management, Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group, Division of Acute Care, patricia.brooks2@cms.hhs.gov, Mailstop C4-08-06, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244-

1850.

Use of the General Equivalence Mappings To Assist in Direct Conversion

For the FY 2015 update, we are not making changes to the MS-IPF-DRG adjustment factors. That is, we do not intend to re-run the regression analysis to update the 17 IPF MS-DRG adjustment factors. The General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs) were used to assist in converting the ICD-

9-CM-based MS-DRGs to ICD-10-CM/PCS. For this update, we are proposing the ICD-10-CM/PCS codes that would be used for the MS-DRG payment adjustment. Further information for the ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG conversion project can be found on the CMS ICD-10-CM Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/ICD-10-MS-DRG-Conversion-Project.html.

We are proposing that the MS-IPF-DRG adjustment factors (as shown in Table 2) would continue to be paid for discharges occurring in FY 2015. The MS-IPF-DRG adjustment factors would be updated on October 1, 2014, using the ICD-9-CM/PCS code set. We are also proposing the conversion of ICD-9-CM/PCS codes to ICD-10-CM/PCS codes for the IPF PPS in this proposed rule but in light of PAMA, the effective date of those changes would be the date

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when ICD-10-CM/PCS becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims.

Table 2--Proposed FY 2015 Current MS-IPF-DRGS Applicable for the

Principal Diagnosis Adjustment

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

Adjustment

MS-DRG MS-DRG descriptions factor

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

056............................ Degenerative nervous 1.05

system disorders w MCC.

057............................ Degenerative nervous 1.05

system disorders w/o

MCC.

080............................ Nontraumatic stupor & 1.07

coma w MCC.

081............................ Nontraumatic stupor & 1.07

coma w/o MCC.

876............................ O.R. Procedure w 1.22

principal diagnoses of

mental illness.

880............................ Acute adjustment 1.05

reaction &

psychosocial

dysfunction.

881............................ Depressive neuroses.... 0.99

882............................ Neuroses except 1.02

depressive.

883............................ Disorders of 1.02

personality & impulse

control.

884............................ Organic disturbances & 1.03

mental retardation.

885............................ Psychoses.............. 1.00

886............................ Behavioral & 0.99

developmental

disorders.

887............................ Other mental disorder 0.92

diagnoses.

894............................ Alcohol/drug abuse or 0.97

dependence, left AMA.

895............................ Alcohol/drug abuse or 1.02

dependence w

rehabilitation therapy.

896............................ Alcohol/drug abuse or 0.88

dependence w/o

rehabilitation therapy

w MCC.

897............................ Alcohol/drug abuse or 0.88

dependence w/o

rehabilitation therapy

w/o MCC.

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

2. Proposed Payment for Comorbid Conditions

The intent of the comorbidity adjustments is to recognize the increased costs associated with comorbid conditions by providing additional payments for certain concurrent medical or psychiatric conditions that are expensive to treat. In the May 2011 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 26451 through 26452), we explained that the IPF PPS includes 17 comorbidity categories and identified the new, revised, and deleted ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes that generate a comorbid condition payment adjustment under the IPF PPS for RY 2012 (76 FR 26451).

Comorbidities are specific patient conditions that are secondary to the patient's principal diagnosis and that require treatment during the stay. Diagnoses that relate to an earlier episode of care and have no bearing on the current hospital stay are excluded and must not be reported on IPF claims. Comorbid conditions must exist at the time of admission or develop subsequently, and affect the treatment received, length of stay (LOS), or both treatment and LOS.

For each claim, an IPF may receive only one comorbidity adjustment within a comorbidity category, but it may receive an adjustment for more than one comorbidity category. Current billing instructions require IPFs to enter the full, that is, the complete ICD-9-CM codes for up to 24 additional diagnoses if they co-exist at the time of admission or develop subsequently and impact the treatment provided. Billing instructions will require that IPFs enter the full ICD-10-CM/

PCS codes. The effective date of this change would be the date when ICD-10-CM/PCS becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims.

The comorbidity adjustments were determined based on the regression analysis using the diagnoses reported by IPFs in FY 2002. The principal diagnoses were used to establish the DRG adjustments and were not accounted for in establishing the comorbidity category adjustments, except where ICD-9-CM ``code first'' instructions apply. As we explained in the May 2011 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 265451), the ``code first'' rule applies when a condition has both an underlying etiology and a manifestation due to the underlying etiology. For these conditions, ICD-9-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying conditions to be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Whenever a combination exists, there is a ``use additional code'' note at the etiology code and a ``code first'' note at the manifestation code.

The same principle holds for ICD-10-CM as for ICD-9-CM. Whenever a combination exists, there is a ``use additional code'' note in the ICD-

10-CM codebook pertaining to the etiology code, and a ``code first'' code pertaining to the manifestation code. We provide a ``code first'' table in Addendum C of this proposed rule for reference that highlights the same or similar manifestation codes where the ``code first'' instructions apply in ICD-10-CM that were present in ICD-9-CM. In the ``code first'' table, pertaining to ICD-10-CM codes F02.80, F02.81 and F05, where individual examples of possible etiologies are listed in the codebook, in the interest of inclusiveness, all ICD-10-CM examples are included in addition to the comparable ICD-10-CM translations of examples listed in the ICD-9-CM codebook for the same manifestations. Also, in the interest of inclusiveness, an ICD-10-CM manifestation code F45.42 ``Pain disorder with related psychological factors'', is included in the IPF PPS ``code first'' table even though it contains a ``code also'' instruction rather than a ``code first'' instruction, but is included in this version of the table for information purposes only. The proposed list of ICD-10-CM codes that we identified as ``code first'' can be located in Addendum C in this proposed rule.

As discussed in the MS-DRG section, it is our policy to maintain the same diagnostic coding set for IPFs that is used under the IPPS for providing the same psychiatric care. The 17 comorbidity categories formerly defined using ICD-9-CM codes have been converted to ICD-10-CM/

PCS. The goal for converting the comorbidity categories is referred to as replication, meaning that the payment adjustment for a given patient encounter is the same after ICD-10-CM implementation as it would be if the same record had been coded in ICD-9-CM and submitted prior to ICD-

10-CM/PCS implementation. All conversion efforts were made with the intent of achieving this goal. The effective date of this change would be the date when ICD-10-CM/PCS becomes the required

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medical data code set for use on Medicare claims.

Direct Conversion of Comorbidity Categories

We converted the ICD-9-CM codes for the IPF PPS Comorbidity Payment Adjustment Categories to ICD-10-CM/PCS codes. When an IPF submits a claim for discharges the ICD-10-CM/PCS codes would be assigned to the correct comorbidity categories. The same method of direct conversion to ICD-10-CM/PCS for replication of ICD-9-CM based payment applications has been implemented by policy groups throughout CMS to convert applications to ICD-10-CM/PCS, including the MS-DRGs.

Use of the General Equivalence Mappings To Assist in Direct Conversion

As with the other policy groups mentioned above, the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs) were used to assist in converting ICD-9-CM-

based applications to ICD-10-CM/PCS. Further information concerning the GEMs can be found on the CMS ICD-10 Web site at: http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/2014-ICD-10-CM-and-GEMs.html.

The majority of ICD-9-CM codes (greater than 80 percent) have straightforward translation alternative(s) in ICD-10-CM/PCS, where the diagnoses or procedures classified to a given ICD-9-CM code are replaced by a number of possibly more specific ICD-10-CM/PCS codes, and those ICD-10-CM/PCS codes capture the intent of the payment policy.

In rare instances, ICD-10-CM has discontinued an area of detail in the classification. For example, this is the case with the concept of ``malignant hypertension'' in the Cardiac Conditions comorbidity category. Malignant hypertension is no longer classified separately in codes that specify heart failure, such as ICD-9-CM code 404.03 Hypertensive heart and chronic kidney disease, malignant, with heart failure and with chronic kidney disease stage V or end-stage renal disease. This code, in the Cardiac Conditions comorbidity category, has no corresponding code in the ICD-10-CM Cardiac Conditions comorbidity category. Instead, all sub-types of hypertension in the presence of heart disease or chronic kidney disease are classified to a single code in ICD-10-CM that specifies the level of heart and kidney function, such as I13.2 Hypertensive heart and chronic kidney disease with heart failure and with stage 5 chronic kidney disease, or end stage renal disease. Discussed below are the comorbidity categories where the crosswalk between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes is less than straightforward. For instance, in some cases, the use of combination codes in one code set is represented as two separate codes in the other code set.

Conversion of Gangrene and Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus With or Without Complications Comorbidity Categories

In the Gangrene comorbidity category, there are new ICD-10-CM combination codes not present in ICD-9-CM. Therefore, we are proposing to include many more ICD-10-CM codes in the comorbidity definitions than were included using ICD-9-CM codes so that the comorbidity category using ICD-10-CM codes is a complete and accurate replication of the category using ICD-9-CM codes.

The ICD-9-CM version of the comorbidity category Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus With or Without Complications contains combination codes with extra information that is not relevant to the clinical intent of the category. All patients with uncontrolled diabetes are eligible for the payment adjustment, regardless of whether they have additional diabetic complications. The diagnosis of uncontrolled diabetes is coded separately in ICD-10-CM. As a result, only two ICD-

10-CM codes are needed to achieve complete and accurate replication of the comorbidity category definition using ICD-9-CM codes.

Conversion of the Gangrene Comorbidity Category

Currently, two ICD-9-CM codes are used for the Gangrene comorbidity category: 440.24 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of the extremities with gangrene and 785.4 Gangrene.

The first code, 440.24, is a combination code and specifies patients with underlying peripheral vascular disease and a current acute manifestation of gangrene. This is the only ICD-9-CM combination code that specifies gangrene in addition to the underlying cause. Also, a number of ICD-10-CM codes exist for gangrene and they are all included in the ICD-10-CM comorbidity category. The ICD-10-CM codes specify anatomic site in more detail. An example is given below:

I70.261 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with gangrene, right leg

I70.262 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with gangrene, left leg

I70.263 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with gangrene, bilateral legs

I70.268 Atherosclerosis of native arteries of extremities with gangrene, other extremity

In addition, many ICD-10-CM codes specify gangrene in combination with diabetes. We propose to include these codes in the comorbidity category to ensure that a patient with diabetes complicated by gangrene receives the same payment adjustment for the condition when it is coded in ICD-10 as if it had been coded in ICD-9-CM.

Conversion of the Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus With or Without Complications Comorbidity Category

Where ICD-9-CM uses combination codes for uncontrolled diabetes, ICD-10-CM classifies diabetes that is out of control in a separate, standalone code. Unlike ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM does not have additional codes that specify out of control diabetes in combination with a complication such as, for example, diabetic chronic kidney disease. The result is that the comorbidity category Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus With or Without Complications is simpler to define using ICD-10-CM codes than ICD-9-CM codes.

ICD-10-CM has changed the classification of a diagnosis of uncontrolled diabetes in two ways that affect conversion of the Uncontrolled Diabetes comorbidity category:

1. ICD-10-CM no longer uses the term ``uncontrolled'' in reference to diabetes.

2. ICD-10-CM classifies diabetes that is poorly controlled in a separate, standalone code.

ICD-10-CM does not use the term ``uncontrolled'' in codes that classify diabetes patients. Instead, ICD-10-CM codes specify diabetes ``with hyperglycemia'' as the new terminology for classifying patients whose diabetes is ``poorly controlled'' or ``inadequately controlled'' or ``out of control.'' We believe these are appropriate codes to capture the intent of the Uncontrolled Diabetes comorbidity category. Therefore, to ensure that all patients who qualified for the Uncontrolled Diabetes comorbidity payment adjustment using ICD-9-CM codes will also qualify for the payment adjustment using ICD-10-CM codes, we propose that two ICD-10-CM codes specifying diabetes with hyperglycemia will be used for the payment adjustment for Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus With or Without Complications: E10.65 Type 1 diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia, and E11.65 Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hyperglycemia.

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Other Differences Between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM Affecting Conversion of Comorbidity Categories

Two other comorbidity categories in the IPF PPS required careful review and additional formatting of the corresponding ICD-10-CM codes in order to replicate the clinical intent of the comorbidity category. In the Drug and/or Alcohol Induced Mental Disorders comorbidity category and the Poisoning comorbidity category, significant structural changes in the way that comparable codes are classified in ICD-10-CM made it more difficult to list the diagnoses in ICD-10-CM code ranges, as was possible in ICD-9-CM. Because comparable codes are not classified contiguously in the ICD-10-CM classification scheme, the resulting proposed list of codes for this comorbidity category is much longer than the comorbidity category using ICD-9-CM codes.

Conversion of the Drug and/or Alcohol Induced Mental Disorders Comorbidity Category

ICD-10-CM has changed the classification of applicable conditions in two ways that affect conversion of the Drug and/or Alcohol Induced Mental Disorders comorbidity category:

1. ICD-10-CM does not use the term ``pathological'' in reference to drug or alcohol intoxication, rather it only uses the phrase ``with intoxication.''

2. ICD-10-CM contains separate, detailed codes for specific drug-

induced manifestations of mental disorder. ICD-10-CM codes specify the particular drug and whether the pattern of use is documented as use, abuse, or dependence.

First, this comorbidity category currently contains ICD-9-CM code 292.2 Pathological drug intoxication. To ensure that all patients who qualified for the comorbidity payment adjustment under ICD-9-CM code 292.2 will also qualify under the ICD-10-CM version of the same comorbidity category, we propose that the 89 ICD-10-CM codes specifying ``with intoxication'' qualify for the payment adjustment. An example of the ICD-10-CM codes for a diagnosis of cocaine abuse with current intoxication is provided below. All of these codes would be eligible for the payment adjustment.

F14.120 Cocaine abuse with intoxication, uncomplicated

F14.121 Cocaine abuse with intoxication with delirium

F14.122 Cocaine abuse with intoxication with perceptual disturbance

F14.129 Cocaine abuse with intoxication, unspecified

Next, ICD-10-CM contains separate, detailed codes by drug for specific drug-induced manifestations of mental disorder, such as drug-

induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations. What was a single code in ICD-9-CM, 292.12 Drug-induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations, maps to 24 comparable codes in ICD-10-CM. We propose to include all of these more specific ICD-10-CM codes in the comorbidity category. We believe they are necessary for replication of the clinical intent of the comorbidity category so that all patients with a drug-

induced psychotic disorder with hallucinations coded on the claim are eligible for the payment adjustment. Because the ICD-10-CM codes are not listed contiguously in the classification, they cannot be formatted as a range of codes and therefore must be listed as single codes in the comorbidity category definition.

The situation described above is similar for ICD-9-CM code 292.0 Drug withdrawal. ICD-10-CM contains separate, detailed codes by drug specifying that the patient is in withdrawal. We propose to include all of these more specific ICD-10-CM codes in the comorbidity category. We believe they are necessary for replication of the clinical intent of the comorbidity category, so that all patients with a drug withdrawal code on the claim are eligible for the payment adjustment. Likewise, because the ICD-10-CM drug withdrawal codes are not listed contiguously in the classification, they cannot be formatted as a range of codes and so must be listed as single codes in the comorbidity category definition.

Conversion of the Poisoning Comorbidity Category

In ICD-10-CM, the Injury and Poisoning chapter has added an axis of classification for every injury or poisoning diagnosis code, which specifies additional information about the current encounter. This creates three unique codes for each injury or poisoning diagnosis, marked by a different letter in the seventh character of the code:

1. The seventh character ``A'' in the code indicates that the poisoning is a current diagnosis in its ``acute phase.''

2. The seventh character ``D'' in the code indicates that the poisoning is no longer in its ``acute phase,'' but that the patient is receiving aftercare for the earlier poisoning.

3. The seventh character ``S'' in the code indicates that the patient no longer requires care for any aspect of the poisoning itself, but that the patient is receiving care for a late effect of the poisoning.

The intent of the Poisoning comorbidity category is to include only those patients with a current diagnosis of poisoning. If the intent had been to include patients requiring only aftercare for an earlier, resolved case of poisoning, or for care associated with late effects of poisoning that occurred sometime in the past, the comorbidity category would have included ICD-9-CM aftercare codes or late effect codes, but it does not. Only acute poisoning codes from the ICD-9-CM classification are included. Therefore, we propose that the Poisoning comorbidity category only includes ICD-10-CM poisoning codes with a seventh character extension ``A,'' to indicate that the poisoning is documented as a current diagnosis.

In addition, ICD-10-CM poisoning codes specify the circumstances of the poisoning, whether documented as accidental, self-harm, assault, or undetermined, as shown in the heroin poisoning example below. We propose to include all of these more specific ICD-10-CM codes in the comorbidity category for replication of the clinical intent of the comorbidity category so that all patients with a current diagnosis of poisoning coded on the claim would be eligible for the payment adjustment, as shown in the heroin poisoning example below:

T40.1X1A Poisoning by heroin, accidental (unintentional), initial encounter

T40.1X2A Poisoning by heroin, intentional self-harm, initial encounter

T40.1X3A Poisoning by heroin, assault, initial encounter

T40.1X4A Poisoning by heroin, undetermined, initial encounter

ICD-10-CM classifies poisoning by substance, alongside separate codes for adverse effect or underdosing of the same substance. Because the poisoning codes are not listed contiguously in the classification, they cannot be formatted as a range of codes and therefore must be listed as single codes in the comorbidity category definition.

Proposed Elimination of Codes for Nonspecific Conditions Based on Side of the Body (Laterality)

We believe that highly descriptive coding provides the best and clearest way to document a patient's condition and the appropriateness of the admission and treatment in an IPF. Therefore, whenever possible, we believe that the most specific code that describes a medical disease, condition, or injury should be used to document

Page 26051

the patient's diagnoses. Generally, ``unspecified'' codes are used when they most accurately reflect what is known about the patient's condition at the time of that particular encounter (for example, there is a lack of information about a specific type of organism causing an illness). However, site of illness at the time of the medical encounter is an important determinant in assessing a patient's principal or secondary diagnosis. For this reason, we believe that specific diagnosis codes that narrowly identify anatomical sites where disease, injury, or condition exist should be used when coding patients' diagnoses whenever these codes are available. Furthermore, on the same note, we believe that one should also code to the highest specificity (use the full ICD-10-CM/PCS code).

In accordance with these principles, we propose to remove site unspecified codes from the IPF PPS ICD-10-CM/PCS codes in instances in which more specific codes are available as the clinician should be able to identify a more specific diagnosis based on clinical assessment at the medical encounter. For example, the initial GEMS translation included non-specific codes such as ICD-10-CM code C44.111 ``Basal Cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid, including canthus.'' Under our proposal:

C44.111 Basal Cell Carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid would not be accepted.

C44.112 Basal Cell Carcinoma of skin right eyelid would be accepted.

C44.119 Basal Cell Carcinoma of skin left eyelid would be accepted.

We are proposing to remove these non-specific codes whenever a more specific diagnosis could be identified by the clinician performing the assessment. For the example code C44.111, we are proposing to delete this code because the clinician should be able to identify which eye had the basal cell carcinoma, and therefore would report the condition using the code that specifies the right or left eye.

We are proposing to remove a total of 153 ICD-10-CM site unspecified codes involving the following comorbidity categories: Oncology -93 ICD-10-CM codes, Gangrene-6 ICD-10-CM codes and Severe Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue--54 ICD-10-CM codes. The site unspecified IPF PPS ICD-10-CM codes that we are proposing to remove are listed below in Tables 3 through 5.

Table 3--Proposed Site Unspecified ICD-10-CM Codes To Be Removed From

the Oncology Treatment Comorbidity Category

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

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code title

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

C40.00....................... Malignant neoplasm of scapula and long

bones of unspecified upper limb.

C40.10....................... Malignant neoplasm of short bones of

unspecified upper limb.

C40.20....................... Malignant neoplasm of long bones of

unspecified lower limb.

C40.30....................... Malignant neoplasm of short bones of

unspecified lower limb.

C40.80....................... Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites

of bone and articular cartilage of

unspecified limb.

C40.90....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified bones

and articular cartilage of unspecified

limb.

C43.10....................... Malignant melanoma of unspecified eyelid,

including canthus.

C43.20....................... Malignant melanoma of unspecified ear and

external auricular canal.

C43.60....................... Malignant melanoma of unspecified upper

limb, including shoulder.

C43.70....................... Malignant melanoma of unspecified lower

limb, including hip.

C44.101...................... Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of

unspecified eyelid, including canthus.

C44.111...................... Basal cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified eyelid, including canthus.

C44.121...................... Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified eyelid, including canthus.

C44.191...................... Other specified malignant neoplasm of

skin of unspecified eyelid, including

canthus.

C44.201...................... Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of

unspecified ear and external auricular

canal.

C44.211...................... Basal cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified ear and external auricular

canal.

C44.221...................... Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified ear and external auricular

canal.

C44.601...................... Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of

unspecified upper limb, including

shoulder.

C44.611...................... Basal cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified upper limb, including

shoulder.

C44.621...................... Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified upper limb, including

shoulder.

C44.691...................... Other specified malignant neoplasm of

skin of unspecified upper limb,

including shoulder.

C44.701...................... Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of

unspecified lower limb, including hip.

C44.711...................... Basal cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified lower limb, including hip.

C44.721...................... Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of

unspecified lower limb, including hip.

C44.791...................... Other specified malignant neoplasm of

skin of unspecified lower limb,

including hip.

C47.10....................... Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves

of unspecified upper limb, including

shoulder.

C47.20....................... Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves

of unspecified lower limb, including

hip.

C49.10....................... Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft

tissue of unspecified upper limb,

including shoulder.

C49.20....................... Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft

tissue of unspecified lower limb,

including hip.

C4A.10....................... Merkel cell carcinoma of unspecified

eyelid, including canthus.

C4A.20....................... Merkel cell carcinoma of unspecified ear

and external auricular canal.

C4A.60....................... Merkel cell carcinoma of unspecified

upper limb, including shoulder.

C4A.70....................... Merkel cell carcinoma of unspecified

lower limb, including hip.

C50.019...................... Malignant neoplasm of nipple and areola,

unspecified female breast.

C50.029...................... Malignant neoplasm of nipple and areola,

unspecified male breast.

C50.119...................... Malignant neoplasm of central portion of

unspecified female breast.

C50.129...................... Malignant neoplasm of central portion of

unspecified male breast.

C50.219...................... Malignant neoplasm of upper-inner

quadrant of unspecified female breast.

C50.229...................... Malignant neoplasm of upper-inner

quadrant of unspecified male breast.

C50.319...................... Malignant neoplasm of lower-inner

quadrant of unspecified female breast.

C50.329...................... Malignant neoplasm of lower-inner

quadrant of unspecified male breast.

C50.419...................... Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer

quadrant of unspecified female breast.

C50.429...................... Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer

quadrant of unspecified male breast.

C50.519...................... Malignant neoplasm of lower-outer

quadrant of unspecified female breast.

C50.529...................... Malignant neoplasm of lower-outer

quadrant of unspecified male breast.

Page 26052

C50.619...................... Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of

unspecified female breast.

C50.629...................... Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of

unspecified male breast.

C50.819...................... Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites

of unspecified female breast.

C50.829...................... Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites

of unspecified male breast.

C50.919...................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of

unspecified female breast.

C50.929...................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of

unspecified male breast.

C69.00....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified

conjunctiva.

C69.10....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified cornea.

C69.50....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified

lacrimal gland and duct.

C69.60....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified orbit.

C69.80....................... Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites

of unspecified eye and adnexa.

C69.90....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of

unspecified eye.

C76.40....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified upper

limb.

C76.50....................... Malignant neoplasm of unspecified lower

limb.

D03.10....................... Melanoma in situ of unspecified eyelid,

including canthus.

D03.20....................... Melanoma in situ of unspecified ear and

external auricular canal.

D03.60....................... Melanoma in situ of unspecified upper

limb, including shoulder.

D03.70....................... Melanoma in situ of unspecified lower

limb, including hip.

D04.10....................... Carcinoma in situ of skin of unspecified

eyelid, including canthus.

D04.20....................... Carcinoma in situ of skin of unspecified

ear and external auricular canal.

D04.60....................... Carcinoma in situ of skin of unspecified

upper limb, including shoulder.

D04.70....................... Carcinoma in situ of skin of unspecified

lower limb, including hip.

D05.00....................... Lobular carcinoma in situ of unspecified

breast.

D05.10....................... Intraductal carcinoma in situ of

unspecified breast.

D05.80....................... Other specified type of carcinoma in situ

of unspecified breast.

D05.90....................... Unspecified type of carcinoma in situ of

unspecified breast.

D09.20....................... Carcinoma in situ of unspecified eye.

D16.00....................... Benign neoplasm of scapula and long bones

of unspecified upper limb.

D16.10....................... Benign neoplasm of short bones of

unspecified upper limb.

D16.20....................... Benign neoplasm of long bones of

unspecified lower limb.

D16.30....................... Benign neoplasm of short bones of

unspecified lower limb.

D17.20....................... Benign lipomatous neoplasm of skin and

subcutaneous tissue of unspecified limb.

D21.10....................... Benign neoplasm of connective and other

soft tissue of unspecified upper limb,

including shoulder.

D21.20....................... Benign neoplasm of connective and other

soft tissue of unspecified lower limb,

including hip.

D22.10....................... Melanocytic nevi of unspecified eyelid,

including canthus.

D22.20....................... Melanocytic nevi of unspecified ear and

external auricular canal.

D22.60....................... Melanocytic nevi of unspecified upper

limb, including shoulder.

D22.70....................... Melanocytic nevi of unspecified lower

limb, including hip.

D23.10....................... Other benign neoplasm of skin of

unspecified eyelid, including canthus.

D23.20....................... Other benign neoplasm of skin of

unspecified ear and external auricular

canal.

D23.60....................... Other benign neoplasm of skin of

unspecified upper limb, including

shoulder.

D23.70....................... Other benign neoplasm of skin of

unspecified lower limb, including hip.

D24.9........................ Benign neoplasm of unspecified breast.

D31.00....................... Benign neoplasm of unspecified

conjunctiva.

D31.50....................... Benign neoplasm of unspecified lacrimal

gland and duct.

D31.60....................... Benign neoplasm of unspecified site of

unspecified orbit.

D31.90....................... Benign neoplasm of unspecified part of

unspecified eye.

D48.60....................... Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of

unspecified breast.

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

Table 4--Proposed Site Unspecified ICD-10-CM Codes To Be Removed From

the Gangrene Comorbidity Category

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

ICD10 ICD10 Description

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

I70269....................... Atherosclerosis of native arteries of

extremities with gangrene, unspecified

extremity.

I70369....................... Atherosclerosis of unspecified type of

bypass graft(s) of the extremities with

gangrene, unspecified extremity.

I70469....................... Atherosclerosis of autologous vein bypass

graft(s) of the extremities with

gangrene, unspecified extremity.

I70569....................... Atherosclerosis of nonautologous

biological bypass graft(s) of the

extremities with gangrene, unspecified

extremity.

I70669....................... Atherosclerosis of nonbiological bypass

graft(s) of the extremities with

gangrene, unspecified extremity.

I70769....................... Atherosclerosis of other type of bypass

graft(s) of the extremities with

gangrene, unspecified extremity.

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

Table 5--Proposed Site Unspecified ICD-10-CM Codes To Be Removed From

the Severe Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Diseases Category

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

ICD10 ICD10 Description

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

M8600........................ Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified site.

M86019....................... Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified shoulder.

Page 26053

M86029....................... Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified humerus.

M86039....................... Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified radius and ulna.

M86049....................... Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified hand.

M86059....................... Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified femur.

M86069....................... Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified tibia and fibula.

M86079....................... Acute hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified ankle and foot.

M8610........................ Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

site.

M86119....................... Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

shoulder.

M86129....................... Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

humerus.

M86139....................... Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

radius and ulna.

M86149....................... Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

hand.

M86159....................... Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

femur.

M86169....................... Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

tibia and fibula.

M86179....................... Other acute osteomyelitis, unspecified

ankle and foot.

M8620........................ Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified site.

M86219....................... Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified

shoulder.

M86229....................... Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified

humerus.

M86239....................... Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified

radius and ulna.

M86249....................... Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified hand.

M86259....................... Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified

femur.

M86269....................... Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified tibia

and fibula.

M86279....................... Subacute osteomyelitis, unspecified ankle

and foot.

M8630........................ Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified site.

M86319....................... Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified shoulder.

M86329....................... Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified humerus.

M86339....................... Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified radius and ulna.

M86349....................... Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified hand.

M86359....................... Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified femur.

M86369....................... Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified tibia and fibula.

M86379....................... Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis,

unspecified ankle and foot.

M8640........................ Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified site.

M86419....................... Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified shoulder.

M86429....................... Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified humerus.

M86439....................... Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified forearm.

M86449....................... Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified hand.

M86459....................... Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified femur.

M86469....................... Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified lower leg.

M86479....................... Chronic osteomyelitis with draining

sinus, unspecified ankle and foot.

M8650........................ Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified site.

M86519....................... Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified shoulder.

M86529....................... Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified humerus.

M86539....................... Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified forearm.

M86549....................... Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified hand.

M86559....................... Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified femur.

M86569....................... Other chronic hematogenous osteomyelitis,

unspecified lower leg.

M8660........................ Other chronic osteomyelitis, unspecified

site.

M86619....................... Other chronic osteomyelitis, unspecified

shoulder.

M86629....................... Other chronic osteomyelitis, unspecified

upper arm.

M86639....................... Other chronic osteomyelitis, unspecified

forearm.

M86649....................... Other chronic osteomyelitis, unspecified

hand.

M86679....................... Other chronic osteomyelitis, unspecified

ankle and foot.

M868x9....................... Other osteomyelitis, unspecified sites.

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

There are some site unspecified ICD-10-CM codes that we are not proposing to remove. In the case where the site unspecified code is the only available ICD-10-CM code, that is when a laterality code (site specific code) is not available, the site unspecified code will not be removed and it would be appropriate to submit that code.

Currently, IPFs are receiving the comorbidity adjustment using the ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for the comorbidity categories shown in Table 6 below.

Table 6--FY 2014 Current Diagnosis Codes and Adjustment Factors for

Comorbidity Categories

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

Adjustment

Description of comorbidity ICD-9-CM Diagnoses codes factor

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

Developmental Disabilities....... 317, 3180, 3181, 3182, 1.04

and 319.

Coagulation Factor Deficits...... 2860 through 2864....... 1.13

Tracheostomy..................... 51900 through 51909 and 1.06

V440.

Page 26054

Renal Failure, Acute............. 5845 through 5849, 1.11

63630, 63631, 63632,

63730, 63731, 63732,

6383, 6393, 66932,

66934, 9585.

Renal Failure, Chronic........... 40301, 40311, 40391, 1.11

40402, 40412, 40413,

40492, 40493, 5853,

5854, 5855, 5856,

5859,586, V4511, V4512,

V560, V561, and V562.

Oncology Treatment............... 1400 through 2399 with a 1.07

radiation therapy code

92.21-92.29 or

chemotherapy code 99.25.

Uncontrolled Diabetes-Mellitus 25002, 25003, 25012, 1.05

with or without complications. 25013, 25022, 25023,

25032, 25033, 25042,

25043, 25052, 25053,

25062, 25063, 25072,

25073, 25082, 25083,

25092, and 25093.

Severe Protein Calorie 260 through 262......... 1.13

Malnutrition.

Eating and Conduct Disorders..... 3071, 30750, 31203, 1.12

31233, and 31234.

Infectious Disease............... 01000 through 04110, 1.07

042, 04500 through

05319, 05440 through

05449, 0550 through

0770, 0782 through

07889, and 07950

through 07959.

Drug and/or Alcohol Induced 2910, 2920, 29212, 2922, 1.03

Mental Disorders. 30300, and 30400.

Cardiac Conditions............... 3910, 3911, 3912, 40201, 1.11

40403, 4160, 4210,

4211, and 4219.

Gangrene......................... 44024 and 7854.......... 1.10

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary 49121, 4941, 5100, 1.12

Disease. 51883, 51884, V4611,

V4612, V4613 and V4614.

Artificial Openings--Digestive 56960 through 56969, 1.08

and Urinary. 9975, and V441 through

V446.

Severe Musculoskeletal and 6960, 7100, 73000 1.09

Connective Tissue Diseases. through 73009, 73010

through 73019, and

73020 through 73029.

Poisoning........................ 96500 through 96509, 1.11

9654, 9670 through

9699, 9770, 9800

through 9809, 9830

through 9839, 986, 9890

through 9897.

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

For FY 2015, we are proposing to apply the 17 comorbidity categories for which we provide an adjustment as shown in Table 6 above. We are also proposing the ICD-10-CM/PCS codes and adjustment factors shown in Table 7 below, as well as, the removal of 153 site unspecified ICD-10-CM codes in Tables 3 through 5 above. However, the effective date of those changes would be the date when ICD-10-CM/PCS becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims.

Table 7--FY 2015 Diagnosis Codes and Adjustment Factors for Comorbidity

Categories

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

ICD-10-CM Diagnoses Adjustment

Description of comorbidity codes factor

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

Developmental Disabilities....... F70 through F79......... 1.04

Coagulation Factor Deficits...... D66 through D682........ 1.13

Tracheostomy..................... J9500 through J9509, and 1.06

Z930.

Renal Failure, Acute............. N170 through N179, 1.11

O0482, O0732, O084

O904, and T795XXA.

Renal Failure, Chronic........... I120, I1311 through 1.11

I132, N183 through N19,

Z4901 through Z4931,

Z9115, and Z992.

Oncology Treatment............... C000 through C866, C882 1.07

through C964, C96A,

C96Z, C969 through

D471, D473, D47Z1

through D47Z9, D479

through D499, K317,

K635, Q8500, and Q8501

through Q8509, with a

radiation therapy code

from ICD-10-PCS tables

08H through 0YH with a

sixth character device

value 1 Radioactive

Element, ICD-10-PCS

table CW7, ICD-10-PCS

tables D00 through DW0,

ICD-10-PCS tables D01

through DW1, tables D0Y

through DWY, or a

chemotherapy code from

ICD-10-PCS table 3E0

with a sixth character

substance value 0

Antineoplastic and a

seventh character

qualifier 5 Other

Antineoplastic.

Uncontrolled Diabetes-Mellitus E1065 and E1165......... 1.05

with or without complications.

Severe Protein Calorie E40 through E43......... 1.13

Malnutrition.

Eating and Conduct Disorders..... F5000 through F5002, 1.12

F509, F631, F6381, and

F911.

Infectious Disease............... A150 through A269, A280 1.07

through A329, A35

through A439, A46

through A480, A482

through A488, A491, A70

through A740, A7489,

A800 through A99, B0050

through B0059, B010

through B0229, B03

through B069, B08010

through B0809, B0820

through B2799, B330

through B333, B338,

B341, B471 through

B479, B950 through

B955, B958, B9730

through B9739, G032,

I673, J020, J0300,

J0301, J202, K9081,

L081, L444, M60009, and

R1111.

Page 26055

Drug and/or Alcohol Induced Alcohol dependence with 1.03

Mental Disorders. intoxication and/or

withdrawal F10121,

F10220 through F10229,

F10231, and F10921.

Drug withdrawal F1193,

F1123, F13230 through

F13239, F13930 through

F13939, F1423, F1523,

F1593, F17203, F17213,

F17223, F17293, F19230

through F19239, and

F19930 through F19939.

Drug-induced psychotic

disorder with

hallucinations F11251,

F11151, F11951, F12151,

F12251, F13151, F12951,

F13251, F13951, F14151,

F14251, F14951, F15151,

F15251, F15951, F16151,

F16251, F16951, F18151,

F18251, F18951, F19151,

F19251, and F19951.

Drug intoxication

F11220 through F11229,

F11920 through F11929,

F12120 through F12129,

F12220 through F12229,

F12920 through F12929,

F13120 through F13129,

F13220 through F13229,

F13920 through F13929,

F14120 through F14129,

F14220 through F14229,

F14920 through F14929,

F15120 through F15129,

F15220 through F15229,

F15920 through F15929,

F16120 through F16129,

F16220 through F16229,

F16920 through F16929,

F18120 through F18129,

F18220 through F18229,

F18920 through F18929,

F19120 through F19129,

F19220 through F19229,

F19230 through F19239,

and F19920 through

F19929. Opioid

dependence not listed

above F1120, F1124,

F11250, F11259, F11281

through F11288, F1129.

Cardiac Conditions............... I010 through I012, I110, 1.11

I270, I330 through

I339, and I39.

Gangrene......................... E0852, E0952, E1052, 1.10

E1152, E1352, I70261

through I70269, I70361

through I70369, I70461

through I70469, I70561

through I70569, I70661

through I70669, I70761

through I70769, I7301,

and I96.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary J441, J470 through J471, 1.12

Disease. J860, J95850, J9610

through J9622, and

Z9911 through Z9912.

Artificial Openings--Digestive K9400 through K9419, 1.08

and Urinary. N990, N99520 through

N99538, N9981, N9989,

and Z931 through Z936.

Severe Musculoskeletal and L4050 through L4059, 1.09

Connective Tissue Diseases. M320 through M329,

M4620 through M4628,

and M8600 through M869.

Poisoning........................ Note: Only includes the 1.11

codes below with

seventh character A

specifying initial

encounter. T391X1

through T391X4, T400X1

through T400X4, T401X1

through T401X4, T402X1

through T402X4, T403X1

through T403X4, T404X1

through T404X4, T40601

through T40604, T40691

through T40694, T407X1

through T407X4, T408X1

through T408X4, T40901

through T40904, T40991

through T40994, T410X1

through T410X4, T411X1

through T411X4, T41201

through T41204, T41291

through T41294, T413X1

through T413X4, T4141X

through T4144X, T423X1

through T423X4, T424X1

through T424X4, T426X1

through T426X4, T4271X

through T4274X, T428X1

through T428X4, T43011

through T43014, T43021

through T43024, T431X1

through T431X4, T43201

through T43204, T43211

through T43214, T43221

through T43224, T43291

through T43294, T433X1

through T433X4, T434X1

through T434X4, T43501

through T43504, T43591

through T43594, T43601

through T43604, T43611

through T43614, T43621

through T43624, T43631

through T43634, T43691

through T43694, T438X1

through T438X4, T4391X

through T4394X, T505X1

through T505X4, T510X1

through T5194X, T510X1

through T510X4, T5391X

through T5394X, T540X1

through T5494X, T550X1

through T551X4, T560X1

through T560X4, T571X1

through T571X4, T5801X

through T5804X, T5811X

through T5814X, T582X1

through T582X4, T588X1

through T588X4, T5891X

through T5894X, T600X1

through T600X4, T601X1

through T601X4, T602X1

through T602X4, T6041X

through T6094X, T63001

through T6394X, T6401X

through T6484X, T650X1

through T650X4, T651X1

through T651X4.

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

3. Proposed Patient Age Adjustments

As explained in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66922), we analyzed the impact of age on per diem cost by examining the age variable (that is, the range of ages) for payment adjustments.

In general, we found that the cost per day increases with age. The older age groups are more costly than the under 45 age group, the differences in per diem cost increase for each successive age group, and the differences are statistically significant.

For FY 2015, we are proposing to continue to use the patient age adjustments currently in effect as shown in Table 8 below.

Table 8--Age Groupings and Adjustment Factors

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

Adjustment

Age factor

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

Under 45................................................... 1.00

45 and under 50............................................ 1.01

50 and under 55............................................ 1.02

55 and under 60............................................ 1.04

60 and under 65............................................ 1.07

65 and under 70............................................ 1.10

70 and under 75............................................ 1.13

75 and under 80............................................ 1.15

80 and over................................................ 1.17

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

4. Proposed Variable Per Diem Adjustments

We explained in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66946) that the regression analysis indicated that per diem cost declines as the LOS increases. The variable per diem adjustments to the Federal per diem base rate account for ancillary and administrative costs that occur disproportionately in the first days after admission to an IPF.

We used a regression analysis to estimate the average differences in per diem cost among stays of different lengths. As a result of this analysis, we established variable per diem adjustments that begin on day 1 and

Page 26056

decline gradually until day 21 of a patient's stay. For day 22 and thereafter, the variable per diem adjustment remains the same each day for the remainder of the stay. However, the adjustment applied to day 1 depends upon whether the IPF has a qualifying emergency department (ED). If an IPF has a qualifying ED, it receives a 1.31 adjustment factor for day 1 of each stay. If an IPF does not have a qualifying ED, it receives a 1.19 adjustment factor for day 1 of the stay. The ED adjustment is explained in more detail in section VII.C.5 of this proposed rule.

For FY 2015, we are proposing to continue to use the variable per diem adjustment factors currently in effect as shown in Table 9 below. A complete discussion of the variable per diem adjustments appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66946).

Table 9--Variable Per Diem Adjustments

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

Adjustment

Day-of-stay factor

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

Day 1--IPF Without a Qualifying ED......................... 1.19

Day 1--IPF With a Qualifying ED............................ 1.31

Day 2...................................................... 1.12

Day 3...................................................... 1.08

Day 4...................................................... 1.05

Day 5...................................................... 1.04

Day 6...................................................... 1.02

Day 7...................................................... 1.01

Day 8...................................................... 1.01

Day 9...................................................... 1.00

Day 10..................................................... 1.00

Day 11..................................................... 0.99

Day 12..................................................... 0.99

Day 13..................................................... 0.99

Day 14..................................................... 0.99

Day 15..................................................... 0.98

Day 16..................................................... 0.97

Day 17..................................................... 0.97

Day 18..................................................... 0.96

Day 19..................................................... 0.95

Day 20..................................................... 0.95

Day 21..................................................... 0.95

After Day 21............................................... 0.92

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

C. Facility-Level Adjustments

The IPF PPS includes facility-level adjustments for the wage index, IPFs located in rural areas, teaching IPFs, cost of living adjustments for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii, and IPFs with a qualifying ED.

1. Proposed Wage Index Adjustment

a. Background

As discussed in the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27061) and in the May 2008 (73 FR 25719) and May 2009 IPF PPS notices (74 FR 20373), in order to provide an adjustment for geographic wage levels, the labor-related portion of an IPF's payment is adjusted using an appropriate wage index. Currently, an IPF's geographic wage index value is determined based on the actual location of the IPF in an urban or rural area as defined in Sec. 412.64(b)(1)(ii)(A) and (C).

b. Proposed Wage Index for FY 2015

Since the inception of the IPF PPS, we have used the pre-

reclassified, pre-floor hospital wage index in developing a wage index to be applied to IPFs because there is not an IPF-specific wage index available and we believe that IPFs generally compete in the same labor market as acute care hospitals so the pre-reclassified, pre-floor inpatient acute care hospital wage index should be reflective of labor costs of IPFs. As discussed in the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule for FY 2007 (71 FR 27061 through 27067), under the IPF PPS, the wage index is calculated using the IPPS wage index for the labor market area in which the IPF is located, without taking into account geographic reclassifications, floors, and other adjustments made to the wage index under the IPPS. For a complete description of these IPPS wage index adjustments, please see the CY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53365 through 53374). We are proposing to continue that practice for FY 2015.

We apply the wage index adjustment to the labor-related portion of the Federal rate, which is currently estimated to be 69.538 percent. This percentage reflects the labor-related relative importance of the FY 2008-based RPL market basket for FY 2015 (see section V.C. of this proposed rule).

Changes to the wage index are made in a budget-neutral manner so that updates do not increase expenditures. For FY 2015, we are proposing to apply the most recent hospital wage index (that is, the FY 2014 pre-floor, pre-reclassified hospital wage index which is the most appropriate index as it best reflects the variation in local labor costs of IPFs in the various geographic areas) using the most recent hospital wage data (that is, data from hospital cost reports for the cost reporting period beginning during FY 2010), and applying an adjustment in accordance with our budget-neutrality policy. This policy requires us to estimate the total amount of IPF PPS payments for FY 2014 using the labor-related share and the wage indices from FY 2014 divided by the total estimated IPF PPS payments for FY 2015 using the labor-related share and wage indices from FY 2015. The estimated payments are based on FY 2013 IPF claims, inflated to the appropriate FY. This quotient is the wage index budget-neutrality factor, and it is applied in the update of the Federal per diem base rate for FY 2015 in addition to the market basket described in section VI.B. of this proposed rule. The wage index budget-neutrality factor for FY 2015 is 1.0003. The wage index applicable for FY 2015 appears in Table 1 and Table 2 in Addendum B of this proposed rule.

In the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule for RY 2007 (71 FR 27061-27067), we adopted the changes discussed in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Bulletin No. 03-04 (June 6, 2003), which announced revised definitions for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), and the creation of Micropolitan Statistical Areas and Combined Statistical Areas. In adopting the OMB Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) geographic designations, we did not provide a separate transition for the CBSA-

based wage index since the IPF PPS was already in a transition period from TEFRA payments to PPS payments.

As was the case in FY 2014, for FY 2015, we will continue to use the CBSA geographic designations. The updated FY 2015 CBSA-based wage index values are presented in Tables 1 and 2 in Addendum B of this proposed rule. A complete discussion of the CBSA labor market definitions appears in the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27061 through 27067).

In keeping with established IPF PPS wage index policy, we propose to use the FY 2014 pre-floor, pre-reclassified hospital wage index (which is based on data collected from hospital cost reports submitted by hospitals for cost reporting periods beginning during FY 2010) to adjust IPF PPS payments beginning October 1, 2014.

c. OMB Bulletins

OMB publishes bulletins regarding CBSA changes, including changes to CBSA numbers and titles. In the May 2008 IPF PPS notice, we incorporated the CBSA nomenclature changes published in the most recent OMB bulletin that applies to the hospital wage index used to determine the current IPF PPS wage index and stated that we expect to continue to do the same for all the OMB CBSA nomenclature changes in future IPF PPS rules and notices, as necessary (73 FR 25721). The OMB bulletins may be accessed online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bullentins/index.html.

In accordance with our established methodology, we have historically adopted any CBSA changes that are published in the OMB bulletin that corresponds with the hospital wage index used to determine the IPF PPS

Page 26057

wage index. For FY 2015, we use the FY 2014 pre-floor, pre-reclassified hospital wage index to adjust the IPF PPS payments. On February 28, 2013, OMB issued OMB Bulletin No. 13-01, which establishes revised delineations of statistical areas based on OMB standards published in the Federal Register on June 28, 2010 and 2010 Census Bureau data. Because the FY 2014 pre-floor, pre-reclassified hospital wage index was finalized prior to the issuance of this Bulletin, the FY 2014 pre-

floor, pre-reclassified hospital wage index does not reflect OMB's new area delineations based on the 2010 Census and, thus, the FY 2015 IPF PPS wage index will not reflect the OMB changes.

CMS intends to propose changes to the hospital wage index based on this OMB Bulletin in the FY 2015 IPPS/LTCH PPS proposed rule, as stated in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS proposed rule (78 FR 27552 through 27553). Therefore, we anticipate that the OMB Bulletin changes will be reflected in the FY 2015 hospital wage index. Because we base the IPF PPS wage index on the hospital wage index from the prior year, we anticipate that the OMB Bulletin changes would be reflected in the FY 2016 IPPS PPS wage index.

2. Proposed Adjustment for Rural Location

In the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule, we provided a 17 percent payment adjustment for IPFs located in a rural area. This adjustment was based on the regression analysis, which indicated that the per diem cost of rural facilities was 17 percent higher than that of urban facilities after accounting for the influence of the other variables included in the regression. For FY 2015, we are proposing to apply a 17 percent payment adjustment for IPFs located in a rural area as defined at Sec. 412.64(b)(1)(ii)(C). A complete discussion of the adjustment for rural locations appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66954).

3. Proposed Teaching Adjustment

In the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule, we implemented regulations at Sec. 412.424(d)(1)(iii) to establish a facility-level adjustment for IPFs that are, or are part of, teaching hospitals. The teaching adjustment accounts for the higher indirect operating costs experienced by hospitals that participate in graduate medical education (GME) programs. The payment adjustments are made based on the ratio of the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) interns and residents training in the IPF and the IPF's average daily census.

Medicare makes direct GME payments (for direct costs such as resident and teaching physician salaries, and other direct teaching costs) to all teaching hospitals including those paid under a PPS, and those paid under the TEFRA rate-of-increase limits. These direct GME payments are made separately from payments for hospital operating costs and are not part of the IPF PPS. The direct GME payments do not address the estimated higher indirect operating costs teaching hospitals may face.

The results of the regression analysis of FY 2002 IPF data established the basis for the payment adjustments included in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule. The results showed that the indirect teaching cost variable is significant in explaining the higher costs of IPFs that have teaching programs. We calculated the teaching adjustment based on the IPF's ``teaching variable,'' which is one plus the ratio of the number of FTE residents training in the IPF (subject to limitations described below) to the IPF's average daily census (ADC).

We established the teaching adjustment in a manner that limited the incentives for IPFs to add FTE residents for the purpose of increasing their teaching adjustment. We imposed a cap on the number of FTE residents that may be counted for purposes of calculating the teaching adjustment. The cap limits the number of FTE residents that teaching IPFs may count for the purpose of calculating the IPF PPS teaching adjustment, not the number of residents teaching institutions can hire or train. We calculated the number of FTE residents that trained in the IPF during a ``base year'' and used that FTE resident number as the cap. An IPF's FTE resident cap is ultimately determined based on the final settlement of the IPF's most recent cost report filed before November 15, 2004 (that is, the publication date of the IPF PPS final rule).

In the regression analysis, the logarithm of the teaching variable had a coefficient value of 0.5150. We converted this cost effect to a teaching payment adjustment by treating the regression coefficient as an exponent and raising the teaching variable to a power equal to the coefficient value. We note that the coefficient value of 0.5150 was based on the regression analysis holding all other components of the payment system constant. A complete discussion of how the teaching adjustment was calculated appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66954 through 66957) and the May 2008 IPF PPS notice (73 FR 25721).

As with other adjustment factors derived through the regression analysis, we do not plan to rerun the regression analysis until we analyze IPF PPS data. Therefore, in this proposed rule, for FY 2015, we are proposing to retain the coefficient value of 0.5150 for the teaching adjustment to the Federal per diem base rate.

a. FTE Intern and Resident Cap Adjustment

CMS had been asked by the IPF industry to reconsider the original IPF teaching policy and permit a temporary increase in the FTE resident cap when an IPF increases the number of FTE residents it trains due to the acceptance of displaced residents (residents that are training in an IPF or a program before the IPF or program closed) when another IPF closes or closes its medical residency training program.

To help us assess how many IPFs had been, or were expected to be adversely affected by their inability to adjust their caps under Sec. 412.424(d)(1)(iii) and under these situations, we specifically requested public comment from IPFs in the May 1, 2009 IPF PPS notice (74 FR 20376 through 20377). A summary of the comments and our responses can be reviewed in the April 30, 2010 IPF PPS notice (75 FR 23106 through 23117). All of the commenters recommended that CMS modify the IPF PPS teaching adjustment policy, supporting a policy change that would permit the IPF PPS residency cap to be temporarily adjusted when that IPF trains displaced residents due to closure of an IPF or closure of an IPF's medical residency training program(s). The commenters recommended a temporary resident cap adjustment policy similar to the policies applied in similar contexts for acute care hospitals.

We agreed with the commenters so, in the May 6, 2011 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 26455), we adopted the temporary resident cap adjustment policies described below, similar to the temporary adjustments to the FTE cap used for acute care hospitals.

b. Temporary Adjustment to the FTE Cap To Reflect Residents Added Due to Hospital Closure

In the May 6, 2011 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 26455), we added a new Sec. 412.424(d)(1)(iii)(F)(1) to allow a temporary adjustment to an IPF's FTE cap to reflect residents added because of another IPF's closure on or after July 1, 2011, to be effective for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2011. For purposes of this policy, we adopted the IPPS definition of ``closure of a hospital'' in 42 CFR 413.79(h) to

Page 26058

mean the IPF terminates its Medicare provider agreement as specified in 42 CFR 489.52. The regulations permit an adjustment to an IPF's FTE cap if the IPF meets the following criteria: (1) The IPF is training displaced residents from another IPF that closed on or after July 1, 2011; and (2) no later than 60 days after the hospital first begins training the displaced residents, the IPF that is training the displaced residents from the closed IPF submits a request for a temporary adjustment to its FTE cap to its Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), and documents that the IPF is eligible for this temporary adjustment to its FTE cap by identifying the residents who have come from the closed IPF and have caused the requesting IPF to exceed its cap, (or the IPF may already be over its cap) and specifies the length of time that the adjustment is needed.

After the displaced residents leave the IPF's training program or complete their residency program, the IPF's cap would revert to its original level. Further, the total amount of temporary cap adjustments that can be distributed to all receiving hospitals cannot exceed the cap amount of the IPF that closed.

c. Temporary Adjustment to FTE To Cap Reflect Residents Affected by Residency Program Closure

In the May 6, 2011 final rule (76 FR 26455), we added a new Sec. 412.424(d)(1)(iii)(F)(2) providing that if an IPF that ceases training residents in a residency training program(s) agrees to temporarily reduce its FTE cap, we would allow another IPF to receive a temporary adjustment to its FTE cap to reflect residents added because of the closure of another IPF's residency training program. For purposes of this policy on closed residency programs, we apply the IPPS definition of ``closure of a hospital residency training program'' to mean that the hospital ceases to offer training for residents in a particular approved medical residency training program as specified in Sec. 413.79(h). The methodology for adjusting the caps for the ``receiving IPF'' and the ``IPF that closed its program'' is described below.

i. Receiving IPF

The regulations at Sec. 412.424(d)(1)(iii)(F)(2)(i) allow an IPF to receive a temporary adjustment to its FTE cap to reflect residents added because of the closure of another IPF's residency training program for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2011 if--

The IPF is training additional residents from the residency training program of an IPF that closed its program on or after July 1, 2011.

No later than 60 days after the IPF begins to train the residents, the IPF submits to its MAC a request for a temporary adjustment to its FTE cap, documents that the IPF is eligible for this temporary adjustment by identifying the residents who have come from another IPF's closed program and have caused the IPF to exceed its cap, (or the IPF may already be in excess of its cap), specifies the length of time the adjustment is needed, and submits to its MAC a copy of the FTE cap reduction statement by the IPF closing the residency training program.

ii. IPF That Closed Its Program

The regulations at Sec. 412.424(d)(1)(iii)(F)(2)(ii) provide that an IPF that agrees to train residents who have been displaced by the closure of another IPF's resident teaching program may receive a temporary FTE cap adjustment only if the IPF that closed a program:

Temporarily reduces its FTE cap based on the number of FTE residents in each program year, training in the program at the time of the program's closure.

No later than 60 days after the residents who were in the closed program begin training at another IPF, submits to its MAC a statement signed and dated by its representative that specifies that it agrees to the temporary reduction in its FTE cap to allow the IPF training the displaced residents to obtain a temporary adjustment to its cap; identifies the residents who were training at the time of the program's closure; identifies the IPFs to which the residents are transferring once the program closes; and specifies the reduction for the applicable program years.

A complete discussion on the temporary adjustment to the FTE cap to reflect residents added due to hospital closure and by residency program appears in the January 27, 2011 IPF PPS proposed rule (76 FR 5018 through 5020) and the May 6, 2011 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 26453 through 26456).

4. Proposed Cost of Living Adjustment for IPFs Located in Alaska and Hawaii

The IPF PPS includes a payment adjustment for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii based upon the county in which the IPF is located. As we explained in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule, the FY 2002 data demonstrated that IPFs in Alaska and Hawaii had per diem costs that were disproportionately higher than other IPFs. Other Medicare PPSs (for example, the IPPS and LTCH PPS) adopted a cost of living adjustment (COLA) to account for the cost differential of care furnished in Alaska and Hawaii.

We analyzed the effect of applying a COLA to payments for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii. The results of our analysis demonstrated that a COLA for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii would improve payment equity for these facilities. As a result of this analysis, we provided a COLA in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule.

A COLA for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii is made by multiplying the nonlabor-related portion of the Federal per diem base rate by the applicable COLA factor based on the COLA area in which the IPF is located.

The COLA factors are published on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Web site (http://www.opm.gov/oca/cola/rates.asp).

We note that the COLA areas for Alaska are not defined by county as are the COLA areas for Hawaii. In 5 CFR 591.207, the OPM established the following COLA areas:

City of Anchorage, and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius by road, as measured from the Federal courthouse;

City of Fairbanks, and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius by road, as measured from the Federal courthouse;

City of Juneau, and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius by road, as measured from the Federal courthouse;

Rest of the State of Alaska.

As stated in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule, we update the COLA factors according to updates established by the OPM. However, sections 1911 through 1919 of the Nonforeign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act, as contained in subtitle B of title XIX of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2010 (Pub. L. 111-84, October 28, 2009), transitions the Alaska and Hawaii COLAs to locality pay. Under section 1914 of Public Law 111-84, locality pay is being phased in over a 3-year period beginning in January 2010, with COLA rates frozen as of the date of enactment, October 28, 2009, and then proportionately reduced to reflect the phase-in of locality pay.

When we published the proposed COLA factors in the January 2011 IPF PPS proposed rule (76 FR 4998), we inadvertently selected the FY 2010 COLA rates which had been reduced to account for the phase-in of locality pay. We did not intend to propose the reduced COLA rates because that would have understated the adjustment. Since the 2009 COLA rates did not reflect the phase-in of locality pay, we finalized the FY 2009 COLA rates for RY 2010

Page 26059

through RY 2014 and indicated our intent to address the COLA in FY 2015. Currently, IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii receive the updated COLA factors based on the COLA area in which the IPF is located as shown in Table 10 below.

TABLE 10--COLA Factors for Alaska and Hawaii IPFs

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

Cost of living

Area adjustment factor

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

Alaska:

City of Anchorage and 80-kilometer (50-mile) 1.23

radius by road..................................

City of Fairbanks and 80-kilometer (50-mile) 1.23

radius by road..................................

City of Juneau and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius 1.23

by road.........................................

Rest of Alaska................................... 1.25

Hawaii:

City and County of Honolulu...................... 1.25

County of Hawaii................................. 1.18

County of Kauai.................................. 1.25

County of Maui and County of Kalawao............. 1.25

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

(The above factors are based on data obtained from the U.S. Office of

Personnel Management Web site at: http://www.opm.gov/oca/cola/rates.asp.)

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH final rule (77 FR 53700 through 53701), CMS established a methodology for FY 2014 to update the COLA factors for Alaska and Hawaii. Under that methodology, we use a comparison of the growth in the Consumer Price Indices (CPIs) in Anchorage, Alaska and Honolulu, Hawaii relative to the growth in the overall CPI as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to update the COLA factors for all areas in Alaska and Hawaii, respectively. As discussed in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH proposed rule (77 FR 28145), because BLS publishes CPI data for only Anchorage, Alaska and Honolulu, Hawaii, our methodology for updating the COLA factors uses a comparison of the growth in the CPIs for those cities relative to the growth in the overall CPI to update the COLA factors for all areas in Alaska and Hawaii, respectively. We believe that the relative price differences between these cities and the United States (as measured by the CPIs mentioned above) are generally appropriate proxies for the relative price differences between the ``other areas'' of Alaska and Hawaii and the United States.

The CPIs for ``All Items'' that BLS publishes for Anchorage, Alaska, Honolulu, Hawaii, and for the average U.S. city are based on a different mix of commodities and services than is reflected in the nonlabor-related share of the IPPS market basket. As such, under the methodology we established to update the COLA factors, we calculated a ``reweighted CPI'' using the CPI for commodities and the CPI for services for each of the geographic areas to mirror the composition of the IPPS market basket nonlabor-related share. The current composition of BLS' CPI for ``All Items'' for all of the respective areas is approximately 40 percent commodities and 60 percent services. However, the nonlabor-related share of the IPPS market basket is comprised of 60 percent commodities and 40 percent services. Therefore, under the methodology established for FY 2014 in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule, we created reweighted indexes for Anchorage, Alaska, Honolulu, Hawaii, and the average U.S. city using the respective CPI commodities index and CPI services index and applying the approximate 60/40 weights from the IPPS market basket. This approach is appropriate because we would continue to make a COLA for hospitals located in Alaska and Hawaii by multiplying the nonlabor-related portion of the standardized amount by a COLA factor.

Under the COLA factor update methodology established in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH final rule, we adjust payments made to hospitals located in Alaska and Hawaii by incorporating a 25-percent cap on the CPI-updated COLA factors. We note that OPM's COLA factors were calculated with a statutorily mandated cap of 25 percent, and since at least 1984, we have exercised our discretionary authority to adjust Alaska and Hawaii payments by incorporating this cap. In keeping with this historical policy, we would continue to use such a cap, as our proposal is based on OPM's COLA factors. We believe this approach is appropriate because our CPI-updated COLA factors use the 2009 OPM COLA factors as a basis.

We believe it is appropriate to adopt the same methodology for the COLA factors applied under the IPPS because IPFs are hospitals with a similar mix of commodities and services. In addition, we think it is appropriate to have a consistent policy approach with that of other hospitals in Alaska and Hawaii. Therefore, we are proposing to adopt the cost of living adjustment factors shown in Table 11 below for IPFs located in Alaska and Hawaii.

Table 11--Cost-of-Living Adjustment Factors: Alaska and Hawaii Hospitals

Area COLA Factor

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

Cost of living

Area adjustment factor

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

Alaska:

City of Anchorage and 80-kilometer (50-mile) 1.23

radius by road..................................

City of Fairbanks and 80-kilometer (50-mile) 1.23

radius by road..................................

City of Juneau and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius 1.23

by road.........................................

Rest of Alaska................................... 1.25

Hawaii:

City and County of Honolulu...................... 1.25

County of Hawaii................................. 1.19

Page 26060

County of Kauai.................................. 1.25

County of Maui and County of Kalawao............. 1.25

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

5. Proposed Adjustment for IPFs With a Qualifying Emergency Department (ED)

The IPF PPS includes a facility-level adjustment for IPFs with qualifying EDs. We provide an adjustment to the Federal per diem base rate to account for the costs associated with maintaining a full-

service ED. The adjustment is intended to account for ED costs incurred by a freestanding psychiatric hospital with a qualifying ED or a distinct part psychiatric unit of an acute care hospital or a CAH for preadmission services otherwise payable under the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) furnished to a beneficiary on the date of the beneficiary's admission to the hospital and during the day immediately preceding the date of admission to the IPF (see Sec. 413.40(c)(2)) and the overhead cost of maintaining the ED. This payment is a facility-level adjustment that applies to all IPF admissions (with one exception described below), regardless of whether a particular patient receives preadmission services in the hospital's ED.

The ED adjustment is incorporated into the variable per diem adjustment for the first day of each stay for IPFs with a qualifying ED. That is, IPFs with a qualifying ED receive an adjustment factor of 1.31 as the variable per diem adjustment for day 1 of each stay. If an IPF does not have a qualifying ED, it receives an adjustment factor of 1.19 as the variable per diem adjustment for day 1 of each patient stay.

The ED adjustment is made on every qualifying claim except as described below. As specified in Sec. 412.424(d)(1)(v)(B), the ED adjustment is not made when a patient is discharged from an acute care hospital or CAH and admitted to the same hospital's or CAH's psychiatric unit. We clarified in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66960) that an ED adjustment is not made in this case because the costs associated with ED services are reflected in the DRG payment to the acute care hospital or through the reasonable cost payment made to the CAH.

Therefore, when patients are discharged from an acute care hospital or CAH and admitted to the same hospital or CAH's psychiatric unit, the IPF receives the 1.19 adjustment factor as the variable per diem adjustment for the first day of the patient's stay in the IPF.

For FY 2015, we are proposing to retain the 1.31 adjustment factor for IPFs with qualifying EDs. A complete discussion of the steps involved in the calculation of the ED adjustment factor appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66959 through 66960) and the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27070 through 27072).

D. Other Payment Adjustments and Policies

1. Outlier Payments

The IPF PPS includes an outlier adjustment to promote access to IPF care for those patients who require expensive care and to limit the financial risk of IPFs treating unusually costly patients. In the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule, we implemented regulations at Sec. 412.424(d)(3)(i) to provide a per-case payment for IPF stays that are extraordinarily costly. Providing additional payments to IPFs for extremely costly cases strongly improves the accuracy of the IPF PPS in determining resource costs at the patient and facility level. These additional payments reduce the financial losses that would otherwise be incurred in treating patients who require more costly care and, therefore, reduce the incentives for IPFs to under-serve these patients.

We make outlier payments for discharges in which an IPF's estimated total cost for a case exceeds a fixed dollar loss threshold amount (multiplied by the IPF's facility-level adjustments) plus the Federal per diem payment amount for the case.

In instances when the case qualifies for an outlier payment, we pay 80 percent of the difference between the estimated cost for the case and the adjusted threshold amount for days 1 through 9 of the stay (consistent with the median LOS for IPFs in FY 2002), and 60 percent of the difference for day 10 and thereafter. We established the 80 percent and 60 percent loss sharing ratios because we were concerned that a single ratio established at 80 percent (like other Medicare PPSs) might provide an incentive under the IPF per diem payment system to increase LOS in order to receive additional payments.

After establishing the loss sharing ratios, we determined the current fixed dollar loss threshold amount of $10,245 through payment simulations designed to compute a dollar loss beyond which payments are estimated to meet the 2 percent outlier spending target. Each year when we update the IPF PPS, we simulate payments using the latest available data to compute the fixed dollar loss threshold so that outlier payments represent 2 percent of total projected IPF PPS payments.

a. Proposed Update to the Outlier Fixed Dollar Loss Threshold Amount

In accordance with the update methodology described in Sec. 412.428(d), we propose to update the fixed dollar loss threshold amount used under the IPF PPS outlier policy. Based on the regression analysis and payment simulations used to develop the IPF PPS, we established a 2 percent outlier policy which strikes an appropriate balance between protecting IPFs from extraordinarily costly cases while ensuring the adequacy of the Federal per diem base rate for all other cases that are not outlier cases.

Based on an analysis of the latest available data (that is, FY 2013 IPF claims) and rate increases, we believe it is necessary to update the fixed dollar loss threshold amount in order to maintain an outlier percentage that equals 2 percent of total estimated IPF PPS payments.

In the May 2006 IPF PPS final rule (71 FR 27072), we describe the process by which we calculate the outlier fixed dollar loss threshold amount. We are not proposing changes to this process for FY 2015. We begin by simulating aggregate payments with and without an outlier policy, and applying an iterative process to determine an outlier fixed dollar loss threshold amount that will result in estimated outlier payments being equal to 2 percent of total estimated payments under the simulation. Based on this process, using the FY 2013 claims data, we estimate that IPF outlier payments as a percentage of total estimated payments are approximately 1.9 percent in FY

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2014. Thus, we propose to update the FY 2015 IPF outlier threshold amount to ensure that estimated FY 2015 outlier payments are approximately 2 percent of total estimated IPF payments. The outlier fixed dollar loss threshold amount of $10,245 for FY 2014 would be changed to $10,125 for FY 2015 to increase estimated outlier payments and thereby maintain estimated outlier payments at 2 percent of total estimated aggregate IPF payments for FY 2015.

b. Proposed Update to IPF Cost-to-Charge Ratio Ceilings

Under the IPF PPS, an outlier payment is made if an IPF's cost for a stay exceeds a fixed dollar loss threshold amount plus the IPF PPS amount. In order to establish an IPF's cost for a particular case, we multiply the IPF's reported charges on the discharge bill by its overall cost-to-charge ratio (CCR). This approach to determining an IPF's cost is consistent with the approach used under the IPPS and other PPSs. In the June 2003 IPPS final rule (68 FR 34494), we implemented changes to the IPPS policy used to determine CCRs for acute care hospitals because we became aware that payment vulnerabilities resulted in inappropriate outlier payments. Under the IPPS, we established a statistical measure of accuracy for CCRs in order to ensure that aberrant CCR data did not result in inappropriate outlier payments.

As we indicated in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66961), because we believe that the IPF outlier policy is susceptible to the same payment vulnerabilities as the IPPS, we adopted a method to ensure the statistical accuracy of CCRs under the IPF PPS. Specifically, we adopted the following procedure in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule: We calculated two national ceilings, one for IPFs located in rural areas and one for IPFs located in urban areas. We computed the ceilings by first calculating the national average and the standard deviation of the CCR for both urban and rural IPFs using the most recent CCRs entered in the CY 2014 Provider Specific File.

To determine the rural and urban ceilings, we multiplied each of the standard deviations by 3 and added the result to the appropriate national CCR average (either rural or urban). The upper threshold CCR for IPFs in FY 2015 is 1.8823 for rural IPFs, and 1.7049 for urban IPFs, based on CBSA-based geographic designations. If an IPF's CCR is above the applicable ceiling, the ratio is considered statistically inaccurate and we assign the appropriate national (either rural or urban) median CCR to the IPF.

We apply the national CCRs to the following situations:

++ New IPFs that have not yet submitted their first Medicare cost report. We continue to use these national CCRs until the facility's actual CCR can be computed using the first tentatively or final settled cost report.

++ IPFs whose overall CCR is in excess of 3 standard deviations above the corresponding national geometric mean (that is, above the ceiling).

++ Other IPFs for which the MAC obtains inaccurate or incomplete data with which to calculate a CCR.

We are not proposing to make any changes to the application of the national CCRs or to the procedures for updating the CCR ceilings in FY 2015. However, we are proposing to update the FY 2015 national median and ceiling CCRs for urban and rural IPFs based on the CCRs entered in the latest available IPF PPS Provider Specific File. Specifically, for FY 2015, and to be used in each of the three situations listed above, using the most recent CCRs entered in the CY 2014 Provider Specific File we estimate the national median CCR of 0.6220 for rural IPFs and the national median CCR of 0.4700 for urban IPFs. These calculations are based on the IPF's location (either urban or rural) using the CBSA-

based geographic designations.

A complete discussion regarding the national median CCRs appears in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66961 through 66964).

2. Future Refinements

For RY 2012, we identified several areas of concern for future refinement and we invited comments on these issues in our RY 2012 proposed and final rules. For further discussion of these issues and to review the public comments, we refer readers to the RY 2012 IPF PPS proposed rule (76 FR 4998) and final rule (76 FR 26432).

As we have indicated throughout this proposed rule, we have delayed making refinements to the IPF PPS until we have completed a thorough analysis of IPF PPS data on which to base those refinements. Specifically, we explained that we will delay updating the adjustment factors derived from the regression analysis until we have IPF PPS data that include as much information as possible regarding the patient-

level characteristics of the population that each IPF serves. We have begun the necessary analysis to better understand IPF industry practices so that we may refine the IPF PPS as appropriate. Using more recent data, we plan to re-run the regression analyses and the patient-

and facility-level adjustments. While we are not proposing refinements in this proposed rule, we expect that in the rulemaking for FY 2017 we will be ready to present the results of our analysis.
Secretary's Recommendations

Section 1886(e)(4)(A) of the Act requires the Secretary, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Medicare Payment Advisory Committee (MedPAC), to recommend update factors for inpatient hospital services (including IPFs) for each FY that take into account the amounts necessary for the efficient and effective delivery of medically appropriate and necessary care of high quality. Section 1886(e)(5) of the Act requires the Secretary to publish the recommended and final update factors in the Federal Register.

In the past, the Secretary's recommendations and a discussion about the MedPAC recommendations for the IPF PPS were included in the IPPS proposed and final rules. The market basket update for the IPF PPS was also included in the IPPS proposed and final rules, as well as in the IPF PPS annual update.

Beginning in FY 2013, however, we have only published the market basket update for the IPF PPS in the annual IPF PPS FY update and not in the IPPS proposed and final rules. In addition, for any years in which MedPAC makes recommendations for the IPF PPS, those recommendations will be addressed in the IPF PPS update.

MedPAC did not make any recommendations for the IPF PPS for FY 2015. For the update to the IPF PPS standard Federal rate for FY 2015, see section IV B. of this proposed rule.
Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Program

1. Statutory Authority

Section 1886(s)(4) of the Act, as added and amended by sections 3401(f) and 10322(a) of the Affordable Care Act, requires the Secretary to implement a quality reporting program for inpatient psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. Section 1886(s)(4)(A)(i) of the Act requires that, for rate year (RY) 2014 and each subsequent rate year, the Secretary shall reduce any annual update to a standard Federal rate for discharges occurring during the rate year by 2.0 percentage points for any inpatient psychiatric hospital or psychiatric unit that does not comply with quality data submission requirements with respect to an applicable rate year.

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As noted above, section 1886(s)(4)(A)(i) of the Act uses the term ``rate year.'' Beginning with the annual update of the inpatient psychiatric facility prospective payment system (IPF PPS) that took effect on July 1, 2011 (RY 2012), we aligned the IPF PPS update with the annual update of the ICD-9-CM codes, which are effective on October 1 of each year. The change allows for annual payment updates and the ICD-9-CM coding update to occur on the same schedule and appear in the same Federal Register document, thus making updating rules more administratively efficient. To reflect the change to the annual payment rate update cycle, we revised the regulations at 42 CFR 412.402 to specify that, beginning October 1, 2012, the rate year update period would be the 12-month period of October 1 through September 30, which we refer to as a fiscal year (FY) (76 FR 26435). For more information regarding this terminology change, we refer readers to section III. of the RY 2012 IPF PPS final rule (76 FR 26434 through 26435).

As provided in section 1886(s)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act, the application of the reduction for failure to report under section 1886(s)(4)(A)(i) of the Act may result in an annual update of less than 0.0 percent for a fiscal year, and may result in payment rates under section 1886(s)(1) of the Act being less than the payment rates for the preceding year. In addition, section 1886(s)(4)(B) of the Act requires that the application of the reduction to a standard Federal rate update be noncumulative across fiscal years. Thus, any reduction applied under section 1886(s)(4)(A) of the Act will apply only with respect to the fiscal year rate involved and the Secretary shall not take into account the reduction in computing the payment amount under the system described in section 1886(s)(1) of the Act for subsequent years.

Section 1886(s)(4)(C) of the Act requires that, for FY 2014 (October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014) and each subsequent year, each psychiatric hospital and psychiatric unit shall submit to the Secretary data on quality measures as specified by the Secretary. The data shall be submitted in a form and manner, and at a time, specified by the Secretary. Under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(i) of the Act, measures selected for the quality reporting program must have been endorsed by the entity with a contract under section 1890(a) of the Act. The National Quality Forum (NQF) currently holds this contract.

Section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act provides that, in the case of a specified area or medical topic determined appropriate by the Secretary for which a feasible and practical measure has not been endorsed by the entity with a contract under section 1890(a) of the Act, the Secretary may specify a measure that is not so endorsed as long as due consideration is given to measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization identified by the Secretary. Pursuant to section 1886(s)(4)(D)(iii) of the Act, the Secretary shall publish the measures applicable to the FY 2014 IPFQR Program no later than October 1, 2012.

Section 1886(s)(4)(E) of the Act requires the Secretary to establish procedures for making public the data submitted by inpatient psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units under the IPFQR Program. These procedures must ensure that a facility has the opportunity to review its data prior to the data being made public. The Secretary must report quality measures that relate to services furnished by the psychiatric hospitals and units on the CMS Web site.

2. Application of the Payment Update Reduction for Failure To Report for the FY 2015 Payment Determination and Subsequent Years

Beginning in FY 2014, section 1886(s)(4)(A)(i) of the Act requires the application of a 2.0 percentage point reduction to the applicable annual update to a Federal standard rate for those psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units that fail to comply with the quality reporting requirements implemented in accordance with section 1886(s)(4)(C) of the Act, as detailed below. The application of the reduction may result in an annual update for a fiscal year that is less than 0.0 percent and in payment rates for a fiscal year being less than the payment rates for the preceding fiscal year. Pursuant to section 1886(s)(4)(B) of the Act, any such reduction is not cumulative and will apply only to the fiscal year involved. In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53678), we adopted requirements regarding the application of the payment reduction to the annual update of the standard Federal rate for failure to report data on measures selected for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years and added new regulatory text at 42 CFR 412.424 to codify these requirements.

3. Covered Entities

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53645), we established that the IPFQR Program's quality reporting requirements cover those psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units paid under Medicare's IPF PPS (42 CFR 412.404(b)). Generally, psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units within acute care and critical access hospitals that treat Medicare patients are paid under the IPF PPS. For more information on the application of, and exceptions to, payments under the IPF PPS, we refer readers to section IV. of the November 15, 2004 IPF PPS final rule (69 FR 66926). As we noted in the FY 2013 IPPS/

LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53645), we use the term ``inpatient psychiatric facility'' (IPF) to refer to both inpatient psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. This usage follows the terminology that we have used in the past in our IPF PPS regulations (42 CFR 412.402).

4. Considerations in Selecting Quality Measures

In implementing the IPFQR Program, our overarching objective is to support the HHS National Quality Strategy (NQS) and CMS Quality Strategy's goal for better health care for individuals, better health for populations, and lower costs for health care services. More information on the CMS Quality Strategy can be found at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/QualityInitiativesGenInfo/CMS-Quality-Strategy.html. Implementation of the IPFQR Program works to achieve the goals of the CMS Quality Strategy by promoting transparency around the quality of care provided at IPFs to support patient decision-making and drive quality improvement, as well as to further the alignment of quality measurement and improvement goals at IPFs with those of other health care providers.

For purposes of the IPFQR Program, section 1886(s)(4)(D)(i) of the Act requires that any measure specified by the Secretary must have been endorsed by the entity with a contract under section 1890(a) of the Act. However, the statutory requirements under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act provide an exception that, in the case of a specified area or medical topic determined appropriate by the Secretary for which a feasible and practical measure has not been endorsed by the entity with a contract under section 1890(a) of the Act, the Secretary may specify a measure that is not so endorsed provided due consideration is given to measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization identified by the Secretary.

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We seek to collect data in a manner that balances the need for information related to the full spectrum of quality performance and the need to minimize the burden of data collection and reporting. We have focused on measures that have high impact and support CMS and HHS priorities for improved quality and efficiency of care provided by IPFs. We refer readers to the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53645 through 53646) for a detailed discussion of the considerations taken into account for measure development and selection.

Measures proposed for the program were included in a publicly available document entitled ``List of Measures under Consideration for December 1, 2013'' in compliance with section 1890A(a)(2) of the Act, and they were reviewed by the MAP in its ``MAP Pre-Rulemaking Report: 2014 Recommendations on Measures for More than 20 Federal Programs,'' which is available on the NQF Web site a http://www.qualityforum.org/Setting_Priorities/Partnership/Measure_Applications_Partnership.aspx. We considered the input and recommendations provided by the MAP in selecting measures to propose for the IPFQR Program at this time.

5. Quality Measures

a. Proposed Quality Measures for the FY 2016 Payment Determination and Subsequent Years

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53646 through 53652), we adopted six chart-abstracted IPF quality measures for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent program years.

We note that, at the time that we adopted the measures in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53258), providers were using ICD-

9-CM codes. We are proposing the conversion of ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/

PCS codes for the IPF PPS in this proposed rule, but in light of PAMA, the effective date of those changes would be the date when ICD-10 becomes the required medical data code set for use on Medicare claims. We do not anticipate that this change will have substantive effects on any measures at this time. CMS will update the user manual, discussed further in section V below to reflect any necessary measure updates. Generally, measures adopted for the IPFQR Program will remain in the Program for all subsequent years, unless and until specifically stated otherwise (such as, for example, through removal or replacement).

In the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50890 through 50895), we added one new chart-abstracted measure for the IPFQR Program: Alcohol Use Screening (SUB-1) (NQF 1661). We also added one new claims-based measure: Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness (FUH) (NQF 0576). Both measures apply to the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years, unless and until we change them through future rulemaking.

The table below sets out the previously adopted measures.

Table 12--Previously Adopted Quality Measures for the IPFQR Program

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National quality strategy priority NQF No. Measure ID Measure description

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

Patient Safety............................... 0640 HBIPS-2 Hours of Physical Restraint Use *

0641 HBIPS-3 Hours of Seclusion Use *

Clinical Quality of Care..................... 0552 HBIPS-4 Patients Discharged on Multiple

Antipsychotic Medications *

0560 HBIPS-5 Patients Discharged on Multiple

Antipsychotic Medications with

Appropriate Justification *

1661 SUB-1 Alcohol Use Screening **

0576 FUH Follow-Up After Hospitalization

for Mental Illness **

Care Coordination............................ 0557 HBIPS-6 Post-Discharge Continuing Care

Plan Created *

0558 HBIPS-7 Post-Discharge Continuing Care

Plan Transmitted to Next Level

of Care Provider Upon Discharge

*

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

* Quality measures adopted in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule for the FY 2014 payment determination and

subsequent years.

** Quality measures adopted in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule for the FY 2016 payment determination and

subsequent years.

We note that in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50896 through 50897 and 50900), we also adopted for the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years a voluntary collection of information--IPF Assessment of Patient Experience of Care (now renamed Assessment of Patient Experience of Care), which was to be collected using a Web-Based Measures Tool, and which would not affect an IPF's FY 2016 payment determination. We also noted that we intend to propose to make this a mandatory measure in future rulemaking (78 FR 50897), which we do in this proposed rule.

b. Proposed Quality Measures for the FY 2016 Payment Determination and Subsequent Years

We are proposing to add two new measures to the IPFQR Program to those already adopted for the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years: (1) Assessment of Patient Experience of Care; and (2) Use of an Electronic Health Record. We are not proposing to remove or replace any of the previously adopted measures from the IPFQR Program for FY 2016. These two measures will be captured in the IPF Web-based Measure Tool, which can be accessed through the QualityNet home page at: http://www.qualitynet.org/dcs/ContentServer?pagename=QnetPublic/Page/QnetHomepage. The Tool will be updated so when IPFs submit their data for FY 2016 (between July 1, 2015 and August 15, 2015) there will be a place to provide responses to these two structural measures.

1. Assessment of Patient Experience of Care

Improvement of experience of care for patients, families, and caregivers is one of our objectives within the CMS Quality Strategy and is not currently addressed in the IPFQR Program. Surveys of individuals about their experience in all health care settings provide important information as to whether or not high-quality, person-centered care is actually provided and address elements of service delivery that matter most to recipients of care.

We included the measure ``Inpatient Consumer Survey (ICS) Consumer Evaluation of Inpatient Behavioral Healthcare Services'' (NQF 0726) in our ``List of Measures under Consideration for December 1, 2102.'' The measure would have gathered clients' evaluation of their inpatient care based on six domains--outcome, dignity, rights, treatment, environment, and empowerment. The MAP provided input on the measure and supported its inclusion in the IPFQR Program. However, we did not propose to adopt

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the measure in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS proposed rule for several reasons, including potential reporting and information collection burdens in a new program, and compatibility with the content and format of other similar CMS beneficiary surveys (78 FR 27740 and 78 FR 50896). We also recognized the challenges of measuring patient experience of care, particularly for involuntary cases and geriatric psychiatric patients suffering from dementia. In addition, we recognized that IPFs may have developed their own survey instruments, which we wanted to learn more about prior to requiring collection of a patient experience of care survey for the IPFQR (78 FR 50897). Instead, we indicated our intention to pursue the adoption of a standardized measure of patient experience of care for the IPFQR program in the near future.

In the final rule, in an effort to proceed cautiously with the selection of an assessment instrument and collection protocol, and as an intermediate measure, we implemented a voluntary collection of information on whether IPFs administer a detailed assessment of patient experience of care using a standardized collection protocol and a structured instrument. If the IPFs answered ``Yes,'' we also asked them to indicate the name of the survey that they administer. We indicated our intention to propose to change this request for voluntary information into a mandatory measure in future rulemaking. We are now proposing to make this request a required structural measure for the FY 2016 payment determination.

The measure ``Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Routinely Assesses Patient Experience of Care'' (now, ``Assessment of Patient Experience of Care'') was included on our ``List of Measures under Consideration for December 1, 2013.'' The measure asks IPFs whether they routinely assess patient experience of care using a standardized collection protocol and a structured instrument. The MAP supported this measure, but encouraged its eventual replacement with a robust survey of patient experience and a measure based on consumer-reported information, such as a CAHPS tool. We believe the reporting of this measure will begin to provide information on a priority area of the HHS National Quality Strategy that is currently unaddressed in the IPFQR program, that of patient and family engagement and experience of care. Further, the information gathered through the collection of this measure will be helpful in the development of a standardized survey of patient assessment of care that we intend to develop as a successor to this measure.

Because this is a structural measure that does not depend on systems for collecting and abstracting individual patient information, only requires simple attestation, and does not require extended time to prepare to report, we believe that it will not be burdensome to IPFs. Accordingly, we are proposing to include it as a mandatory measure for the FY 2016 payment determination, a year earlier than for other measures proposed in this rule that are dependent on these systems.

The proposed measure is currently not NQF-endorsed. Section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act authorizes the Secretary to specify a measure that is not endorsed by the NQF as long as due consideration is given to measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization identified by the Secretary. We attempted to find available measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization and found no other feasible and practical measures on the topic of patient experience of care for the IPF setting. Therefore, we believe that the Assessment of Patient Experience of Care proposed measure meets the measure selection exception requirement under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act.

2. Use of an Electronic Health Record (EHR)

In 2009, as part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, incentives were provided to encourage eligible hospitals and eligible professionals to adopt EHR systems. The widespread adoption of these systems holds the potential to support multiple goals of CMS' quality strategy, including making care safer and more affordable, and promoting coordination of care. One review of over a hundred studies of the effects of EHRs showed that nearly all demonstrated positive overall results.\1\ These results were most frequently demonstrated in the areas of efficiency and effectiveness of care, patient safety and satisfaction, and process of care.\2\

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\1\ M.B. Buntin, M.F. Burke, M.C. Hoaglin et al., ``The Benefits of Health Information Technology: A Review of the Recent Literature Shows Predominantly Positive Results,'' Health Affairs, March 2011 30(3):464-71.

\2\ Ibid.

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Positive results such as these depend in part on the ways in which an EHR system is used. EHRs can facilitate the use of clinical decision support tools, physician order entry systems, and health information exchange. The concept of ``meaningful use'' of EHRs captures the goals for which incentive payments are made. These goals include: Quality improvement, safety, and efficiency; health disparities reduction; patient and family engagement; care coordination improvement and population health; and maintenance of the privacy and security of patient health information.\3\

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\3\ HealthIT.gov, ``EHR Incentives & Certification: Meaningful Use Definition & Objectives.'' Internet Cited 2014 February 11. Available from http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/meaningful-use-definition-objectives.

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We believe that a measure of the degree of EHR implementation provides important information about an element of IPF service delivery shown to be associated with the delivery of quality care. Further, we believe that it provides useful information to consumers and others in choosing among different facilities.

A key issue in EHR adoption and implementation is the use of this technology to support health information exchange. HHS has a number of initiatives designed to encourage and support the adoption of health information technology and promote nationwide health information exchange to improve health care. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and CMS work to promote the adoption of health information technology. Through a number of activities, HHS is promoting the adoption of ONC-certified electronic health records (EHRs) developed to support secure, interoperable health information exchange. While ONC-certified EHRs are not yet available for IPFQRs and other providers who are not eligible for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, ONC has requested that the HIT Policy Committee (a Federal Advisory Committee) explore the expansion of EHR certification under the ONC HIT Certification Program, focusing on EHR certification criteria needed for long-term and post-acute care (including LTCHs), and behavioral health care providers. ONC has also proposed a Voluntary 2015 Edition EHR Certification rule (79 FR 10880) that would increase the flexibility in ONC's regulatory structure to more easily accommodate health IT certification for other types of health care settings where individual or institutional health care providers are not typically eligible to qualify for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

We believe that the use of certified EHRs by IPFs (and other providers ineligible for the Medicare and

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Medicaid EHR Incentive programs) can effectively and efficiently help providers improve internal care delivery practices, support the exchange of important information across care partners and during transitions of care, and could enable the reporting of electronically specified clinical quality measures (eCQMs) (as described elsewhere in this rule). More information on the proposed rule on voluntary 2015 Edition EHR Certification, identification of EHR certification criteria and development of standards applicable to IPFQRs can be found at:

http://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/standards-and-certification-regulations

http://www.healthit.gov/facas/FACAS/health-it-policy-committee/hitpc-workgroups/certificationadoption

http://wiki.siframework.org/LCC+LTPAC+Care+Transition+SWG

http://wiki.siframework.org/Longitudinal+Coordination+of+Care

We included the measure, ``IPF Use of an Electronic Health Record Meeting Stage 1 or Stage 2 Meaningful Use Criteria'' (now, ``Use of an Electronic Health Record'') in the ``List of Measures under Consideration for December 1, 2013.'' The measure would assess the degree to which facilities employ EHR systems in their service program and use such systems to support health information exchange at times of transitions in care. It is a structural measure that only requires the facility to attest to which one of the following statements best describes the facility's highest level typical use of an EHR system (excluding the billing system) during the reporting period, and whether this use includes the exchange of interoperable health information with a health information service provider:

a. The facility most commonly used paper documents or other forms of information exchange (e.g., email) NOT involving transfer of health information using EHR technology at times of transitions in care.

b. The facility most commonly exchanged health information using non-certified EHR technology (i.e., not certified under the ONC HIT Certification Program) at times of transitions in care.

c. The facility most commonly exchanged health information using certified EHR technology (certified under the ONC HIT Certification Program) at times of transitions in care.

We would also ask IPFs to indicate whether transfers of health information at times of transitions in care included the exchange of interoperable health information with a health information service provider (HISP).

In its 2014 report:

(https://www.qualityforum.org/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=74634), the MAP concluded that it does not support this measure because it does not adequately address any current needs of the program. The MAP noted that psychiatric hospitals were excluded from the EHR Incentive Programs and imposing the measure criteria is not realistic. The MAP also expressed concerns about using quality reporting programs to collect data on systems and infrastructure and suggested that the American Hospital Association's survey of hospitals may be a better source for this type of data.

We disagree with the MAP's contention that the purpose of this measure is to collect data on systems and infrastructure. The purpose of the measure is to assess the use of processes for the collection, use, and transmission of medical information that have been demonstrated to impact the quality of care, rather than to collect data on systems and infrastructure. As we have described above, many studies document the benefits of EHR use on multiple dimensions related to health care quality, and to multiple goals of CMS' quality strategy. Additionally, this is a structural measure that does not depend on systems for collecting and abstracting individual patient information and, therefore, is not burdensome on IPFs. Accordingly, we are proposing to adopt it as a measure for FY 2016 payment determination, a year earlier than for other measures proposed in this rule that are dependent on such systems.

The Use of an Electronic Health Record proposed measure is not NQF-

endorsed. Section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act authorizes the Secretary to specify a measure that is not endorsed by the NQF as long as due consideration is given to measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization identified by the Secretary. We attempted to find available measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization and found no other feasible and practical measures on the topic of the degree to which facilities employ an EHR system in their program. Therefore, we believe that the Use of an Electronic Health Record proposed measure meets the measure selection exception requirement under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act.

c. Proposed Quality Measures for the FY 2017 Payment Determination and Subsequent Years

We are proposing to add four quality measures to the IPFQR Program for the FY 2017 payment determination and subsequent years: (1) Influenza Immunization (IMM-2); (2) Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel; (3) Tobacco Use Screening (TOB-1); and (4) Tobacco Use Treatment Provided or Offered (TOB-2) and Tobacco Use Treatment (TOB-2a).

1. Influenza Immunization (IMM-2) (NQF 1659)

Increasing influenza (flu) vaccination can reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and secondary complications, particularly among high risk populations such as the elderly.\4\ Each year, approximately 226,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized with complications from influenza, and between 3,000 and 49,000 die from the disease and its complications.\5\

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\4\ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ``People at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications.'' Internet Cited 2014 February 11. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm.

\5\ Thompson W.W., Shay D.K., Weintraub E., Brammer L, Cox N, Anderson L.J., Fukuda. ``Mortality associated with influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in the United States.'' JAMA. 2003 January 8; 289 (2): 179-186.

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Vaccination is the most effective method for preventing influenza virus infection and its potentially severe complications, and vaccination is associated with reductions in influenza among all age groups.\6\ The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends seasonal influenza vaccination for all persons six months of age and older, thereby stressing the importance of influenza prevention. Evidence from a Veteran's Affairs locked behavioral psychiatric unit with 26 patients and 40 staff during an influenza outbreak demonstrates significant room for improvement in vaccination rates among IPFs.\7\ In this study, 54 percent of the patients had not been vaccinated, and 36 percent of nonvaccinated patients manifested symptoms as compared with 25 percent of vaccinated patients.\8\ We believe that the adoption of a measure that assesses influenza immunization in the IPF

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setting not only works toward reducing the rate of influenza infection, but also affords consumers and others useful information in choosing among different facilities.

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\6\ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Newsroom press release February 24, 2010. ``CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommends Universal Annual Influenza Vaccination.'' Internet Cited 2010 March 3. Available from http://www.cdc/media/pressrel/2010/r100224.htm.

\7\ Risa K.J., et al. ``Influenza outbreak management on a locked behavioral health unit.'' Am J Infect Control 2009;37:76-8.

\8\ Ibid.

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We included the Influenza Immunization (NQF 1659) measure in the ``List of Measures under Consideration for December 1, 2013.'' The Influenza Immunization (IMM-2) chart-abstracted measure assesses inpatients, age 6 months and older, discharged during October, November, December, January, February, or March, who are screened for influenza vaccination status and vaccinated prior to discharge, if indicated. The numerator includes discharges that were screened for influenza vaccine status and were vaccinated prior to discharge, if indicated. The denominator includes inpatients, age 6 months and older, discharged during October, November, December, January, February, or March. The measure excludes patients who: Expire prior to hospital discharge or have an organ transplant during the current hospitalization; have a length of stay greater than 120 days; are transferred or discharged to another acute care hospital; or leave Against Medical Advice (AMA). We refer readers to https://www.qualityforum.org/QPS/1659 for further technical specifications.

The MAP gave conditional support for the measure, concluding that it is not ready for implementation because it needs more experience or testing. In its 2014 final report, the MAP recognized that influenza immunization is important for healthcare personnel and patients, but cautioned that CDC and CMS need to collaborate on adjusting specifications for reporting from psychiatric units before the measure can be included in the IPFQR Program. CMS does not agree with this recommendation. Given previous experience with the use of this measure in inpatient settings and the clarity of specifications for it, CMS does not believe that additional experience or testing is needed before implementing this measure in IPFs, or that specifications need to be further adjusted for these facilities. We also believe that comments concerning collaboration with CDC largely apply to the following measure for influenza vaccination among healthcare personnel, which is explained in the discussion for that measure.

We believe that the IMM-2 proposed measure meets the measure selection criterion under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act. This section provides that, in the case of a specified area or medical topic determined appropriate by the Secretary for which a feasible and practical measure has not been endorsed by the entity with a contract under section 1890(a) of the Act, the Secretary may specify a measure that is not so endorsed as long as due consideration is given to measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization identified by the Secretary.

This measure is not NQF-endorsed in the IPF setting and we could not find any other comparable measure that is specifically endorsed for the IPF setting. However, we believe that this measure is appropriate for the assessment of the quality of care furnished by IPFs for the reasons discussed above. Further, this measure has been endorsed by NQF for the ``Hospital/Acute care facility'' setting. Although not explicitly endorsed for use in IPF settings, we believe that the characteristics of IPFs as distinct part units of hospitals or freestanding hospitals are similar enough to hospitals/acute care facilities that this measure may be appropriately used in such facilities. Finally, the adoption of this measure in the IPFQR Program aligns with the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (HIQR) Program, which also includes this measure in its measure set.

2. Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among HealthCare Personnel (NQF 0431)

Healthcare personnel (HCP) can serve as vectors for influenza transmission because they are at risk for both acquiring influenza from patients and transmitting it to patients, and HCP often come to work when ill.\9\ An early report of HCP influenza infections during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic estimated that 50 percent of infected HCP had contracted the influenza virus from patients or coworkers in the health care setting.\10\ Influenza virus infection is common among HCP, with evidence suggesting that nearly one-quarter of HCP were infected during influenza season, but few recalled having influenza.\11\ While it is difficult to precisely assess HCP influenza vaccination rates among IPFs because of varying state policies requiring hospitals to collect and report HCP vaccination coverage rates, evidence from a Veterans Affairs locked behavioral psychiatric unit with 26 patients and 40 staff during an influenza outbreak demonstrates significant room for improvement.\12\ In this study, only 55 percent of all staff had been vaccinated, and 22 percent of nonvaccinated staff manifested symptoms as compared with 18 percent of vaccinated staff.\13\ We believe that the adoption of a measure that assesses influenza vaccination among HCP in the IPF setting not only works toward improving the rate at which nonvaccinated HCPs manifest symptoms as compared with vaccinated HCPs, but also affords consumers and others useful information in choosing among different facilities.

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\9\ Wilde J.A., McMillan J.A., Serwint J, et al. ``Effectiveness of influenza vaccine in healthcare professionals: A randomized trial.'' JAMA 1999; 281: 908-913.

\10\ Harriman K, Rosenberg J, Robinson S, et al. ``Novel influenza A (H1N1) virus infections among health-care personnel--

United States, April-May 2009.'' Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2009; 58(23): 641-645.

\11\ Elder AG, OacuteDonnell B, McCruden EA, et al. ``Incidence and recall of influenza in a cohort of Glasgow health-

care workers during the 1993-4 epidemic: Results of serum testing and questionnaire.'' BMJ. 1996; 313:1241-1242.

\12\ Risa K.J., et al. ``Influenza outbreak management on a locked behavioral health unit.'' Am J Infect Control 2009;37:76-8.

\13\ Ibid.

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We included the Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel (NQF 0431) measure in the ``List of Measures under Consideration for December 1, 2013.'' The proposed measure assesses the percentage of HCP who receive the influenza vaccination. The measure is designed to ensure that reported HCP influenza vaccination percentages are consistent over time within a single healthcare facility, as well as comparable across facilities. The numerator includes HCP in the denominator population who, during the time from October 1 (or when the vaccine became available) through March 31 of the following year:

a. Received an influenza vaccination administered at the healthcare facility, or reported in writing (paper or electronic) or provided documentation that influenza vaccination was received elsewhere; or

b. Were determined to have a medical contraindication/condition of severe allergic reaction to eggs or to other component(s) of the vaccine, or history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks after a previous influenza vaccination; or

c. Declined influenza vaccination; or

d. Had an unknown vaccination status or did not otherwise fall under any of the abovementioned numerator categories.

The denominator includes the number of HCP working in the healthcare facility for at least one working day between October 1 and March 31 of the following year, regardless of clinical responsibility or patient contact, and is calculated

Page 26067

separately for employees, licensed independent practitioners, and adult students/trainees and volunteers. The measure has no exclusions. We refer readers to https://www.qualityforum.org/QPS/0431 and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/HPS-manual/vaccination/HPS-flu-vaccine-protocol.pdf) for further technical specifications.

The MAP gave conditional support for the measure, concluding that it is not ready for implementation because it needs more experience or testing. In its 2014 report, the MAP recognized that influenza immunization is important for healthcare personnel and patients, but cautioned that CDC and CMS need to collaborate on adjusting specifications for reporting from psychiatric units before the measure can be included in the IPFQR Program. CMS does not agree with this recommendation. As explained for the IMM-2 measure, given previous experience with the use of this measure and the clarity of its specifications, CMS does not believe that additional experience or testing is needed before implementing this measure in IPFs, or that specifications need to be further adjusted for these facilities. In response to comments concerning collaboration with CDC, CDC and CMS have conferred on this issue and language has been added to the description of this measure below that clarifies that IPFs will use the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) infrastructure and protocol to report the measure for IPFQR Program purposes. Neither CMS nor CDC believes that there are any coordination issues remaining for the implementation of this measure.

We believe that the Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among HealthCare Personnel proposed measure meets the measure selection criterion under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(ii) of the Act. This section provides that, in the case of a specified area or medical topic determined appropriate by the Secretary for which a feasible and practical measure has not been endorsed by the entity with a contract under section 1890(a) of the Act, the Secretary may specify a measure that is not so endorsed as long as due consideration is given to measures that have been endorsed or adopted by a consensus organization identified by the Secretary.

This measure is not NQF-endorsed in the IPF setting and we could not find any other comparable measure that is specifically endorsed for the IPF setting. However, we believe that this measure is appropriate for the assessment of the quality of care furnished by IPFs for the reasons discussed above. Further, this measure has been endorsed by NQF for the ``Hospital/Acute care facility'' setting. Although not explicitly endorsed for use in IPF settings, we believe that the characteristics of IPFs as distinct part units of hospitals or freestanding hospitals mean that this measure may be appropriately used in such facilities.

We propose that IPFs use the CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) infrastructure and protocol to report the measure for IPFQR Program purposes. We propose that IPF reporting of HCP influenza vaccination summary data to NHSN would begin for the 2015-2016 influenza season, from October 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, with a reporting deadline of May 15, 2016. Although the collection period for this measure extends into the first quarter of the following calendar year, this measure data would be included with other measures that would be required for FY 2017 payment determination. Similarly, reporting for subsequent years would include results for the influenza season that begins in the last quarter of the applicable calendar year's reporting.

The adoption of this measure in IPFQR will align with both the HIQR and HOQR Programs. The Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel (HCP) (NQF 0431) measure was finalized for the Hospital IQR program in the FY 2012 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (76 FR 51636), and the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (HOQR) in the CY 2014 OPPS/ASC final rule (78 FR 75099), and the Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program in the CY 2013 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment final rule (77 FR 68495).

We are aware of public concerns about the burden of separately collecting healthcare personnel (HCP) influenza vaccination status across inpatient and outpatient settings, in particular, distinguishing between the inpatient and outpatient setting personnel for reporting purposes. We also understand that some are unclear about how the measure would be reported to CDC's NHSN.

We believe reporting a single vaccination count for each healthcare facility by each individual facility's CMS Certification Number (CCN) would be less burdensome to IPFs than requiring them to distinguish between their inpatient and outpatient personnel. Therefore, we propose that, beginning with the 2015-2016 influenza season, IPFs would collect and report all HCP under each individual IPF's CCN and submit this single number to CDC's NHSN. Using the CCN would simplify data collection for healthcare facilities with multiple care settings. For each CMS CCN, a percentage of the HCP who received an influenza vaccination would be calculated and publically reported, so the public would know what percentage of the HCP have been vaccinated in each IPF. We believe this proposal would provide meaningful data that would help inform the public and healthcare facilities while improving the quality of care. Specific details on data submission for this measure can be found in an Operational Guidance available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/acute-care-hospital/hcp-vaccination/ and at http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/acute-care-hospital/index.html.

3. Tobacco Use Screening (TOB-1) (NQF 1651)

Tobacco use is currently the single greatest cause of disease in the U.S., accounting for more than 435,000 deaths annually.\14\ Smoking is a known cause of multiple cancers, heart disease, stroke, complications of pregnancy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, other respiratory problems, poorer wound healing, and many other diseases.\15\ This health issue is especially important for persons with mental illness and substance use disorders. One study has estimated that these individuals are twice as likely to smoke as the rest of the population, and account for nearly half of the total cigarette consumption in the U.S.\16\ Tobacco use also creates a heavy cost to both individuals and society. Smoking-attributable health care expenditures are estimated at $96 billion per year in direct medical expenses and $97 billion in lost productivity.\17\

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\14\ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual Smoking-

Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses--United States, 2000-2004.'' Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2008. 57(45): 1226-1228. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5745a3.htm.

\15\ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ``The health consequences of smoking: A report of the Surgeon General.'' Atlanta, GA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004.

\16\ Lasser K, Boyd JW, Woolhandler S, Himmelstein, D.U., McCormick D, Bor D.H. Smoking and mental illness: A population-based prevalence study. JAMA. 2000;284(20):2606-2610.

\17\ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ``Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs--2007.'' Atlanta, GA, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2007.

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Page 26068

Strong and consistent evidence demonstrates that timely tobacco dependence interventions for patients using tobacco can significantly reduce the risk of suffering from tobacco-related disease, as well as provide improved health outcomes for those already suffering from a tobacco-related disease.\18\ Research demonstrates that tobacco users hospitalized with psychiatric illnesses who enter into treatment can successfully overcome their tobacco dependence.\19\ Evidence also suggests that tobacco cessation treatment does not increase, and may even decrease, the risk of rehospitalization for tobacco users hospitalized with psychiatric illnesses.\20\ Research further demonstrates that effective tobacco cessation support across the care continuum can be provided with only a minimal additional effort and without harm to the mental health recovery process.\21\ We believe that the adoption of a measure that assesses tobacco use screening among patients of IPFs encourages the uptake of tobacco cessation treatment and its attendant benefits. We further believe that the reporting of this measure would afford consumers and others useful information in choosing among different facilities.

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\18\ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ``The health consequences of smoking: A report of the Surgeon General.'' Atlanta, GA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004.

\19\ Prochaska, J.J., et al. ``Efficacy of Initiating Tobacco Dependence Treatment in Inpatient Psychiatry: A Randomized Controlled Trial.'' Am. J. Pub. Health. 2013 August 15; e1-e9.

\20\ Ibid.

\21\ Ibid.

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The Tobacco Use Screening (TOB-1) chart-abstracted proposed measure assesses hospitalized patients who are screened within the first three days of admission for tobacco use (cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, pipe, and cigar) within the previous 30 days. The numerator includes the number of patients who were screened for tobacco use status within the first 3 days of admission. The denominator includes the number of hospitalized inpatients 18 years of age and older. The measure excludes patients who: Are less than 18 years of age; are cognitively impaired; have a duration of stay less than or equal to 3 days, or greater than 120 days; or have Comfort Measures Only documented.

We refer readers to: http://www.jointcommission.org/specifications_manual_for_national_hospital_inpatient_quality_measures.aspx for further details on measure specifications.

In the ``List of Measure under Consideration for December 1, 2013,'' we originally proposed a similar measure to that proposed here, which was ``Preventive Care & Screening: Tobacco Use: Screening & Cessation Intervention (NQF 0028).'' However, the MAP determined that this measure did not meet the needs of the program and instead recommended we adopt an alternate measure from the Joint Commissions suite of measures for inpatient settings, which we are now proposing. This measure, and the following one (TOB-2 and 2a), best reflect the activities encompassed by the original NQF 0028 measure.

The proposed measure was NQF-endorsed on March 7, 2014, and meets the measure selection criterion under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(i) of the Act.

4. Tobacco Use Treatment Provided or Offered (TOB-2) and Tobacco Use Treatment (TOB-2a) (NQF 1654)

As stated in our discussion of the proposed TOB-1 measure, tobacco use is currently the single greatest cause of disease in the U.S. We also indicated that research demonstrates that timely tobacco cessation treatment for hospitalized tobacco users with psychiatric illnesses may decrease the risk of rehospitalization, have only a minimal additional effort, and not harm the mental health recovery process. We believe that the adoption of a measure that assesses tobacco use screening treatment among IPFs encourages the uptake of tobacco cessation treatment and its attendant benefits. We further believe that the reporting of this measure would afford consumers and others useful information in choosing among different facilities.

The Tobacco Use Treatment Provided or Offered (TOB-2) and Tobacco Use Treatment (TOB-2a) chart-abstracted proposed measure is reported as an overall rate that includes all patients to whom tobacco use treatment was provided, or offered and refused, and a second rate, a subset of the first, which includes only those patients who received tobacco use treatment. The overall rate, TOB-2, assesses patients identified as tobacco product users within the past 30 days who receive or refuse practical counseling to quit, and receive or refuse Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cessation medications during the first 3 days following admission. The numerator includes the number of patients who received or refused practical counseling to quit, and received or refused FDA-approved cessation medications during the first 3 days after admission.

The second rate, TOB-2a, assesses patients who received counseling and medication, as well as those who received counseling and had reason for not receiving the medication during the first 3 days following admission. The numerator includes the number of patients who received practical counseling to quit and received FDA-approved cessation medications during the first 3 days after admission.

The denominator for both TOB-2 and TOB-2a includes the number of hospitalized inpatients 18 years of age and older identified as current tobacco users. The measure excludes patients who: Are less than 18 years of age; are cognitively impaired; are not current tobacco users; refused or were not screened for tobacco use during the hospital stay; have a duration of stay less than or equal to 3 days, or greater than 120 days; or have Comfort Measures Only documented.

We refer readers to:http://www.jointcommission.org/specifications_manual_for_national_hospital_inpatient_quality_measures.aspx for further details on measure specifications.

As with the proposed TOB-1 measure, and for the same reasons, we are proposing this measure on the recommendation of the MAP.

The proposed measure was NQF-endorsed on March 7, 2014, and meets the measure selection criteria under section 1886(s)(4)(D)(i) of the Act. We also note that we are not proposing to adopt at this time two other tobacco treatment measures that are part of the set from which TOB-1, TOB-2 and TOB2a are taken. This is because the two measures we are proposing best encompass the activities that we originally proposed to measure through the use of the NQF 0028 measure, and best assess activities demonstrated to produce positive results in tobacco use reduction. Additionally, we believe that the other measures represent a significantly greater collection and reporting burden. We welcome comments on this choice as well as any other alternatives for measurement of this area.

d. Summary of Proposed Measures

In addition to the eight measures that we previously finalized for the IPFQR Program, we are proposing two additional new measures for reporting for the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years. We are also proposing four additional new measures

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for the FY 2017 payment determination and subsequent years. The tables below list the proposed new measures for the FY 2016 and FY 2017 payment determinations and subsequent years.

Table 13--Proposed New Quality Measures for the IPFQR Program for FY 2016 Payment Determination and Subsequent

Years

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National quality strategy priority NQF No. Measure ID Measure description

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Patient- and Caregiver-Centered N/A..................... N/A..................... Assessment of Patient

Experience of Care. Experience of Care.

Effective Communication and N/A..................... N/A..................... Use of an Electronic

Coordination of Care. Health Record.

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Table 14--Proposed New Quality Measures for the IPFQR Program for FY 2017 Payment Determination and Subsequent

Years

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National quality strategy priority NQF No. Measure ID Measure description

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Population/Community Health......... 1659.................... IMM-2................... Influenza

Immunization.

Population/Community Health......... 0431.................... N/A..................... Influenza Vaccination

Coverage Among

Healthcare Personnel.

Clinical Quality of Care............ 1651.................... TOB-1................... Tobacco Use Screening.

Clinical Quality of Care............ 1654.................... TOB-2................... Tobacco Use Treatment

TOB-2a.................. Provided or Offered

and Tobacco Use

Treatment.

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We welcome public comments on the Assessment of Patient Experience of Care, Use of an Electronic Health Record, IMM-2, Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel, TOB-1, and TOB-2 proposed measures.

e. Additional Proposed Procedural Requirements for the FY 2017 Payment Determination and Subsequent Years

In addition to the quality measures that we have described above, we are proposing that IPFs must, beginning with reporting for the FY 2017 payment determination, submit to CMS aggregate population counts for Medicare and non-Medicare discharges by age group, diagnostic group, and quarter, and sample size counts for measures for which sampling is performed (as is allowed for in HBIPS-4-7, and SUB-1). These requirements are separate from those described under subsection c of the section entitled ``Form, Manner, and Timing of Quality Data Submission.'' That subsection describes the population, sample size, and minimum reporting case threshold requirements for individual measures, while this section describes the collection of general population and sampling data that will assist in determining compliance with those requirements. We believe that it is vital for IPFs to accurately determine and submit to CMS their population and sampling size data in order for CMS to assess IPFs' data reporting completeness for their total population, both Medicare and non-Medicare. In addition to helping us better assess the quality and completeness of measure data, we expect that this information will improve our ability to assess the relevance and impact of potential future measures. For example, understanding that the size of subgroups of patients addressed by a particular measure varies greatly over time could be helpful in assessing the stability of reported measure values, and subsequent decisions concerning measure retention. Similarly, better understanding of the size of particular subgroups in the overall population will assist us in making choices among potential future measures specific to a particular subgroup (e.g., those with depression).

We further propose that the form, manner, and timing of this submission would follow the policies discussed at section VIII. of this preamble, and that failure to provide this information would be subject to the 2.0 percentage point reduction in the annual update for any IPF that does not comply with quality data submission requirements, pursuant to section 1886(s)(4)(A)(i) of the Act.

f. Maintenance of Technical Specifications for Quality Measures

We will provide a user manual that will contain links to measure specifications, data abstraction information, data submission information, a data submission mechanism known as the Web-based Measures Tool, and other information necessary for IPFs to participate in the IPFQR Program. This manual will be posted on the QualityNet Web site at: https://www.qualitynet.org/dcs/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=QnetPublic%2FPage%2FQnetTier2&cid=1228772250192. We will maintain the technical specifications for the quality measures by updating this manual periodically and including detailed instructions for IPFs to use when collecting and submitting data on the required measures. These updates will be accompanied by notifications to IPFQR Program participants, providing sufficient time between the change and effective dates in order to allow users to incorporate changes and updates to the measure specifications into data collection systems.

Many of the quality measures used in different Medicare and Medicaid reporting programs are endorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF). As part of its regular maintenance process for endorsed performance measures, the NQF requires measure stewards to submit annual measure maintenance updates and undergo maintenance of endorsement review every 3 years. In the measure maintenance process, the measure steward (owner/developer) is responsible for updating and maintaining the currency and relevance of the measure and will confirm existing or minor specification changes with NQF on an annual basis. NQF solicits information from measure stewards for annual reviews, and it reviews measures for continued endorsement in a specific 3-year cycle.

We note that NQF's annual or triennial maintenance processes for endorsed measures may result in the NQF requiring updates to the measures in order to maintain endorsement status. We believe that it is important to have in place a subregulatory process to incorporate nonsubstantive updates required by the NQF into the measure specifications we have adopted for the HAC Reduction Program, so that these measures remain up-to-date.

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The NQF regularly maintains its endorsed measures through annual and triennial reviews, which may result in the NQF making updates to the measures. We believe that it is important to have in place a subregulatory process to incorporate non-substantive updates required by the NQF into the measure specifications we have adopted for the IPFQR Program so that these measures remain up-to-date. We also recognize that some changes the NQF might require to its endorsed measures are substantive in nature and might not be appropriate for adoption using a subregulatory process. Therefore, in the FY 2013 IPPS/

LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53503 through 53505), we finalized a policy under which we will use a subregulatory process to make only non-

substantive updates to measures used for the IPFQR Program (77 FR 53653). With respect to what constitutes substantive versus non-

substantive changes, we expect to make this determination on a case-by-

case basis. Examples of non-substantive changes to measures might include updated diagnosis or procedure codes, medication updates for categories of medications, broadening of age ranges, and exclusions for a measure (such as the addition of a hospice exclusion to the 30-day mortality measures). We believe that non-substantive changes may include updates to NQF-endorsed measures based upon changes to guidelines upon which the measures are based. As stated in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule, we will revise the manual so that it clearly identifies the updates and provides links to where additional information on the updates can be found. We will also post the updates on the QualityNet Web site at https://www.QualityNet.org. We will provide 6 months for facilities to implement changes where changes to the data collection systems would be necessary.

We will continue to use rulemaking to adopt substantive updates required by the NQF to the endorsed measures we have adopted for the IPFQR Program. Examples of changes that we might consider to be substantive would be those in which the changes are so significant that the measure is no longer the same measure, or when a standard of performance assessed by a measure becomes more stringent (for example: Changes in acceptable timing of medication, procedure/process, or test administration). Another example of a substantive change would be where the NQF has extended its endorsement of a previously endorsed measure to a new setting, such as extending a measure from the inpatient setting to hospice. These policies regarding what is considered substantive versus non-substantive would apply to all measures in the IPFQR Program. We also note that the NQF process incorporates an opportunity for public comment and engagement in the measure maintenance process.

We believe this policy adequately balances our need to incorporate technical updates to all IPFQR Program measures in the most expeditious manner possible while preserving the public's ability to comment on updates that so fundamentally change an endorsed measure that it is no longer the same measure that we originally adopted. We invite public comments on this proposal.

6. New Quality Measures for Future Years

As we have previously indicated, we seek to develop a comprehensive set of quality measures to be available for widespread use for informed decision-making and quality improvement in the inpatient psychiatric facilities setting. Therefore, through future rulemaking, we intend to propose new measures that will help further our goal of achieving better health care and improved health for Medicare beneficiaries who obtain inpatient psychiatric services through the widespread dissemination and use of quality information.

As part of the 2013 Measures under Consideration (http://www.qualityforum.org/Setting_Priorities/Partnership/Measures_Under_Consideration_List.aspx), we identified ten possible measures for the IPFQR Program. We have proposed four of these measures for adoption in this proposed rule. Five of the measures are currently undergoing testing, and we anticipate that one or more would be proposed for adoption in the near future. These measures are:

Suicide Risk Screening completed within one day of admission

Violence Risk Screening completed within one day of admission

Drug Use Screening completed within one day of admission

Alcohol Use Screening completed within one day of admission

Metabolic Screening

We also are currently planning to develop a 30-day psychiatric readmission measure. Similar to readmission measures currently in use for other CMS quality reporting programs such as the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, we envision that this measure would encompass all 30-day readmissions for discharges from IPFs, including readmissions for non-psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, we intend to develop a standardized survey of patient experience of care tailored for use in inpatient psychiatric settings, but also sharing elements with similar surveys in use in other CMS reporting programs.

We further anticipate that we will recommend additional measures for development or adoption in the future. We intend to develop a measure set that effectively assesses IPF quality across the range of services and diagnoses, encompasses all of the goals of the CMS quality strategy, addresses measure gaps identified by the MAP and others, and minimizes collection and reporting burden. Finally, we may propose the removal of some measures in the future, should one or more no longer reflect significant variation in quality among IPFs, or prove to be less effective than alternative measures in measuring the intended focus area.

We welcome public comments on any aspect of these plans for measure development, recommendations for adoption of other measures for the IPFQR Program, particularly related to measures of access, or suggestions for domains or topics for future measure development.

7. Proposed Public Display and Review Requirements

Section 1886(s)(4)(E) of the Act requires the Secretary to establish procedures for making the data submitted under the IPFQR Program available to the public. The statute also requires that these procedures shall ensure that an IPF has the opportunity to review the data that is to be made public with respect to the IPF prior to the data being made public.

In the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50897 through 50898), we adopted our proposal to change our policies to better align the IPFQR Program preview and display periods with those under the Hospital IQR Program. For the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years, we adopted our proposed policy to publicly display the submitted data on a CMS Web site in April of each calendar year following the start of the respective payment determination year. In other words, the public display period for the FY 2014 payment determination would be April 2014; the public display periods for the FY 2015 and FY 2016 payment determinations would be April 2015 and April 2016 respectively, and so forth. We also adopted our proposed policy that the preview period for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years be modified from

Page 26071

September 20 through October 19 (78 FR 50898) to 30 days, approximately twelve weeks prior to the public display of the data. The table below sets out the public display timeline.

Table 15--Public Display Timeline

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

Payment determination (fiscal year) Reporting period (calendar year) Public display (calendar year)

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

2015.................................. Q2 2013 (April 1, 2013-June 30, 2013)... April 2015.

Q3 2013 (July 1, 2013-September 30,

2013)..

Q4 2013 (October 1, 2013-December 31,

2013)..

2016.................................. Q1 2014 (January 1, 2014-March 31, 2014) April 2016.

Q2 2014 (April 1, 2014-June 30, 2014)...

Q3 2014 (July 1, 2014-September 30,

2014)..

Q4 2014 (October 1, 2014-December 31,

2014)..

2017.................................. Q1 2015 (January 1, 2015-March 31, 2015) April 2017.

Q2 2015 (April 1, 2015-June 30, 2015)...

Q3 2015 (July 1, 2015-September 30,

2015)..

Q4 2015 (October 1, 2015-December 31,

2015)..

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

Although we have listed the public display timeline only for the FY 2015 through FY 2017 payment determinations, we wish to clarify that this policy applies to the FY 2015 payment determination and subsequent years. We are not proposing any changes to these policies.

8. Form, Manner, and Timing of Quality Data Submission

a. Procedural and Submission Requirements

Section 1886(s)(4)(C) of the Act requires that, for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years, each IPF shall submit to the Secretary data on quality measures as specified by the Secretary. Such data shall be submitted in a form and manner, and at a time, specified by the Secretary. As required by section 1886(s)(4)(A) of the Act, for any IPF that fails to submit quality data in accordance with section 1886(s)(4)(C) of the Act, the Secretary will reduce the annual update to a standard Federal rate for discharges occurring in such fiscal year by 2.0 percentage points. In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53655 through 53656), we finalized a policy requiring that IPFs submit aggregate data on measures on an annual basis via the Web-Based Measures Tool found in the IPF section on the QualityNet Web site. The complete data submission requirements, submission deadlines, and data submission mechanism, known as the Web-Based Measures Tool, are posted on the QualityNet Web site at: http://www.qualitynet.org/. The data input forms on the QualityNet Web site for submission require aggregate data for each separate quarter. Therefore, IPFs need to track and maintain quarterly records for their data. In that final rule, we also clarified that this policy applies to all subsequent years, unless and until we change our policy through future rulemaking.

In order to participate in the IPFQR Program, in the FY 2013 IPPS/

LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53654 through 53655) and in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 50898 through 50899), we required IPFs to comply with certain procedural requirements. We refer readers to the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 50898 through 50899) for further details on specific procedural requirements.

We are not proposing any changes to this policy.

b. Reporting Periods and Submission Timeframes

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53655 through 53657), we established reporting periods and submission timeframes for the FY 2014, FY 2015, and FY 2016 payment determinations, but we did not require any data validation approach. However, as we stated in that final rule, we encourage IPFs to use a validation method and conduct their own analysis. In that final rule, we also explained that the reporting periods for the FY 2014 and FY 2015 payment determinations were 6 and 9 months, respectively, to allow us to achieve a 12-month (calendar year) reporting period for the FY 2016 payment determination. In the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50901), we clarified that the policy we adopted for the FY 2016 payment determination also applies to the FY 2017 payment determination and subsequent years unless we change it through rulemaking. We also indicated that the submission timeframe is between July 1 and August 15 of the calendar year in which the applicable payment determination year begins.

We are not proposing any changes to this submission timeframe, which we finalized in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule for all future payment determinations. IPFs will have the opportunity to review and correct data that they have submitted during the entirety of July 1-August 15. We have summarized this information in the table below.

Table 16--Quality Reporting Periods and Submission Timeframes for the FY 2015 Payment Determination and

Subsequent Years

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

Payment determination (fiscal Reporting period for services

year) provided (calendar year) Data submission timeframe

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

Quality Reporting Periods and Submission Timeframes for the FY 2015 Payment Determination and Subsequent Years

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

FY 2015......................... Q2 2013 (April 1, 2013-June 30, July 1, 2014-August 15, 2014.

2013).

Q3 2013 (July 1, 2013-September

30, 2013)..

Q4 2013 (October 1, 2013-December

31, 2013)..

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FY 2016......................... Q1 2014 (January 1, 2014-March 31, July 1, 2015-August 15, 2015.

2014).

Q2 2014 (April 1, 2014-June 30,

2014)..

Q3 2014 (July 1, 2014-September

30, 2014)..

Q4 2014 (October 1, 2014-December

31, 2014)..

FY 2017......................... Q1 2015 (January 1, 2015-March 31, July 1, 2016-August 15, 2016.

2015).

Q2 2015 (April 1, 2015-June 30,

2015)..

Q3 2015 (July 1, 2015-September

30, 2015)..

Q4 2015 (October 1, 2015-December

31, 2015)..

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

We have adopted the timeframes discussed above for all future payment years of the program, and these timeframes will remain in place unless and until we change them through future rulemaking. Therefore, our policy with respect to reporting timeframes is that the reporting period is the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the payment determination year begins. The data submission timeframe is between July 1 and August 15 of the calendar year in which the applicable payment determination year begins. We will continue to provide charts with the specific reporting and data submission timeframes for future years as we approach those years.

c. Population, Sampling, and Minimum Case Threshold

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53657 through 53658), for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years, we finalized our proposed policy that participating IPFs must meet specific population, sample size, and minimum reporting case threshold requirements as specified in TJC's Specifications Manual. We refer readers to the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 58901 through 58902). We are not proposing any changes to this policy. We refer participating IPFs to TJC's Specifications Manual (https://manual.jointcommission.org/bin/view/Manual/WebHome) for measure-

specific population, sampling, and minimum case threshold requirements.

d. Data Accuracy and Completeness Acknowledgement (DACA) Requirements

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53658), we finalized our proposed DACA policy for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years. We refer readers to that final rule for further details on DACA policies.

We are not proposing any changes to the quarterly reporting periods and DACA deadline. Therefore, we will continue our adopted policy that the deadline for submission of the DACA form is no later than August 15 prior to the applicable IPFQR Program payment determination year. The table below summarizes these policies and timeframes.

Table 17--DACA Submission Deadline

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

Reporting period for

Payment determination services provided Submission DACA deadline Public display

(fiscal year) (calendar year) timeframe

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

2015..................... Q2 2013 (April 1, July 1, 2014-August August 15, 2014..... April 2015.

2013-June 30, 2013). 15, 2014.

Q3 2013 (July 1,

2013-September 30,

2013)..

Q4 2013 (October 1,

2013-December 31,

2013)..

2016..................... Q1 2014 (January 1, July 1, 2015-August August 15, 2015..... April 2016.

2014-March 31, 15, 2015.

2014).

Q2 2014 (April 1,

2014-June 30,

2014)..

Q3 2014 (July 1,

2014-September 30,

2014)..

Q4 2014 (October 1,

2014-December 31,

2014)..

2017..................... Q1 2015 (January 1, July 1, 2016-August August 15, 2016..... April 2017.

2015-March 31, 15, 2016.

2015).

Q2 2015 (April 1,

2015-June 30,

2015)..

Q3 2015 (July 1,

2015-September 30,

2015)..

Q4 2015 (October 1,

2015-December 31,

2015)..

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

We would like to clarify that the DACA policies adopted in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule will continue to apply for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years unless and until we change these policies through our rulemaking process.

9. Reconsideration and Appeals Procedures

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53658 through 53659), we adopted a reconsideration process, later codified at 42 CFR 412.434, whereby IPFs can request a reconsideration of their payment update reduction in the event that an IPF believes that its annual payment update has been incorrectly reduced for failure to report quality data under the IPFQR Program. We refer readers to that final rule, as well as the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50903), for further details on the reconsideration process.

10. Exceptions to Quality Reporting Requirements

In our experience with other quality reporting and/or performance programs, we have noted occasions where participants have been unable to submit required quality data due to extraordinary circumstances that are not within their control (for example, natural disasters). It is our goal to avoid penalizing IPFs in these circumstances or unduly increasing their burden during these times. Therefore, in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR

Page 26073

53659 through 53660), we adopted a policy that, for the FY 2014 payment determination and subsequent years, IPFs may request, and we may grant, an exception with respect to the reporting of required quality data where extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the IPF may warrant. We wish to clarify that use of the term ``exception'' in this proposed rule is synonymous with the term ``waiver'' as used in previous rules. We are in the process of revising the Extraordinary Circumstances/Disaster Extension or Waiver Request form (CMS-10432), approved under OMB control number 0938-1171. Revisions to the form are being addressed in the FY 2015 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule (RIN 0938-AS11; CMS-1607-P) in the section entitled ``Hospital IQR Program Extraordinary Circumstances Extensions or Exemptions''. These efforts will work to facilitate alignment across CMS quality reporting programs.

When an exception is granted, IPFs will not incur payment reductions for failure to comply with IPFQR Program requirements. This process does not preclude us from granting exceptions, including extensions, to IPFs that have not requested them, should we determine that an extraordinary circumstance affects an entire region or locale. We refer readers to the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53659 through 53660), as well as the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50903), for further details on this process. We are not proposing any changes to this process.

For the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years, we are proposing to add an Extraordinary Circumstances Exception to the IPFQR Program in order to align with similar exceptions provided for in other CMS quality reporting programs. Under this exception, we are proposing that we may grant a waiver or extension to IPFs if we determine that a systemic problem with one of our data collection systems directly affects the ability of the IPFs to submit data. Because we do not anticipate that these types of systemic errors will occur often, we do not anticipate granting a waiver or extension on this basis frequently. If we make the determination to grant a waiver or extension, we are proposing to communicate this decision through routine communication channels to IPFs, vendors, and quality improvement organizations (QIOs) by means of, for example, memoranda, emails, and notices on the QualityNet Web site.

We welcome public comment on this proposal.
Collection of Information Requirements

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register and solicit public comment before a collection of information requirement is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. In order to fairly evaluate whether an information collection should be approved by OMB, section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires that we solicit comment on the following issues:

The need for the information collection and its usefulness in carrying out the proper functions of our agency.

The accuracy of our estimate of the information collection burden.

The quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

Recommendations to minimize the information collection burden on the affected public, including automated collection techniques.

We are soliciting public comment on each of the section 3506(c)(2)(A)-required issues for the following information collection requirements (ICRs):

A. ICRs Regarding the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Program

This section IX.A sets out the estimated burden (hours and cost) for inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs) to comply with the reporting requirements proposed in this NPRM. It also restates the burden estimated in the FY 2013 and FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rules.

In the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53644), we finalized policies to implement the IPFQR Program. The Program implements the statutory requirements of section 1886(s)(4) of the Social Security Act, as added by sections 3401(f) and 10322(a) of the Affordable Care Act. One program priority is to help achieve better health and better health care for individuals through the collection of valid, reliable, and relevant measures of quality health care data. The data will be publicly posted and, therefore, available for use in improving health care quality which, in turn, works to further program goals. IPFs can use this quality data for many purposes, including in their risk management programs, patient safety and quality improvement initiatives, and research and development of mental health programs, among others.

As clarified throughout the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50887), policies finalized in prior rules will apply to FY 2015 unless and until we change them through future rulemaking. The burden on IPFs includes the time used for chart abstraction and for personnel training on the collection of chart-abstracted data, the aggregation of data, as well as training for the submission of aggregate-level data through QualityNet. We note that, beginning in the FY 2016 payment determination, as set out in this proposed rule, we have proposed to adopt the Assessment of Patient Experience of Care measure, thereby removing the request for voluntary information adopted in the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule.

Based on current participation rates, we estimate that there will be approximately 574 fewer IPF facilities (or 1,626 facilities) nationwide eligible to participate in the IPFQR Program. Based on previous measure data submission, we further estimate that the average facility submits measure data on 556 cases per year. In total, this calculates to 904,056 cases (aggregate) per year.

In section V of this preamble, we are proposing that, for the FY 2016 payment determination and subsequent years, IPFs must submit data on the following proposed new measures: Assessment of Patient Experience of Care, and Use of an Electronic Health Record. Because both of these measures require only an annual acknowledgement, we anticipate a negligible additional burden on IPFs.

In the same section of this preamble, we are proposing that, for the FY 2017 payment determination and subsequent years, IPFs must submit aggregate data on the following proposed new measures: Influenza Immunization (IMM-2), Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel, Tobacco Use Screening (TOB-1), and Tobacco Use Treatment Provided or Offered (TOB-2) and Tobacco Use Treatment (TOB-2a).

We estimate that the average time spent for chart abstraction per patient for each of these proposed measures is approximately 15 minutes. Assuming an approximately uniform sampling methodology, we estimate (based on prior Program data) that the annual burden for reporting the IMM-2 measure would be 139 hours per year of annual effort per facility (556 x 0.25). This same calculation also applies to the TOB-1, and TOB-2 and TOB-2a proposed measures. The Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel proposed measure does not allow sampling; therefore, we anticipate that the average facility would be required to abstract approximately 40 healthcare personnel,

Page 26074

totaling an annual effort per facility of 10 hours (40 x 0.25). We anticipate no measurable burden for the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Routinely Assesses Patient Experience of Care measure and the Use of an Electronic Health Record measure because both require only attestation.

In total, for proposed measures, we estimate an additional 427 hours of annual effort per facility for the FY 2017 payment determination and subsequent years. The following table summarizes the estimated hours (per facility) for each measure.

Table 18--Estimated Annual Effort per Facility

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

Estimated cases Effort (per Annual effort

Measure (per facility) case) (per facility)

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

Assessment of Patient Experience of Care..................... * 0 * n/a * 0

Use of an Electronic Health Record........................... * 0 * n/a * 0

IMM-2........................................................ 556 ** \1/4\ 139

Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel.... 40 ** \1/4\ 10

TOB-1........................................................ 556 ** \1/4\ 139

TOB-2, TOB-2a................................................ 556 ** \1/4\ 139

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

Total.................................................... ................. .............. 427

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

* New non-measurable attestation burden.

** Hour.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimate for health care workers that are known to engage in chart abstraction is $31.71/hour. To account for overhead and fringe benefits we have doubled this estimate to $63.42/hour. Considering the 427 hours of annual effort (per facility) for the FY 2017 payment determination and subsequent years, the annual cost is approximately $27,080.34 (63.42 x 427). Across all 1,626 IPFs, the aggregate total is $44,032,632.84 (1,626 x 27,080.34).

The estimated burden for training personnel for data collection and submission for current and future measures is 2 hours per facility. The cost for this training, based on an hourly rate of $63.42, is $126.84 training costs for each IPF (63.42 x 2), which totals $206,241.84 for all facilities (1,626 x 126.84).

Using an estimated 1,626 IPFs nationwide that are eligible for participation in the IPFQR Program, we estimate that the annual hourly burden for the collection, submission, and training of personnel for submitting all quality measures is approximately 429 hours (per IPF) or 697,554 (aggregate) per year. The all-inclusive measure cost for each facility is approximately $27,207.18 (27,080.34 + 126.84) and for all facilities we estimate a cost of $44,238,874.68 (44,032,632.84 + 206,241.84).

In section V of this preamble, for the FY 2017 payment determination, we are proposing that IPFs submit to CMS aggregate population counts for Medicare and non-Medicare discharges by age group, diagnostic group, and quarter, and sample size counts for measures for which sampling is performed (as is allowed for in HBIPS-4 through-7, and SUB-1). We estimate that it will take each facility approximately 2.5 hours to comply with this requirement. The burden across all 1,626 IPFs calculates to 4,065 hours annually (2.5 x 1,626) at a total of $257,802.30 (4,065 x 63.42) or $158.55 per IPF (2.5 x 63.42).

The following tables set out the total estimated burden that IPFs would incur to comply with the proposed reporting requirements for both measure and non-measure data for the FY 2016 and FY 2017 payment determinations.

Table 19--Summary of Burden Estimates (Office of Management and Budget Control Number 0938-1171, CMS-10432) for the FY 2016 Payment Determination

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

Labor cost

Facility Total annual of

Fiscal year 2016 Number of measures Respondents burden burden (hours) reporting Total cost ($)

(hours) ($/hr)

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

From this FY 2015 proposed rule.............. 2 (attestation only)........... 1,626 0 0 0 0

training....................... 1,626 0 0 0 0

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

Total.................................... ............................... 1,626 0 0 0 0

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

Table 20--Summary of Burden Estimates (Office of Management and Budget Control Number 0938-1171, CMS-10432) for the FY 2017 Payment Determination

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

Labor cost

Total annual of

Fiscal year 2017 Number of measures Respondents Facility burden (hours) burden (hours) reporting Total cost ($)

($/hr)

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

From this FY 2015 proposed rule........ 4........................ 1,626 427 (139 x 3 + 10) 694,302 63.42 44,032,632.84

2 (attestation only)..... .............. ....................... 0 ........... ..............

training................. .............. 2 3,252 ........... 206,241.84

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

Page 26075

Subtotal........................... ......................... 1,626 429 697,554 63.42 44,238,874.68

From this FY 2015 proposed rule........ Non-measure data......... 1,626 2.50 4,065 63.42 257,802.30

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

Total.......................... ......................... 1,626 431.50 701,619 63.42 44,496,676.98

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

We are not proposing any changes to the administrative, reporting, or submission requirements for the measures previously finalized in the FY 2013 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (77 FR 53654 through 53657) and the FY 2014 IPPS/LTCH PPS final rule (78 FR 50898 through 50903), except that we are removing the Request for Voluntary Information--IPF Assessment of Patient Experience of Care section because of the Assessment of Patient Experience of Care proposed measure.

B. Summary of Proposed Burden Adjustments (OCN 0938-1171, CMS-10432)

In the FY 2014 final rule (78 FR 50964), we estimated that the annual hourly burden per IPF for the collection, submission, and training of personnel for submitting all quality measures was approximately 761 hours. This figure represented an estimate for all measures, both previously and newly finalized, in the Program. We further stated that because we were unable to estimate how many IPFs will participate, we could not estimate the aggregate impact.

Because the estimates we present herein, including the estimated annual burden of 431.5 hours per IPF, represent estimates only for proposed measures and non-measure data collection and submission requirements, an accurate comparison with estimates presented in the FY 2014 final rule is not possible.

C. ICRs Regarding the Hospital and Health Care Complex Cost Report (CMS-2552-10)

This proposed rule would not impose any new or revised collection of information requirements associated with CMS-2552-10 (as discussed under preamble section IV.B.). Consequently, the cost report does not require additional OMB review under the authority of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). The report's information collection requirements and burden estimates have been approved by OMB under OCN 0938-0052.

D. ICRs Regarding Exceptions to Quality Reporting Requirements

As discussed in section VIII.10 of this preamble, we are in the process of revising the Extraordinary Circumstances/Disaster Extension or Waiver Request form, currently approved under OMB control number 0938-1171. Revisions to the form are being addressed in the FY 2015 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule (RIN 0938-AS11, CMS-1607-P). In that rule we propose to update the form's instructions and simplify the form so that a hospital or facility may apply for an extension for all applicable quality reporting programs at the same time.

E. Submission of PRA-Related Comments

We have submitted a copy of this proposed rule to OMB for its review of the rule's information collection and recordkeeping requirements. These requirements are not effective until they have been approved by the OMB.

To obtain copies of the supporting statement and any related forms for the proposed paperwork collections referenced above, access CMS' Web site at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/index.html, or call the Reports Clearance Office at 410-786-1326.

We invite public comments on these potential information collection requirements. If you comment on these information collection and recordkeeping requirements, please submit your comments electronically as specified in the ADDRESSES section of this proposed rule.

PRA-related comments must be received on/by July 7, 2014.
Response to Comments

Because of the large number of public comments we normally receive on Federal Register documents, we are not able to acknowledge or respond to them individually. We will consider all comments we receive by the date and time specified in the DATES section of this preamble, and, when we proceed with a subsequent document, we will respond to the comments in the preamble to that document.
Regulatory Impact Analysis

A. Statement of Need

This proposed rule would update the prospective payment rates for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by IPFs for discharges occurring during the FY beginning October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015. We are applying the FY 2008-based RPL market basket increase of 2.7 percent, less the productivity adjustment of 0.4 percentage point as required by 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act, and less the 0.3 percentage point required by sections 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) and 1886(s)(3)(C) of the Act. In this proposed rule, we also address the implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM/PCS) for the IPF prospective payment system, and describe new quality reporting requirements for the IPFQR Program.

B. Overall Impact

We have examined the impact of this proposed rule as required by Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review (September 30, 1993), Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review (January 18, 2011), the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (September 19, 1980, Pub. L. 96-354), section 1102(b) of the Social Security Act, section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (March 22, 1995; Pub. L. 104-4), Executive Order 13132 on Federalism (August 4, 1999) and the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 804(2)).

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety

Page 26076

effects, distributive impacts, and equity). A regulatory impact analysis (RIA) must be prepared for a major rules with economically significant effects ($100 million or more in any 1 year). This proposed rule is designated as economically ``significant'' under section 3(f)(1) of Executive Order 12866.

We estimate that the total impact of these changes for FY 2015 payments compared to FY 2014 payments will be a net increase of approximately $100 million. This reflects a $95 million increase from the update to the payment rates, as well as a $5 million increase as a result of the update to the outlier threshold amount. Outlier payments are estimated to increase from 1.9 percent in FY 2014 to 2.0 percent in FY 2015.

The RFA requires agencies to analyze options for regulatory relief of small entities if a rule has a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. For purposes of the RFA, small entities include small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. Most IPFs and most other providers and suppliers are small entities, either by nonprofit status or having revenues of $7 million to $35.5 million or less in any 1 year, depending on industry classification (for details, refer to the SBA Small Business Size Standards found at http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf), or being nonprofit organizations that are not dominant in their markets.

Because we lack data on individual hospital receipts, we cannot determine the number of small proprietary IPFs or the proportion of IPFs' revenue derived from Medicare payments. Therefore, we assume that all IPFs are considered small entities. The Department of Health and Human Services generally uses a revenue impact of 3 to 5 percent as a significance threshold under the RFA.

As shown in Table 21, we estimate that the overall revenue impact of this proposed rule on all IPFs is to increase Medicare payments by approximately 2.1 percent. As a result, since the estimated impact of this proposed rule is a net increase in revenue across all categories of IPFs, the Secretary has determined that this proposed rule would have a positive revenue impact on a substantial number of small entities. MACs are not considered to be small entities. Individuals and States are not included in the definition of a small entity.

In addition, section 1102(b) of the Social Security Act requires us to prepare a regulatory impact analysis if a rule may have a significant impact on the operations of a substantial number of small rural hospitals. This analysis must conform to the provisions of section 603 of the RFA. For purposes of section 1102(b) of the Act, we define a small rural hospital as a hospital that is located outside of a metropolitan statistical area and has fewer than 100 beds. As discussed in detail below, the rates and policies set forth in this proposed rule would not have an adverse impact on the rural hospitals based on the data of the 310 rural units and 74 rural hospitals in our database of 1,626 IPFs for which data were available. Therefore, the Secretary has determined that this proposed rule would not have a significant impact on the operations of a substantial number of small rural hospitals.

Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) also requires that agencies assess anticipated costs and benefits before issuing any rule whose mandates require spending in any 1 year of $100 million in 1995 dollars, updated annually for inflation. In 2014, that threshold is approximately $141 million. This proposed rule will not impose spending costs on state, local, or tribal governments in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $141 million.

Executive Order 13132 establishes certain requirements that an agency must meet when it promulgates a proposed rule (and subsequent final rule) that imposes substantial direct requirement costs on state and local governments, preempts state law, or otherwise has Federalism implications. As stated above, this proposed rule would not have a substantial effect on state and local governments.

C. Anticipated Effects

We discuss the historical background of the IPF PPS and the impact of this proposed rule on the Federal Medicare budget and on IPFs.

1. Budgetary Impact

As discussed in the November 2004 and May 2006 IPF PPS final rules, we applied a budget neutrality factor to the Federal per diem and ECT base rates to ensure that total estimated payments under the IPF PPS in the implementation period would equal the amount that would have been paid if the IPF PPS had not been implemented. The budget neutrality factor includes the following components: outlier adjustment, stop-loss adjustment, and the behavioral offset. As discussed in the May 2008 IPF PPS notice (73 FR 25711), the stop-loss adjustment is no longer applicable under the IPF PPS.

In accordance with Sec. 412.424(c)(3)(ii), we indicated that we will evaluate the accuracy of the budget neutrality adjustment within the first 5 years after implementation of the payment system. We may make a one-time prospective adjustment to the Federal per diem and ECT base rates to account for differences between the historical data on cost-based TEFRA payments (the basis of the budget neutrality adjustment) and estimates of TEFRA payments based on actual data from the first year of the IPF PPS. As part of that process, we will reassess the accuracy of all of the factors impacting budget neutrality. In addition, as discussed in section VII.C.1 of this proposed rule, we are using the wage index and labor-related share in a budget neutral manner by applying a wage index budget neutrality factor to the Federal per diem and ECT base rates.

Therefore, the budgetary impact to the Medicare program of this proposed rule will be due to the market basket update for FY 2015 of 2.7 percent (see section V.B. of this proposed rule) less the productivity adjustment of 0.4 percentage point required by section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act, less the ``other adjustment'' of 0.3 percentage point under sections 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) and 1886(s)(3)(C) of the Act, and the update to the outlier fixed dollar loss threshold amount.

We estimate that the FY 2015 impact will be a net increase of $100 million in payments to IPF providers. This reflects an estimated $95 million increase from the update to the payment rates and a $5 million increase due to the update to the outlier threshold amount to increase outlier payments from approximately 1.9 percent in FY 2014 to 2.0 percent in FY 2015. This estimate does not include the implementation of the required 2 percentage point reduction of the market basket increase factor for any IPF that fails to meet the IPF quality reporting requirements (as discussed in section 4 below).

2. Impact on Providers

To understand the impact of the changes to the IPF PPS on providers, discussed in this proposed rule, it is necessary to compare estimated payments under the IPF PPS rates and factors for FY 2015 versus those under FY 2014. The estimated payments for FY 2014 and FY 2015 will be 100 percent of the IPF PPS payment, since the transition period has ended and stop-loss payments are no longer paid. We determined the percent change of estimated FY 2015 IPF PPS payments to FY 2014 IPF PPS payments for each category of IPFs. In addition, for each category of IPFs, we have included the estimated percent change in payments resulting from the update to the outlier

Page 26077

fixed dollar loss threshold amount, the labor-related share and wage index changes for the FY 2015 IPF PPS, and the market basket update for FY 2015, as adjusted by the productivity adjustment according to section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i), and the ``other adjustment'' according to sections 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) and 1886(s)(3)(C) of the Act.

To illustrate the impacts of the FY 2015 changes in this proposed rule, our analysis begins with a FY 2014 baseline simulation model based on FY 2013 IPF payments inflated to the midpoint of FY 2014 using IHS Global Insight Inc.'s most recent forecast of the market basket update (see section IV.C. of this proposed rule); the estimated outlier payments in FY 2014; the CBSA designations for IPFs based on OMB's MSA definitions after June 2003; the FY 2013 pre-floor, pre-reclassified hospital wage index; the FY 2014 labor-related share; and the FY 2014 percentage amount of the rural adjustment. During the simulation, the total estimated outlier payments are maintained at 2 percent of total IPF PPS payments.

Each of the following changes is added incrementally to this baseline model in order for us to isolate the effects of each change:

The update to the outlier fixed dollar loss threshold amount.

The FY 2014 pre-floor, pre-reclassified hospital wage index and FY 2015 labor-related share.

The market basket update for FY 2015 of 2.7 percent less the productivity adjustment of 0.4 percentage point reduction in accordance with section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act and less the ``other adjustment'' of 0.3 percentage point in accordance with sections 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) and 1886(s)(3)(C) of the Act.

Our final comparison illustrates the percent change in payments from FY 2014 (that is, October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014) to FY 2015 (that is, October 1, 2014, to September 30, 2015) including all the changes in this proposed rule.

Table 21--IPF Impact Table for FY 2015

Projected impacts (% Change in columns 3-6

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

CBSA wage Adjusted

Facility by type Number of Outlier index & labor market basket Total percent

facilities share update \1\ change \2\

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

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

All Facilities.................. 1,626 0.1 0.0 2.0 2.1

Total Urban..................... 1,242 0.1 0.0 2.0 2.1

Total Rural..................... 384 0.1 -0.2 2.0 1.9

Urban unit...................... 829 0.1 0.1 2.0 2.2

Urban hospital.................. 413 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0

Rural unit...................... 310 0.1 -0.1 2.0 2.0

Rural hospital.................. 74 0.0 -0.3 2.0 1.7

By Type of Ownership:

Freestanding IPFs

Urban Psychiatric Hospitals

Government.............. 129 0.1 0.0 2.0 2.0

Non-Profit.............. 99 0.1 0.2 2.0 2.3

For-Profit.............. 185 0.0 -0.2 2.0 1.8

Rural Psychiatric Hospitals

Government.............. 36 0.1 0.3 2.0 2.4

Non-Profit.............. 13 0.1 -0.1 2.0 1.9

For-Profit.............. 25 0.0 -0.8 2.0 1.2

IPF Units

Urban

Government.............. 129 0.2 0.1 2.0 2.3

Non-Profit.............. 543 0.1 0.1 2.0 2.2

For-Profit.............. 157 0.1 -0.1 2.0 1.9

Rural .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............

Government.............. 75 0.1 -0.1 2.0 1.9

Non-Profit.............. 169 0.1 -0.1 2.0 1.9

For-Profit.............. 66 0.1 -0.1 2.0 2.0

By Teaching Status:

Non-teaching................ 1,427 0.1 0.0 2.0 2.0

Less than 10% interns and 108 0.1 0.2 2.0 2.3

residents to beds..........

10% to 30% interns and 68 0.1 0.0 2.0 2.2

residents to beds..........

More than 30% interns and 23 0.2 0.5 2.0 2.7

residents to beds..........

By Region:

New England................. 109 0.1 0.1 2.0 2.2

Mid-Atlantic................ 251 0.1 0.6 2.0 2.7

South Atlantic.............. 234 0.1 -0.3 2.0 1.7

East North Central.......... 260 0.1 -0.2 2.0 1.9

East South Central.......... 166 0.1 -0.3 2.0 1.8

West North Central.......... 143 0.1 -0.3 2.0 1.8

West South Central.......... 238 0.0 -0.5 2.0 1.6

Mountain.................... 103 0.1 -0.3 2.0 1.7

Pacific..................... 122 0.1 1.0 2.0 3.1

By Bed Size:

Psychiatric Hospitals .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............

Beds: 0-24.............. 88 0.0 -0.3 2.0 1.7

Beds: 25-49............. 67 0.0 -0.1 2.0 1.9

Page 26078

Beds: 50-75............. 88 0.0 -0.1 2.0 2.0

Beds: 76 +.............. 244 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0

Psychiatric Units .............. .............. .............. .............. ..............

Beds: 0-24.............. 680 0.1 0.0 2.0 2.1

Beds: 25-49............. 298 0.1 -0.1 2.0 2.0

Beds: 50-75............. 102 0.1 0.1 2.0 2.1

Beds: 76 +.............. 59 0.1 0.4 2.0 2.6

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

\1\ This column reflects the payment update impact of the RPL market basket update for FY 2015 of 2.7 percent, a

0.4 percentage point reduction for the productivity adjustment as required by section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the

Act, and a 0.3 percentage point reduction in accordance with sections 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) and 1886(s)(3)(C) of

the Act.

\2\ Percent changes in estimated payments from FY 2014 to FY 2015 include all of the changes presented in this

proposed rule. Note, the products of these impacts may be different from the percentage changes shown here due

to rounding effects.

3. Results

Table 21 above displays the results of our analysis. The table groups IPFs into the categories listed below based on characteristics provided in the Provider of Services (POS) file, the IPF provider specific file, and cost report data from HCRIS:

Facility Type

Location

Teaching Status Adjustment

Census Region

Size

The top row of the table shows the overall impact on the 1,626 IPFs included in this analysis.

In column 3, we present the effects of the update to the outlier fixed dollar loss threshold amount. We estimate that IPF outlier payments as a percentage of total IPF payments are 1.9 percent in FY 2014. Thus, we are adjusting the outlier threshold amount in this proposed rule to set total estimated outlier payments equal to 2 percent of total payments in FY 2015. The estimated change in total IPF payments for FY 2015, therefore, includes an approximate 0.1 percent increase in payments because the outlier portion of total payments is expected to increase from approximately 1.9 percent to 2 percent.

The overall impact of this outlier adjustment update (as shown in column 3 of table 21), across all hospital groups, is to increase total estimated payments to IPFs by 0.1 percent. We do not estimate that any group of IPFs will experience a decrease in payments from this update. The largest increase in payments is estimated to reflect a 0.2 percent increase in payments for urban government IPF units and IPFs located in teaching hospitals with an intern and resident ADC ratio greater than 30 percent.

In column 4, we present the effects of the budget-neutral update to the labor-related share and the wage index adjustment under the CBSA geographic area definitions announced by OMB in June 2003. This is a comparison of the simulated FY 2015 payments under the FY 2014 hospital wage index under CBSA classification and associated labor-related share to the simulated FY 2014 payments under the FY 2013 hospital wage index under CBSA classifications and associated labor-related share. We note that there is no projected change in aggregate payments to IPFs, as indicated in the first row of column 4. However, there will be small distributional effects among different categories of IPFs. For example, we estimate the largest increase in payments to be a 1.0 percent increase for IPFs in the Pacific region and the largest decrease in payments to be a 0.8 percent decrease for rural for-profit IPFs.

Column 5 shows the estimated effect of the update to the IPF PPS payment rates, which includes a 2.7 percent market basket update less the productivity adjustment of 0.4 percentage point in accordance with section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i), and less the 0.3 percentage point in accordance with section 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) and 1886(s)(3)(C).

Column 6 compares our estimates of the total changes reflected in this proposed rule for FY 2015, to our payments for FY 2014 (without these changes). This column reflects all FY 2015 changes relative to FY 2014. The average estimated increase for all IPFs is approximately 2.1 percent. This estimated net increase includes the effects of the 2.7 percent market basket update adjusted by the productivity adjustment of minus 0.4 percentage point, as required by section 1886(s)(2)(A)(i) of the Act and the ``other adjustment'' of minus 0.3 percentage point, as required by sections 1886(s)(2)(A)(ii) and 1886(s)(3)(C) of the Act. It also includes the overall estimated 0.1 percent increase in estimated IPF outlier payments from the update to the outlier fixed dollar loss threshold amount. Since we are making the updates to the IPF labor-

related share and wage index in a budget-neutral manner, they will not affect total estimated IPF payments in the aggregate. However, they will affect the estimated distribution of payments among providers.

Overall, no IPFs are estimated to experience a net decrease in payments as a result of the updates in this proposed rule. IPFs in urban areas will experience a 2.1 percent increase and IPFs in rural areas will experience a 1.9 percent increase. The largest payment increase is estimated at 3.1 percent for IPFs in the Pacific region. This is due to the larger than average positive effect of the CBSA wage index and labor-related share update for IPFs in this category.

4. Effects of Updates to the IPF QRP

As discussed in section V.B. of this proposed rule and in accordance with section 1886(s)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act, we will implement a 2 percentage point reduction in the FY 2015 increase factor for IPFs that have failed to report the required quality reporting data to us during the most recent IPF quality reporting period. In section V.B. of this proposed rule, we discuss how the 2 percentage point reduction will be applied. Only a few IPFs received the 2 percentage point reduction in the FY 2014 increase factor for failure to meet

Page 26079

program requirements, and we would anticipate that even fewer IPFs would receive the reduction for FY 2015 as IPFs become more familiar with the requirements. Thus, we estimate that this policy will have a negligible impact on overall IPF payments for FY 2015.

For the FY 2016 payment determination, we estimate no additional burden on IPFs as a result of proposed changes in reporting requirements. For the FY 2017 payment determination, we estimate an additional annual burden across all 1,626 IPFs of 701,619 hours, with a total Program cost of $44,496,677. This estimate includes an estimated 3,252 hours annually for training, at an estimated annual cost of $206,241. It also includes an estimated 4,065 hours annually, at an estimated annual cost of $257,802, for IPFs to submit to CMS aggregate population counts for Medicare and non-Medicare discharges by age group, diagnostic group, and quarter, and sample size counts for measures for which sampling is performed. Further discussion of these figures can be found in section IX.

For the FY 2017 payment determination, the applicable reporting period is calendar year (CY) 2015. Assuming that reporting costs are uniformly distributed across the year, three-quarters of those costs would have been incurred in FY 2015, which ends on September 30, 2015. Therefore, the estimated FY 2015 burden for IPFs would be three-

quarters of $44,496,677, or approximately $33,372,508.

We intend to closely monitor the effects of this new quality reporting program on IPF providers and help facilitate successful reporting outcomes through ongoing stakeholder education, national trainings, and a technical help desk.

5. Effect on Beneficiaries

Under the IPF PPS, IPFs will receive payment based on the average resources consumed by patients for each day. We do not expect changes in the quality of care or access to services for Medicare beneficiaries under the FY 2015 IPF PPS but we continue to expect that paying prospectively for IPF services would enhance the efficiency of the Medicare program.

D. Alternatives Considered

The statute does not specify an update strategy for the IPF PPS and is broadly written to give the Secretary discretion in establishing an update methodology. Therefore, we are updating the IPF PPS using the methodology published in the November 2004 IPF PPS final rule. No alternative policy options were considered in this proposed rule since this proposed rule simply provides an update to the rates for FY 2015 and transition ICD-9-CM codes to ICD-10-CM codes. Additionally, for the IPFQR Program, alternatives were not considered because the Program, as designed, best achieves quality reporting goals for the inpatient psychiatric care setting, while minimizing associated reporting burdens on IPFs. Lastly, sections VIII.1. and VIII.4. discuss other benefits and objectives of the Program.

E. Accounting Statement

As required by OMB Circular A-4 (available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_a004_a-4), in Table 22 below, we have prepared an accounting statement showing the classification of the expenditures associated with the provisions of this proposed rule. The costs for data submission presented in Table 22 are calculated in section IX, which also discusses the benefits of data collection. This table provides our best estimate of the increase in Medicare payments under the IPF PPS as a result of the changes presented in this proposed rule and based on the data for 1,626 IPFs in our database. Furthermore, we present the estimated costs associated with updating the IPFQR program. The increases in Medicare payments are classified as Federal transfers to IPF Medicare providers.

Table 22--Accounting Statement: Classification of Estimated Expenditures

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

Category Transfers

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

Change in Estimated Transfers from FY 2014 IPF PPS to FY 2015 IPF PPS:

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

Annualized Monetized Transfers......... $100 million.

From Whom to Whom?..................... Federal Government to IPF

Medicare Providers

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

FY 2015 Costs to updating the Quality Reporting Program for IPFs:

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

Category Costs

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

Annualized Monetized Costs for IPFs to 33,372,508

Submit Data (Quality Reporting

Program).

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

In accordance with the provisions of Executive Order 12866, this proposed rule was reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

Dated: April 17, 2014.

Marilyn Tavenner,

Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Approved: April 24, 2014.

Kathleen Sebelius,

Secretary.

Note: The following Addenda will not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Addendum A--Rate and Adjustment Factors

Per Diem Rate

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

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

Federal Per Diem Base Rate..................... $727.67

Labor Share (0.69538).......................... 506.01

Non-Labor Share (0.30462)...................... 221.66

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

Page 26080

Per Diem Rate Applying the 2 Percentage Point Reduction

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

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

Federal Per Diem Base Rate..................... $713.40

Labor Share (0.69538).......................... 496.08

Non-Labor Share (0.30462)...................... 217.32

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

Fixed Dollar Loss Threshold Amount: $10,125.

Wage Index Budget-Neutrality Factor: 1.0003.

Facility Adjustments

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

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

Rural Adjustment Factor................ 1.17

Teaching Adjustment Factor............. 0.5150

Wage Index............................. Pre-reclass Hospital Wage Index

(FY2014)

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

Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs)

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

Cost of living

Area adjustment

factor

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

Alaska:................................................. ..............

City of Anchorage and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius 1.23

by road............................................

City of Fairbanks and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius 1.23

by road............................................

City of Juneau and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius by 1.23

road...............................................

Rest of Alaska...................................... 1.25

Hawaii:.................................................

City and County of Honolulu......................... 1.25

County of Hawaii.................................... 1.19

County of Kauai..................................... 1.25

County of Maui and County of Kalawao................ 1.25

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

Patient Adjustments

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

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

ECT--Per Treatment...................................... $313.27

ECT--Per Treatment Applying the 2 Percentage Point $307.13

Reduction..............................................

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

Variable Per Diem Adjustments

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

Adjustment

factor

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

Day 1--Facility Without a Qualifying Emergency 1.19

Department.............................................

Day 1--Facility With a Qualifying Emergency Department.. 1.31

Day 2................................................... 1.12

Day 3................................................... 1.08

Day 4................................................... 1.05

Day 5................................................... 1.04

Day 6................................................... 1.02

Day 7................................................... 1.01

Day 8................................................... 1.01

Day 9................................................... 1.00

Day 10.................................................. 1.00

Day 11.................................................. 0.99

Day 12.................................................. 0.99

Day 13.................................................. 0.99

Day 14.................................................. 0.99

Day 15.................................................. 0.98

Day 16.................................................. 0.97

Day 17.................................................. 0.97

Day 18.................................................. 0.96

Day 19.................................................. 0.95

Day 20.................................................. 0.95

Day 21.................................................. 0.95

After Day 21............................................ 0.92

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

Page 26081

Age Adjustments

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

Adjustment

Age (in years) factor

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

Under 45................................................ 1.00

45 and under 50......................................... 1.01

50 and under 55......................................... 1.02

55 and under 60......................................... 1.04

60 and under 65......................................... 1.07

65 and under 70......................................... 1.10

70 and under 75......................................... 1.13

75 and under 80......................................... 1.15

80 and over............................................. 1.17

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

DRG Adjustments

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

Adjustment

MS-DRG MS-DRG Descriptions factor

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

056................... Degenerative nervous system 1.05

057................... disorders w MCC.

Degenerative nervous system

disorders w/o MCC.

080................... Nontraumatic stupor & coma w MCC 1.07

081................... Nontraumatic stupor & coma w/o

MCC.

876................... O.R. procedure w principal 1.22

diagnoses of mental illness.

880................... Acute adjustment reaction & 1.05

psychosocial dysfunction.

881................... Depressive neuroses............. 0.99

882................... Neuroses except depressive...... 1.02

883................... Disorders of personality & 1.02

impulse control.

884................... Organic disturbances & mental 1.03

retardation.

885................... Psychoses....................... 1.00

886................... Behavioral & developmental 0.99

disorders.

887................... Other mental disorder diagnoses. 0.92

894................... Alcohol/drug abuse or 0.97

dependence, left AMA.

895................... Alcohol/drug abuse or dependence 1.02

w rehabilitation therapy.

896................... Alcohol/drug abuse or dependence 0.88

897................... w/o rehabilitation therapy w

MCC.

Alcohol/drug abuse or dependence

w/o rehabilitation therapy w/o

MCC.

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

Comorbidity Adjustments

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

Adjustment

Comorbidity factor

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

Developmental Disabilities.............................. 1.04

Coagulation Factor Deficit.............................. 1.13

Tracheostomy............................................ 1.06

Eating and Conduct Disorders............................ 1.12

Infectious Diseases..................................... 1.07

Renal Failure, Acute.................................... 1.11

Renal Failure, Chronic.................................. 1.11

Oncology Treatment...................................... 1.07

Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus.......................... 1.05

Severe Protein Malnutrition............................. 1.13

Drug/Alcohol Induced Mental Disorders................... 1.03

Cardiac Conditions...................................... 1.11

Gangrene................................................ 1.10

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease................... 1.12

Artificial Openings--Digestive & Urinary................ 1.08

Severe Musculoskeletal & Connective Tissue Diseases..... 1.09

Poisoning............................................... 1.11

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

Addendum B--FY 2015 CBSA Wage Index Tables

In this addendum, we provide the wage index tables referred to in the preamble to this proposed rule. The tables presented below are as follows:

Table1-FY 2015 Wage Index For Urban Areas Based on CBSA Labor Market Areas.

Table 2-FY 2015 Wage Index Based On CBSA Labor Market Areas For Rural Areas.

Page 26082

Table 1--FY 2015 Wage Index for Urban Areas Based on CBSA Labor Market

Areas

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

Urban area (constituent

CBSA Code counties) Wage index

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

10180...................... Abilene, TX, Callahan 0.8225

County, TX, Jones County,

TX, Taylor County, TX.

10380...................... Aguadilla-Isabela-San 0.3647

Sebastiaacuten, PR,

Aguada Municipio, PR,

Aguadilla Municipio, PR,

Antildeasco Municipio,

PR, Isabela Municipio, PR,

Lares Municipio, PR, Moca

Municipio, PR,

Rincoacuten Municipio,

PR, San Sebastiaacuten

Municipio, PR.

10420...................... Akron, OH, Portage County, 0.8521

OH, Summit County, OH.

10500...................... Albany, GA, Baker County, 0.8713

GA, Dougherty County, GA,

Lee County, GA, Terrell

County, GA, Worth County,

GA.

10580...................... Albany-Schenectady-Troy, 0.8600

NY, Albany County, NY,

Rensselaer County, NY,

Saratoga County, NY,

Schenectady County, NY,

Schoharie County, NY.

10740...................... Albuquerque, NM, Bernalillo 0.9663

County, NM, Sandoval

County, NM, Torrance

County, NM, Valencia

County, NM.

10780...................... Alexandria, LA, Grant 0.7788

Parish, LA, Rapides

Parish, LA.

10900...................... Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, 0.9215

PA-NJ, Warren County, NJ,

Carbon County, PA, Lehigh

County, PA, Northampton

County, PA.

11020...................... Altoona, PA, Blair County, 0.9101

PA.

11100...................... Amarillo, TX, Armstrong 0.8302

County, TX, Carson County,

TX, Potter County, TX,

Randall County, TX.

11180...................... Ames, IA, Story County, IA. 0.9425

11260...................... Anchorage, AK, Anchorage 1.2221

Municipality, AK,

Matanuska-Susitna Borough,

AK.

11300...................... Anderson, IN, Madison 0.9654

County, IN.

11340...................... Anderson, SC, Anderson 0.8766

County, SC.

11460...................... Arbor, MI, Washtenaw 1.0086

County, MI.

11500...................... Anniston-Oxford, AL, 0.7402

Calhoun County, AL.

11540...................... Appleton, WI, Calumet 0.9445

County, WI, Outagamie

County, WI.

11700...................... Asheville, NC, Buncombe 0.8511

County, NC, Haywood

County, NC, Henderson

County, NC, Madison

County, NC.

12020...................... Athens-Clarke County, GA, 0.9244

Clarke County, GA, Madison

County, GA, Oconee County,

GA, Oglethorpe County, GA.

12060...................... Atlanta-Sandy Springs- 0.9452

Marietta, GA, Barrow

County, GA, Bartow County,

GA, Butts County, GA,

Carroll County, GA,

Cherokee County, GA,

Clayton County, GA, Cobb

County, GA, Coweta County,

GA, Dawson County, GA,

DeKalb County, GA, Douglas

County, GA, Fayette

County, GA, Forsyth

County, GA, Fulton County,

GA, Gwinnett County, GA,

Haralson County, GA, Heard

County, GA, Henry County,

GA, Jasper County, GA,

Lamar County, GA,

Meriwether County, GA,

Newton County, GA,

Paulding County, GA,

Pickens County, GA, Pike

County, GA, Rockdale

County, GA, Spalding

County, GA, Walton County,

GA.

12100...................... Atlantic City-Hammonton, 1.2258

NJ, Atlantic County, NJ.

12220...................... Auburn-Opelika, AL, Lee 0.7771

County, AL.

12260...................... Augusta-Richmond County, GA- 0.9150

SC, Burke County, GA,

Columbia County, GA,

McDuffie County, GA,

Richmond County, GA, Aiken

County, SC, Edgefield

County, SC.

12420...................... Austin-Round Rock-San 0.9576

Marcos, TX, Bastrop

County, TX, Caldwell

County, TX, Hays County,

TX, Travis County, TX,

Williamson County, TX.

12540...................... Bakersfield-Delano, CA, 1.1579

Kern County, CA.

12580...................... Baltimore-Towson, MD, Anne 0.9873

Arundel County, MD,

Baltimore County, MD,

Carroll County, MD,

Harford County, MD, Howard

County, MD, Queen Anne's

County, MD, Baltimore

City, MD.

12620...................... Bangor, ME, Penobscot 0.9710

County, ME.

12700...................... Barnstable Town, MA, 1.3007

Barnstable County, MA.

12940...................... Baton Rouge, LA, Ascension 0.8078

Parish, LA, East Baton

Rouge Parish, LA, East

Feliciana Parish, LA,

Iberville Parish, LA,

Livingston Parish, LA,

Pointe Coupee Parish, LA,

St. Helena Parish, LA,

West Baton Rouge Parish,

LA, West Feliciana Parish,

LA.

12980...................... Battle Creek, MI, Calhoun 0.9915

County, MI.

13020...................... Bay City, MI, Bay County, 0.9486

MI.

13140...................... Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX, 0.8598

Hardin County, TX,

Jefferson County, TX,

Orange County, TX.

13380...................... Bellingham, WA, Whatcom 1.1890

County, WA.

13460...................... Bend, OR, Deschutes County, 1.1807

OR.

13644...................... Bethesda-Rockville- 1.0319

Frederick, MD, Frederick

County, MD, Montgomery

County, MD.

13740...................... Billings, MT, Carbon 0.8691

County, MT, Yellowstone

County, MT.

13780...................... Binghamton, NY, Broome 0.8602

County, NY, Tioga County,

NY.

13820...................... Birmingham-Hoover, AL, Bibb 0.8367

County, AL, Blount County,

AL, Chilton County, AL,

Jefferson County, AL, St.

Clair County, AL, Shelby

County, AL, Walker County,

AL.

13900...................... Bismarck, ND, Burleigh 0.7282

County, ND, Morton County,

ND.

13980...................... Blacksburg-Christiansburg- 0.8319

Radford, VA, Giles County,

VA, Montgomery County, VA,

Pulaski County, VA,

Radford City, VA.

14020...................... Bloomington, IN, Greene 0.9304

County, IN, Monroe County,

IN, Owen County, IN.

14060...................... Bloomington-Normal, IL, 0.9310

McLean County, IL.

14260...................... Boise City-Nampa, ID, Ada 0.9259

County, ID, Boise County,

ID, Canyon County, ID, Gem

County, ID, Owyhee County,

ID.

14484...................... Boston-Quincy, MA, Norfolk 1.2453

County, MA, Plymouth

County, MA, Suffolk

County, MA.

14500...................... Boulder, CO, Boulder 0.9850

County, CO.

14540...................... Bowling Green, KY, Edmonson 0.8573

County, KY, Warren County,

KY.

14740...................... Bremerton-Silverdale, WA, 1.0268

Kitsap County, WA.

14860...................... Bridgeport-Stamford- 1.3252

Norwalk, CT, Fairfield

County, CT.

15180...................... Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, 0.8179

Cameron County, TX.

15260...................... Brunswick, GA, Brantley 0.8457

County, GA, Glynn County,

GA, McIntosh County, GA.

15380...................... Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY, 1.0045

Erie County, NY, Niagara

County, NY.

15500...................... Burlington, NC, Alamance 0.8529

County, NC.

Page 26083

15540...................... Burlington-South 1.0130

Burlington, VT, Chittenden

County, VT, Franklin

County, VT, Grand Isle

County, VT.

15764...................... Cambridge-Newton- 1.1146

Framingham, MA, Middlesex

County, MA.

15804...................... Camden, NJ, Burlington 1.0254

County, NJ, Camden County,

NJ, Gloucester County, NJ.

15940...................... Canton-Massillon, OH, 0.8730

Carroll County, OH, Stark

County, OH.

15980...................... Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL, 0.8683

Lee County, FL.

16020...................... Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO- 0.9174

IL, Alexander County, IL,

Bollinger County, MO, Cape

Girardeau County, MO.

16180...................... Carson City, NV, Carson 1.0721

City, NV.

16220...................... Casper, WY, Natrona County, 1.0111

WY.

16300...................... Cedar Rapids, IA, Benton 0.8964

County, IA, Jones County,

IA, Linn County, IA.

16580...................... Champaign-Urbana, IL, 0.9416

Champaign County, IL, Ford

County, IL, Piatt County,

IL.

16620...................... Charleston, WV, Boone 0.8119

County, WV, Clay County,

WV, Kanawha County, WV,

Lincoln County, WV, Putnam

County, WV.

16700...................... Charleston-North Charleston- 0.8972

Summerville, SC, Berkeley

County, SC, Charleston

County, SC, Dorchester

County, SC.

16740...................... Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock 0.9447

Hill, NCdashSC, Anson

County, NC, Cabarrus

County, NC, Gaston County,

NC, Mecklenburg County,

NC, Union County, NC, York

County, SC.

16820...................... Charlottesville, VA, 0.9209

Albemarle County, VA,

Fluvanna County, VA,

Greene County, VA, Nelson

County, VA,

Charlottesville City, VA.

16860...................... Chattanooga, TN-GA, Catoosa 0.8783

County, GA, Dade County,

GA, Walker County, GA,

Hamilton County, TN,

Marion County, TN,

Sequatchie County, TN.

16940...................... Cheyenne, WY, Laramie 0.9494

County, WY.

16974...................... Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, 1.0418

IL, Cook County, IL,

DeKalb County, IL, DuPage

County, IL, Grundy County,

IL, Kane County, IL,

Kendall County, IL,

McHenry County, IL, Will

County, IL.

17020...................... Chico, CA, Butte County, CA 1.1616

17140...................... Cincinnati-Middletown, OH- 0.9470

KY-IN, Dearborn County,

IN, Franklin County, IN,

Ohio County, IN, Boone

County, KY, Bracken

County, KY, Campbell

County, KY, Gallatin

County, KY, Grant County,

KY, Kenton County, KY,

Pendleton County, KY,

Brown County, OH, Butler

County, OH, Clermont

County, OH, Hamilton

County, OH, Warren County,

OH.

17300...................... Clarksville, TN-KY, 0.7802

Christian County, KY,

Trigg County, KY,

Montgomery County, TN,

Stewart County, TN.

17420...................... Cleveland, TN, Bradley 0.7496

County, TN, Polk County,

TN.

17460...................... Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, 0.9303

OH, Cuyahoga County, OH,

Geauga County, OH, Lake

County, OH, Lorain County,

OH, Medina County, OH.

17660...................... Coeur d'Alene, ID, Kootenai 0.9064

County, ID.

17780...................... College Station-Bryan, TX, 0.9497

Brazos County, TX,

Burleson County, TX,

Robertson County, TX.

17820...................... Colorado Springs, CO, El 0.9282

Paso County, CO, Teller

County, CO.

17860...................... Columbia, MO, Boone County, 0.8196

MO, Howard County, MO.

17900...................... Columbia, SC, Calhoun 0.8601

County, SC, Fairfield

County, SC, Kershaw

County, SC, Lexington

County, SC, Richland

County, SC, Saluda County,

SC.

17980...................... Columbus, GA-AL, Russell 0.8170

County, AL, Chattahoochee

County, GA, Harris County,

GA, Marion County, GA,

Muscogee County, GA.

18020...................... Columbus, IN, Bartholomew 0.9818

County, IN.

18140...................... Columbus, OH, Delaware 0.9803

County, OH, Fairfield

County, OH, Franklin

County, OH, Licking

County, OH, Madison

County, OH, Morrow County,

OH, Pickaway County, OH,

Union County, OH.

18580...................... Corpus Christi, TX, Aransas 0.8433

County, TX, Nueces County,

TX, San Patricio County,

TX.

18700...................... Corvallis, OR, Benton 1.0596

County, OR.

18880...................... Crestview-Fort Walton Beach- 0.8911

Destin, FL, Okaloosa

County, FL.

19060...................... Cumberland, MD-WV, Allegany 0.8054

County, MD, Mineral

County, WV.

19124...................... Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX, 0.9831

Collin County, TX, Dallas

County, TX, Delta County,

TX, Denton County, TX,

Ellis County, TX, Hunt

County, TX, Kaufman

County, TX, Rockwall

County, TX.

19140...................... Dalton, GA, Murray County, 0.8625

GA, Whitfield County, GA.

19180...................... Danville, IL, Vermilion 0.9460

County, IL.

19260...................... Danville, VA, Pittsylvania 0.7888

County, VA, Danville City,

VA.

19340...................... Davenport-Moline-Rock 0.9306

Island, IA-IL, Henry

County, IL, Mercer County,

IL, Rock Island County,

IL, Scott County, IA.

19380...................... Dayton, OH, Greene County, 0.9034

OH, Miami County, OH,

Montgomery County, OH,

Preble County, OH.

19460...................... Decatur, AL, Lawrence 0.7165

County, AL, Morgan County,

AL.

19500...................... Decatur, IL, Macon County, 0.8151

IL.

19660...................... Deltona-Daytona Beach- 0.8560

Ormond Beach, FL, Volusia

County, FL.

19740...................... Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, 1.0395

CO, Adams County, CO,

Arapahoe County, CO,

Broomfield County, CO,

Clear Creek County, CO,

Denver County, CO, Douglas

County, CO, Elbert County,

CO, Gilpin County, CO,

Jefferson County, CO, Park

County, CO.

19780...................... Des Moines-West Des Moines, 0.9393

IA, Dallas County, IA,

Guthrie County, IA,

Madison County, IA, Polk

County, IA, Warren County,

IA.

19804...................... Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, 0.9237

MI, Wayne County, MI.

20020...................... Dothan, AL, Geneva County, 0.7108

AL, Henry County, AL,

Houston County, AL.

20100...................... Dover, DE, Kent County, DE. 0.9939

20220...................... Dubuque, IA, Dubuque 0.8790

County, IA.

20260...................... Duluth, MN-WI, Carlton 1.0123

County, MN, St. Louis

County, MN, Douglas

County, WI.

20500...................... Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, 0.9669

Chatham County, NC, Durham

County, NC, Orange County,

NC, Person County, NC.

20740...................... Eau Claire, WI, Chippewa 1.0103

County, WI, Eau Claire

County, WI.

Page 26084

20764...................... Edison-New Brunswick, NJ, 1.0985

Middlesex County, NJ,

Monmouth County, NJ, Ocean

County, NJ, Somerset

County, NJ.

20940...................... El Centro, CA, Imperial 0.8848

County, CA.

21060...................... Elizabethtown, KY, Hardin 0.7894

County, KY, Larue County,

KY.

21140...................... Elkhart-Goshen, IN, Elkhart 0.9337

County, IN.

21300...................... Elmira, NY, Chemung County, 0.8725

NY.

21340...................... El Paso, TX, El Paso 0.8404

County, TX.

21500...................... Erie, PA, Erie County, PA.. 0.7940

21660...................... Eugene-Springfield, OR, 1.1723

Lane County, OR.

21780...................... Evansville, IN-KY, Gibson 0.8381

County, IN, Posey County,

IN, Vanderburgh County,

IN, Warrick County, IN,

Henderson County, KY,

Webster County, KY.

21820...................... Fairbanks, AK, Fairbanks 1.0997

North Star Borough, AK.

21940...................... Fajardo, PR, Ceiba 0.3728

Municipio, PR, Fajardo

Municipio, PR, Luquillo

Municipio, PR.

22020...................... Fargo, ND-MN, Cass County, 0.7802

ND, Clay County, MN.

22140...................... Farmington, NM, San Juan 0.9735

County, NM.

22180...................... Fayetteville, NC, 0.8601

Cumberland County, NC,

Hoke County, NC.

22220...................... Fayetteville-Springdale- 0.8955

Rogers, AR-MO, Benton

County, AR, Madison

County, AR, Washington

County, AR, McDonald

County, MO.

22380...................... Flagstaff, AZ, Coconino 1.2786

County, AZ.

22420...................... Flint, MI, Genesee County, 1.1238

MI.

22500...................... Florence, SC, Darlington 0.7999

County, SC, Florence

County, SC.

22520...................... Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL, 0.7684

Colbert County, AL,

Lauderdale County, AL.

22540...................... Fond du Lac, WI, Fond du 0.9477

Lac County, WI.

22660...................... Fort Collins-Loveland, CO, 0.9704

Larimer County, CO.

22744...................... Fort Lauderdale-Pompano 1.0378

Beach-Deerfield, FL,

Broward County, FL.

22900...................... Fort Smith, AR-OK, Crawford 0.7561

County, AR, Franklin

County, AR, Sebastian

County, AR, Le Flore

County, OK, Sequoyah

County, OK.

23060...................... Fort Wayne, IN, Allen 0.9010

County, IN, Wells County,

IN, Whitley County, IN.

23104...................... Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, 0.9535

Johnson County, TX, Parker

County, TX, Tarrant

County, TX, Wise County,

TX.

23420...................... Fresno, CA, Fresno County, 1.1768

CA.

23460...................... Gadsden, AL, Etowah County, 0.7983

AL.

23540...................... Gainesville, FL, Alachua 0.9710

County, FL, Gilchrist

County, FL.

23580...................... Gainesville, GA, Hall 0.9253

County, GA.

23844...................... Gary, IN, Jasper County, 0.9418

IN, Lake County, IN,

Newton County, IN, Porter

County, IN.

24020...................... Glens Falls, NY, Warren 0.8367

County, NY, Washington

County, NY.

24140...................... Goldsboro, NC, Wayne 0.8550

County, NC.

24220...................... Grand Forks, ND-MN, Polk 0.7290

County, MN, Grand Forks

County, ND.

24300...................... Grand Junction, CO, Mesa 0.9270

County, CO.

24340...................... Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI, 0.9091

Barry County, MI, Ionia

County, MI, Kent County,

MI, Newaygo County, MI.

24500...................... Great Falls, MT, Cascade 0.9235

County, MT.

24540...................... Greeley, CO, Weld County, 0.9653

CO.

24580...................... Green Bay, WI, Brown 0.9587

County, WI, Kewaunee

County, WI, Oconto County,

WI.

24660...................... Greensboro-High Point, NC, 0.8320

Guilford County, NC,

Randolph County, NC,

Rockingham County, NC.

24780...................... Greenville, NC, Greene 0.9343

County, NC, Pitt County,

NC.

24860...................... Greenville-Mauldin-Easley, 0.9604

SC, Greenville County, SC,

Laurens County, SC,

Pickens County, SC.

25020...................... Guayama, PR, Arroyo 0.3707

Municipio, PR, Guayama

Municipio, PR, Patillas

Municipio, PR.

25060...................... Gulfport-Biloxi, MS, 0.8575

Hancock County, MS,

Harrison County, MS, Stone

County, MS.

25180...................... Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD- 0.9234

WV, Washington County, MD,

Berkeley County, WV,

Morgan County, WV.

25260...................... Hanford-Corcoran, CA, Kings 1.1124

County, CA.

25420...................... Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA, 0.9533

Cumberland County, PA,

Dauphin County, PA, Perry

County, PA.

25500...................... Harrisonburg, VA, 0.9090

Rockingham County, VA,

Harrisonburg City, VA.

25540...................... Hartford-West Hartford-East 1.1050

Hartford, CT, Hartford

County, CT, Middlesex

County, CT, Tolland

County, CT.

25620...................... Hattiesburg, MS, Forrest 0.7938

County, MS, Lamar County,

MS, Perry County, MS.

25860...................... Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, 0.8492

NC, Alexander County, NC,

Burke County, NC, Caldwell

County, NC, Catawba

County, NC.

25980...................... Hinesville-Fort Stewart, 0.8700

GA\1\, Liberty County, GA,

Long County, GA.

26100...................... Holland-Grand Haven, MI, 0.8016

Ottawa County, MI.

26180...................... Honolulu, HI, Honolulu 1.2321

County, HI.

26300...................... Hot Springs, AR, Garland 0.8474

County, AR.

26380...................... Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, 0.7525

LA, Lafourche Parish, LA,

Terrebonne Parish, LA.

26420...................... Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, 0.9915

TX, Austin County, TX,

Brazoria County, TX,

Chambers County, TX, Fort

Bend County, TX, Galveston

County, TX, Harris County,

TX, Liberty County, TX,

Montgomery County, TX, San

Jacinto County, TX, Waller

County, TX.

26580...................... Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY- 0.8944

OH, Boyd County, KY,

Greenup County, KY,

Lawrence County, OH,

Cabell County, WV, Wayne

County, WV.

26620...................... Huntsville, AL, Limestone 0.8455

County, AL, Madison

County, AL.

26820...................... Idaho Falls, ID, Bonneville 0.9312

County, ID, Jefferson

County, ID.

26900...................... Indianapolis-Carmel, IN, 1.0108

Boone County, IN, Brown

County, IN, Hamilton

County, IN, Hancock

County, IN, Hendricks

County, IN, Johnson

County, IN, Marion County,

IN, Morgan County, IN,

Putnam County, IN, Shelby

County, IN.

26980...................... Iowa City, IA, Johnson 0.9854

County, IA, Washington

County, IA.

27060...................... Ithaca, NY, Tompkins 0.9326

County, NY.

Page 26085

27100...................... Jackson, MI, Jackson 0.8944

County, MI.

27140...................... Jackson, MS, Copiah County, 0.8162

MS, Hinds County, MS,

Madison County, MS, Rankin

County, MS, Simpson

County, MS.

27180...................... Jackson, TN, Chester 0.7729

County, TN, Madison

County, TN.

27260...................... Jacksonville, FL, Baker 0.8956

County, FL, Clay County,

FL, Duval County, FL,

Nassau County, FL, St.

Johns County, FL.

27340...................... Jacksonville, NC, Onslow 0.7861

County, NC.

27500...................... Janesville, WI, Rock 0.9071

County, WI.

27620...................... Jefferson City, MO, 0.8465

Callaway County, MO, Cole

County, MO, Moniteau

County, MO, Osage County,

MO.

27740...................... Johnson City, TN, Carter 0.7226

County, TN, Unicoi County,

TN, Washington County, TN.

27780...................... Johnstown, PA, Cambria 0.8450

County, PA.

27860...................... Jonesboro, AR, Craighead 0.7983

County, AR, Poinsett

County, AR.

27900...................... Joplin, MO, Jasper County, 0.7983

MO, Newton County, MO.

28020...................... Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, 0.9959

Kalamazoo County, MI, Van

Buren County, MI.

28100...................... Kankakee-Bradley, IL, 0.9657

Kankakee County, IL.

28140...................... Kansas City, MO-KS, 0.9447

Franklin County, KS,

Johnson County, KS,

Leavenworth County, KS,

Linn County, KS, Miami

County, KS, Wyandotte

County, KS, Bates County,

MO, Caldwell County, MO,

Cass County, MO, Clay

County, MO, Clinton

County, MO, Jackson

County, MO, Lafayette

County, MO, Platte County,

MO, Ray County, MO.

28420...................... Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, 0.9459

WA, Benton County, WA,

Franklin County, WA.

28660...................... Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, 0.8925

TX, Bell County, TX,

Coryell County, TX,

Lampasas County, TX.

28700...................... Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, 0.7192

TN-VA, Hawkins County, TN,

Sullivan County, TN,

Bristol City, VA, Scott

County, VA, Washington

County, VA.

28740...................... Kingston, NY, Ulster 0.9066

County, NY.

28940...................... Knoxville, TN, Anderson 0.7432

County, TN, Blount County,

TN, Knox County, TN,

Loudon County, TN, Union

County, TN.

29020...................... Kokomo, IN, Howard County, 0.9061

IN, Tipton County, IN.

29100...................... La Crosse, WI-MN, Houston 1.0205

County, MN, La Crosse

County, WI.

29140...................... Lafayette, IN, Benton 0.9954

County, IN, Carroll

County, IN, Tippecanoe

County, IN.

29180...................... Lafayette, LA, Lafayette 0.8231

Parish, LA, St. Martin

Parish, LA.

29340...................... Lake Charles, LA, Calcasieu 0.7765

Parish, LA, Cameron

Parish, LA.

29404...................... Lake County-Kenosha County, 1.0658

IL-WI, Lake County, IL,

Kenosha County, WI.

29420...................... Lake Havasu City-Kingman, 0.9912

AZ, Mohave County, AZ.

29460...................... Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL, 0.8283

Polk County, FL.

29540...................... Lancaster, PA, Lancaster 0.9695

County, PA.

29620...................... Lansing-East Lansing, MI, 1.0618

Clinton County, MI, Eaton

County, MI, Ingham County,

MI.

29700...................... Laredo, TX, Webb County, TX 0.7586

29740...................... Las Cruces, NM, Dona Ana 0.9265

County, NM.

29820...................... Las Vegas-Paradise, NV, 1.1627

Clark County, NV.

29940...................... Lawrence, KS, Douglas 0.8664

County, KS.

30020...................... Lawton, OK, Comanche 0.7893

County, OK.

30140...................... Lebanon, PA, Lebanon 0.8157

County, PA.

30300...................... Lewiston, ID-WA, Nez Perce 0.9215

County, ID, Asotin County,

WA.

30340...................... Lewiston-Auburn, ME, 0.9048

Androscoggin County, ME.

30460...................... Lexington-Fayette, KY, 0.8902

Bourbon County, KY, Clark

County, KY, Fayette

County, KY, Jessamine

County, KY, Scott County,

KY, Woodford County, KY.

30620...................... Lima, OH, Allen County, OH. 0.9158

30700...................... Lincoln, NE, Lancaster 0.9465

County, NE, Seward County,

NE.

30780...................... Little Rock-North Little 0.8632

Rock-Conway, AR, Faulkner

County, AR, Grant County,

AR, Lonoke County, AR,

Perry County, AR, Pulaski

County, AR, Saline County,

AR.

30860...................... Logan, UT-ID, Franklin 0.8754

County, ID, Cache County,

UT.

30980...................... Longview, TX, Gregg County, 0.8933

TX, Rusk County, TX,

Upshur County, TX.

31020...................... Longview, WA, Cowlitz 1.0460

County, WA.

31084...................... Los Angeles-Long Beach- 1.2417

Glendale, CA, Los Angeles

County, CA.

31140...................... Louisville-Jefferson 0.8852

County, KY-IN, Clark

County, IN, Floyd County,

IN, Harrison County, IN,

Washington County, IN,

Bullitt County, KY, Henry

County, KY, Meade County,

KY, Nelson County, KY,

Oldham County, KY, Shelby

County, KY, Spencer

County, KY, Trimble

County, KY.

31180...................... Lubbock, TX, Crosby County, 0.8956

TX, Lubbock County, TX.

31340...................... Lynchburg, VA, Amherst 0.8771

County, VA, Appomattox

County, VA, Bedford

County, VA, Campbell

County, VA, Bedford City,

VA, Lynchburg City, VA.

31420...................... Macon, GA, Bibb County, GA, 0.9014

Crawford County, GA, Jones

County, GA, Monroe County,

GA, Twiggs County, GA.

31460...................... Madera-Chowchilla, CA, 0.8317

Madera County, CA.

31540...................... Madison, WI, Columbia 1.1414

County, WI, Dane County,

WI, Iowa County, WI.

31700...................... Manchester-Nashua, NH, 1.0057

Hillsborough County, NH.

31740...................... Manhattan, KS, Geary 0.7843

County, KS, Pottawatomie

County, KS, Riley County,

KS.

31860...................... Mankato-North Mankato, MN, 0.9277

Blue Earth County, MN,

Nicollet County, MN.

31900...................... Mansfield, OH, Richland 0.8509

County, OH.

32420...................... Mayaguumlez, PR, 0.3762

Hormigueros Municipio, PR,

Mayaguumlez Municipio,

PR.

32580...................... McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, 0.8393

TX, Hidalgo County, TX.

32780...................... Medford, OR, Jackson 1.0690

County, OR.

Page 26086

32820...................... Memphis, TN-MS-AR, 0.9038

Crittenden County, AR,

DeSoto County, MS,

Marshall County, MS, Tate

County, MS, Tunica County,

MS, Fayette County, TN,

Shelby County, TN, Tipton

County, TN.

32900...................... Merced, CA, Merced County, 1.2734

CA.

33124...................... Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, 0.9870

FL, Miami-Dade County, FL.

33140...................... Michigan City-La Porte, IN, 0.9216

LaPorte County, IN.

33260...................... Midland, TX, Midland 1.0049

County, TX.

33340...................... Milwaukee-Waukesha-West 0.9856

Allis, WI, Milwaukee

County, WI, Ozaukee

County, WI, Washington

County, WI, Waukesha

County, WI.

33460...................... Minneapolis-St. Paul- 1.1213

Bloomington, MN-WI, Anoka

County, MN, Carver County,

MN, Chisago County, MN,

Dakota County, MN,

Hennepin County, MN,

Isanti County, MN, Ramsey

County, MN, Scott County,

MN, Sherburne County, MN,

Washington County, MN,

Wright County, MN, Pierce

County, WI, St. Croix

County, WI.

33540...................... Missoula, MT, Missoula 0.9142

County, MT.

33660...................... Mobile, AL, Mobile County, 0.7507

AL.

33700...................... Modesto, CA, Stanislaus 1.3629

County, CA.

33740...................... Monroe, LA, Ouachita 0.7530

Parish, LA, Union Parish,

LA.

33780...................... Monroe, MI, Monroe County, 0.8718

MI.

33860...................... Montgomery, AL, Autauga 0.7475

County, AL, Elmore County,

AL, Lowndes County, AL,

Montgomery County, AL.

34060...................... Morgantown, WV, Monongalia 0.8339

County, WV, Preston

County, WV.

34100...................... Morristown, TN, Grainger 0.6861

County, TN, Hamblen

County, TN, Jefferson

County, TN.

34580...................... Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA, 1.0652

Skagit County, WA.

34620...................... Muncie, IN, Delaware 0.8743

County, IN.

34740...................... Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI, 1.1076

Muskegon County, MI.

34820...................... Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle 0.8700

Beach-Conway, SC, Horry

County, SC.

34900...................... Napa, CA, Napa County, CA.. 1.5375

34940...................... Naples-Marco Island, FL, 0.9108

Collier County, FL.

34980...................... Nashville-Davidson-- 0.9141

Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN,

Cannon County, TN,

Cheatham County, TN,

Davidson County, TN,

Dickson County, TN,

Hickman County, TN, Macon

County, TN, Robertson

County, TN, Rutherford

County, TN, Smith County,

TN, Sumner County, TN,

Trousdale County, TN,

Williamson County, TN,

Wilson County, TN.

35004...................... Nassau-Suffolk, NY, Nassau 1.2755

County, NY, Suffolk

County, NY.

35084...................... Newark-Union, NJ-PA, Essex 1.1268

County, NJ, Hunterdon

County, NJ, Morris County,

NJ, Sussex County, NJ,

Union County, NJ, Pike

County, PA.

35300...................... New Haven-Milford, CT, New 1.1883

Haven County, CT.

35380...................... New Orleans-Metairie- 0.8752

Kenner, LA, Jefferson

Parish, LA, Orleans

Parish, LA, Plaquemines

Parish, LA, St. Bernard

Parish, LA, St. Charles

Parish, LA, St. John the

Baptist Parish, LA, St.

Tammany Parish, LA.

35644...................... New York-White Plains- 1.3089

Wayne, NY-NJ, Bergen

County, NJ, Hudson County,

NJ, Passaic County, NJ,

Bronx County, NY, Kings

County, NY, New York

County, NY, Putnam County,

NY, Queens County, NY,

Richmond County, NY,

Rockland County, NY,

Westchester County, NY.

35660...................... Niles-Benton Harbor, MI, 0.8444

Berrien County, MI.

35840...................... North Port-Bradenton- 0.9428

Sarasota-Venice, FL,

Manatee County, FL,

Sarasota County, FL.

35980...................... Norwich-New London, CT, New 1.1821

London County, CT.

36084...................... Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, 1.7048

CA, Alameda County, CA,

Contra Costa County, CA.

36100...................... Ocala, FL, Marion County, 0.8425

FL.

36140...................... Ocean City, NJ, Cape May 1.0584

County, NJ.

36220...................... Odessa, TX, Ector County, 0.9661

TX.

36260...................... Ogden-Clearfield, UT, Davis 0.9170

County, UT, Morgan County,

UT, Weber County, UT.

36420...................... Oklahoma City, OK, Canadian 0.8879

County, OK, Cleveland

County, OK, Grady County,

OK, Lincoln County, OK,

Logan County, OK, McClain

County, OK, Oklahoma

County, OK.

36500...................... Olympia, WA, Thurston 1.1601

County, WA.

36540...................... Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE- 0.9756

IA, Harrison County, IA,

Mills County, IA,

Pottawattamie County, IA,

Cass County, NE, Douglas

County, NE, Sarpy County,

NE, Saunders County, NE,

Washington County, NE.

36740...................... Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, 0.9063

FL, Lake County, FL,

Orange County, FL, Osceola

County, FL, Seminole

County, FL.

36780...................... Oshkosh-Neenah, WI, 0.9398

Winnebago County, WI.

36980...................... Owensboro, KY, Daviess 0.7790

County, KY, Hancock

County, KY, McLean County,

KY.

37100...................... Oxnard-Thousand Oaks- 1.3113

Ventura, CA, Ventura

County, CA.

37340...................... Palm Bay-Melbourne- 0.8790

Titusville, FL, Brevard

County, FL.

37380...................... Palm Coast, FL, Flagler 0.8174

County, FL.

37460...................... Panama City-Lynn Haven- 0.7876

Panama City Beach, FL, Bay

County, FL.

37620...................... Parkersburg-Marietta- 0.7569

Vienna, WV-OH, Washington

County, OH, Pleasants

County, WV, Wirt County,

WV, Wood County, WV.

37700...................... Pascagoula, MS, George 0.7542

County, MS, Jackson

County, MS.

37764...................... Peabody, MA, Essex County, 1.0553

MA.

37860...................... Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, 0.7767

FL, Escambia County, FL,

Santa Rosa County, FL.

37900...................... Peoria, IL, Marshall 0.8434

County, IL, Peoria County,

IL, Stark County, IL,

Tazewell County, IL,

Woodford County, IL.

37964...................... Philadelphia, PA, Bucks 1.0849

County, PA, Chester

County, PA, Delaware

County, PA, Montgomery

County, PA, Philadelphia

County, PA.

38060...................... Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, 1.0465

AZ, Maricopa County, AZ,

Pinal County, AZ.

38220...................... Pine Bluff, AR, Cleveland 0.8069

County, AR, Jefferson

County, AR, Lincoln

County, AR.

Page 26087

38300...................... Pittsburgh, PA, Allegheny 0.8669

County, PA, Armstrong

County, PA, Beaver County,

PA, Butler County, PA,

Fayette County, PA,

Washington County, PA,

Westmoreland County, PA.

38340...................... Pittsfield, MA, Berkshire 1.0920

County, MA.

38540...................... Pocatello, ID, Bannock 0.9754

County, ID, Power County,

ID.

38660...................... Ponce, PR, Juana 0.4594

Diacuteaz Municipio, PR,

Ponce Municipio, PR,

Villalba Municipio, PR.

38860...................... Portland-South Portland- 0.9981

Biddeford, ME, Cumberland

County, ME, Sagadahoc

County, ME, York County,

ME.

38900...................... Portland-Vancouver- 1.1766

Hillsboro, OR-WA,

Clackamas County, OR,

Columbia County, OR,

Multnomah County, OR,

Washington County, OR,

Yamhill County, OR, Clark

County, WA, Skamania

County, WA.

38940...................... Port St. Lucie, FL, Martin 0.9352

County, FL, St. Lucie

County, FL.

39100...................... Poughkeepsie-Newburgh- 1.1544

Middletown, NY, Dutchess

County, NY, Orange County,

NY.

39140...................... Prescott, AZ, Yavapai 1.0161

County, AZ.

39300...................... Providence-New Bedford-Fall 1.0539

River, RI-MA, Bristol

County, MA, Bristol

County, RI, Kent County,

RI, Newport County, RI,

Providence County, RI,

Washington County, RI.

39340...................... Provo-Orem, UT, Juab 0.9461

County, UT, Utah County,

UT.

39380...................... Pueblo, CO, Pueblo County, 0.8215

CO.

39460...................... Punta Gorda, FL, Charlotte 0.8734

County, FL.

39540...................... Racine, WI, Racine County, 0.8903

WI.

39580...................... Raleigh-Cary, NC, Franklin 0.9304

County, NC, Johnston

County, NC, Wake County,

NC.

39660...................... Rapid City, SD, Meade 0.9568

County, SD, Pennington

County, SD.

39740...................... Reading, PA, Berks County, 0.9220

PA.

39820...................... Redding, CA, Shasta County, 1.4990

CA.

39900...................... Reno-Sparks, NV, Storey 1.0326

County, NV, Washoe County,

NV.

40060...................... Richmond, VA, Amelia 0.9723

County, VA, Caroline

County, VA, Charles City

County, VA, Chesterfield

County, VA, Cumberland

County, VA, Dinwiddie

County, VA, Goochland

County, VA, Hanover

County, VA, Henrico

County, VA, King and Queen

County, VA, King William

County, VA, Louisa County,

VA, New Kent County, VA,

Powhatan County, VA,

Prince George County, VA,

Sussex County, VA,

Colonial Heights City, VA,

Hopewell City, VA,

Petersburg City, VA,

Richmond City, VA.

40140...................... Riverside-San Bernardino- 1.1497

Ontario, CA, Riverside

County, CA, San Bernardino

County, CA.

40220...................... Roanoke, VA, Botetourt 0.9195

County, VA, Craig County,

VA, Franklin County, VA,

Roanoke County, VA,

Roanoke City, VA, Salem

City, VA.

40340...................... Rochester, MN, Dodge 1.1662

County, MN, Olmsted

County, MN, Wabasha

County, MN.

40380...................... Rochester, NY, Livingston 0.8749

County, NY, Monroe County,

NY, Ontario County, NY,

Orleans County, NY, Wayne

County, NY.

40420...................... Rockford, IL, Boone County, 0.9751

IL, Winnebago County, IL.

40484...................... Rockingham County-Strafford 1.0172

County, NH, Rockingham

County, NH, Strafford

County, NH.

40580...................... Rocky Mount, NC, Edgecombe 0.8750

County, NC, Nash County,

NC.

40660...................... Rome, GA, Floyd County, GA. 0.8924

40900...................... Sacramento-Arden-Arcade- 1.5498

Roseville, CA, El Dorado

County, CA, Placer County,

CA, Sacramento County, CA,

Yolo County, CA.

40980...................... Saginaw-Saginaw Township 0.8849

North, MI, Saginaw County,

MI.

41060...................... St. Cloud, MN, Benton 1.0658

County, MN, Stearns

County, MN.

41100...................... St. George, UT, Washington 0.9345

County, UT.

41140...................... St. Joseph, MO-KS, Doniphan 0.9834

County, KS, Andrew County,

MO, Buchanan County, MO,

DeKalb County, MO.

41180...................... St. Louis, MO-IL, Bond 0.9336

County, IL, Calhoun

County, IL, Clinton

County, IL, Jersey County,

IL, Macoupin County, IL,

Madison County, IL, Monroe

County, IL, St. Clair

County, IL, Crawford

County, MO, Franklin

County, MO, Jefferson

County, MO, Lincoln

County, MO, St. Charles

County, MO, St. Louis

County, MO, Warren County,

MO, Washington County, MO,

St. Louis City, MO.

41420...................... Salem, OR, Marion County, 1.1148

OR, Polk County, OR.

41500...................... Salinas, CA, Monterey 1.5820

County, CA.

41540...................... Salisbury, MD, Somerset 0.8948

County, MD, Wicomico

County, MD.

41620...................... Salt Lake City, UT, Salt 0.9350

Lake County, UT, Summit

County, UT, Tooele County,

UT.

41660...................... San Angelo, TX, Irion 0.8169

County, TX, Tom Green

County, TX.

41700...................... San Antonio-New Braunfels, 0.8911

TX, Atascosa County, TX,

Bandera County, TX, Bexar

County, TX, Comal County,

TX, Guadalupe County, TX,

Kendall County, TX, Medina

County, TX, Wilson County,

TX.

41740...................... San Diego-Carlsbad-San 1.2213

Marcos, CA, San Diego

County, CA.

41780...................... Sandusky, OH, Erie County, 0.7788

OH.

41884...................... San Francisco-San Mateo- 1.6743

Redwood City, CA, Marin

County, CA, San Francisco

County, CA, San Mateo

County, CA.

41900...................... San Germaacuten-Cabo 0.4550

Rojo, PR, Cabo Rojo

Municipio, PR, Lajas

Municipio, PR, Sabana

Grande Municipio, PR, San

Germaacuten Municipio,

PR.

41940...................... San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa 1.7086

Clara, CA, San Benito

County, CA, Santa Clara

County, CA.

Page 26088

41980...................... San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo, 0.4356

PR, Aguas Buenas

Municipio, PR, Aibonito

Municipio, PR, Arecibo

Municipio, PR, Barceloneta

Municipio, PR,

Barranquitas Municipio,

PR, Bayamoacuten

Municipio, PR, Caguas

Municipio, PR, Camuy

Municipio, PR,

Canoacutevanas

Municipio, PR, Carolina

Municipio, PR,

Catantildeo Municipio,

PR, Cayey Municipio, PR,

Ciales Municipio, PR,

Cidra Municipio, PR,

Comeriacuteo Municipio,

PR, Corozal Municipio, PR,

Dorado Municipio, PR,

Florida Municipio, PR,

Guaynabo Municipio, PR,

Gurabo Municipio, PR,

Hatillo Municipio, PR,

Humacao Municipio, PR,

Juncos Municipio, PR, Las

Piedras Municipio, PR,

Loiacuteza Municipio,

PR, Manatiacute

Municipio, PR, Maunabo

Municipio, PR, Morovis

Municipio, PR, Naguabo

Municipio, PR, Naranjito

Municipio, PR, Orocovis

Municipio, PR,

Quebradillas Municipio,

PR, Riacuteo Grande

Municipio, PR, San Juan

Municipio, PR, San Lorenzo

Municipio, PR, Toa Alta

Municipio, PR, Toa Baja

Municipio, PR, Trujillo

Alto Municipio, PR, Vega

Alta Municipio, PR, Vega

Baja Municipio, PR,

Yabucoa Municipio, PR.

42020...................... San Luis Obispo-Paso 1.3036

Robles, CA, San Luis

Obispo County, CA.

42044...................... Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, 1.2111

CA, Orange County, CA.

42060...................... Santa Barbara-Santa Maria- 1.2825

Goleta, CA, Santa Barbara

County, CA.

42100...................... Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, 1.7937

Santa Cruz County, CA.

42140...................... Santa Fe, NM, Santa Fe 1.0136

County, NM.

42220...................... Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, 1.6679

Sonoma County, CA.

42340...................... Savannah, GA, Bryan County, 0.8757

GA, Chatham County, GA,

Effingham County, GA.

42540...................... Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA, 0.8331

Lackawanna County, PA,

Luzerne County, PA,

Wyoming County, PA.

42644...................... Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, 1.1733

WA, King County, WA,

Snohomish County, WA.

42680...................... Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL, 0.8760

Indian River County, FL.

43100...................... Sheboygan, WI, Sheboygan 0.9203

County, WI.

43300...................... Sherman-Denison, TX, 0.8723

Grayson County, TX.

43340...................... Shreveport-Bossier City, 0.8262

LA, Bossier Parish, LA,

Caddo Parish, LA, De Soto

Parish, LA.

43580...................... Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, 0.9163

Woodbury County, IA,

Dakota County, NE, Dixon

County, NE, Union County,

SD.

43620...................... Sioux Falls, SD, Lincoln 0.8275

County, SD, McCook County,

SD, Minnehaha County, SD,

Turner County, SD.

43780...................... South Bend-Mishawaka, IN- 0.9425

MI, St. Joseph County, IN,

Cass County, MI.

43900...................... Spartanburg, SC, 0.8782

Spartanburg County, SC.

44060...................... Spokane, WA, Spokane 1.1174

County, WA.

44100...................... Springfield, IL, Menard 0.9165

County, IL, Sangamon

County, IL.

44140...................... Springfield, MA, Franklin 1.0383

County, MA, Hampden

County, MA, Hampshire

County, MA.

44180...................... Springfield, MO, Christian 0.8440

County, MO, Dallas County,

MO, Greene County, MO,

Polk County, MO, Webster

County, MO.

44220...................... Springfield, OH, Clark 0.8447

County, OH.

44300...................... State College, PA, Centre 0.9575

County, PA.

44600...................... Steubenville-Weirton, OH- 0.7598

WV, Jefferson County, OH,

Brooke County, WV, Hancock

County, WV.

44700...................... Stockton, CA, San Joaquin 1.3734

County, CA.

44940...................... Sumter, SC, Sumter County, 0.7594

SC.

45060...................... Syracuse, NY, Madison 0.9897

County, NY, Onondaga

County, NY, Oswego County,

NY.

45104...................... Tacoma, WA, Pierce County, 1.1574

WA.

45220...................... Tallahassee, FL, Gadsden 0.8391

County, FL, Jefferson

County, FL, Leon County,

FL, Wakulla County, FL.

45300...................... Tampa-St. Petersburg- 0.9075

Clearwater, FL, Hernando

County, FL, Hillsborough

County, FL, Pasco County,

FL, Pinellas County, FL.

45460...................... Terre Haute, IN, Clay 0.9706

County, IN, Sullivan

County, IN, Vermillion

County, IN, Vigo County,

IN.

45500...................... Texarkana, TX-Texarkana, 0.7428

AR, Miller County, AR,

Bowie County, TX.

45780...................... Toledo, OH, Fulton County, 0.9013

OH, Lucas County, OH,

Ottawa County, OH, Wood

County, OH.

45820...................... Topeka, KS, Jackson County, 0.8974

KS, Jefferson County, KS,

Osage County, KS, Shawnee

County, KS, Wabaunsee

County, KS.

45940...................... Trenton-Ewing, NJ, Mercer 1.0648

County, NJ.

46060...................... Tucson, AZ, Pima County, AZ 0.8953

46140...................... Tulsa, OK, Creek County, 0.8145

OK, Okmulgee County, OK,

Osage County, OK, Pawnee

County, OK, Rogers County,

OK, Tulsa County, OK,

Wagoner County, OK.

46220...................... Tuscaloosa, AL, Greene 0.8500

County, AL, Hale County,

AL, Tuscaloosa County, AL.

46340...................... Tyler, TX, Smith County, TX 0.8526

46540...................... Utica-Rome, NY, Herkimer 0.8769

County, NY, Oneida County,

NY.

46660...................... Valdosta, GA, Brooks 0.7527

County, GA, Echols County,

GA, Lanier County, GA,

Lowndes County, GA.

46700...................... Vallejo-Fairfield, CA, 1.6286

Solano County, CA.

47020...................... Victoria, TX, Calhoun 0.8949

County, TX, Goliad County,

TX, Victoria County, TX.

47220...................... Vineland-Millville- 1.0759

Bridgeton, NJ, Cumberland

County, NJ.

47260...................... Virginia Beach-Norfolk- 0.9121

Newport News, VA-NC,

Currituck County, NC,

Gloucester County, VA,

Isle of Wight County, VA,

James City County, VA,

Mathews County, VA, Surry

County, VA, York County,

VA, Chesapeake City, VA,

Hampton City, VA, Newport

News City, VA, Norfolk

City, VA, Poquoson City,

VA, Portsmouth City, VA,

Suffolk City, VA, Virginia

Beach City, VA,

Williamsburg City, VA.

47300...................... Visalia-Porterville, CA, 0.9947

Tulare County, CA.

47380...................... Waco, TX, McLennan County, 0.8213

TX.

47580...................... Warner Robins, GA, Houston 0.7732

County, GA.

47644...................... Warren-Troy-Farmington 0.9432

Hills, MI, Lapeer County,

MI, Livingston County, MI,

Macomb County, MI, Oakland

County, MI, St. Clair

County, MI.

Page 26089

47894...................... Washington-Arlington- 1.0533

Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV,

District of Columbia, DC,

Calvert County, MD,

Charles County, MD, Prince

George's County, MD,

Arlington County, VA,

Clarke County, VA, Fairfax

County, VA, Fauquier

County, VA, Loudoun

County, VA, Prince William

County, VA, Spotsylvania

County, VA, Stafford

County, VA, Warren County,

VA, Alexandria City, VA,

Fairfax City, VA, Falls

Church City, VA,

Fredericksburg City, VA,

Manassas City, VA,

Manassas Park City, VA,

Jefferson County, WV.

47940...................... Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA, 0.8331

Black Hawk County, IA,

Bremer County, IA, Grundy

County, IA.

48140...................... Wausau, WI, Marathon 0.8802

County, WI.

48300...................... Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, 1.0109

WA, Chelan County, WA,

Douglas County, WA.

48424...................... West Palm Beach-Boca Raton- 0.9597

Boynton Beach, FL, Palm

Beach County, FL.

48540...................... Wheeling, WV-OH, Belmont 0.6673

County, OH, Marshall

County, WV, Ohio County,

WV.

48620...................... Wichita, KS, Butler County, 0.8674

KS, Harvey County, KS,

Sedgwick County, KS,

Sumner County, KS.

48660...................... Wichita Falls, TX, Archer 0.9537

County, TX, Clay County,

TX, Wichita County, TX.

48700...................... Williamsport, PA, Lycoming 0.8268

County, PA.

48864...................... Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ, New 1.0593

Castle County, DE, Cecil

County, MD, Salem County,

NJ.

48900...................... Wilmington, NC, Brunswick 0.8862

County, NC, New Hanover

County, NC, Pender County,

NC.

49020...................... Winchester, VA-WV, 0.9034

Frederick County, VA,

Winchester City, VA,

Hampshire County, WV.

49180...................... Winston-Salem, NC, Davie 0.8560

County, NC, Forsyth

County, NC, Stokes County,

NC, Yadkin County, NC.

49340...................... Worcester, MA, Worcester 1.1584

County, MA.

49420...................... Yakima, WA, Yakima County, 1.0355

WA.

49500...................... Yauco, PR, Guaacutenica 0.3782

Municipio, PR, Guayanilla

Municipio, PR,

Pentildeuelas Municipio,

PR, Yauco Municipio, PR.

49620...................... York-Hanover, PA, York 0.9540

County, PA.

49660...................... Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, 0.8262

OH-PA, Mahoning County,

OH, Trumbull County, OH,

Mercer County, PA.

49700...................... Yuba City, CA, Sutter 1.1759

County, CA, Yuba County,

CA.

49740...................... Yuma, AZ, Yuma County, AZ.. 0.9674

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

\1\ At this time, there are no hospitals located in this urban area on which to base a wage index.

Table 2--FY 2015 Wage Index Based on CBSA Labor Market Areas for Rural

Areas

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

Wage

State code Nonurban area index

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

1.......................... Alabama......................... 0.7147

2.......................... Alaska.......................... 1.3662

3.......................... Arizona......................... 0.9166

4.......................... Arkansas........................ 0.7343

5.......................... California...................... 1.2788

6.......................... Colorado........................ 0.9802

7.......................... Connecticut..................... 1.1311

8.......................... Delaware........................ 1.0092

10......................... Florida......................... 0.7985

11......................... Georgia......................... 0.7459

12......................... Hawaii.......................... 1.0739

13......................... Idaho........................... 0.7605

14......................... Illinois........................ 0.8434

15......................... Indiana......................... 0.8513

16......................... Iowa............................ 0.8434

17......................... Kansas.......................... 0.7929

18......................... Kentucky........................ 0.7784

19......................... Louisiana....................... 0.7585

20......................... Maine........................... 0.8238

21......................... Maryland........................ 0.8696

22......................... Massachusetts................... 1.3614

23......................... Michigan........................ 0.8270

24......................... Minnesota....................... 0.9133

25......................... Mississippi..................... 0.7568

26......................... Missouri........................ 0.7775

27......................... Montana......................... 0.9098

28......................... Nebraska........................ 0.8855

29......................... Nevada.......................... 0.9781

30......................... New Hampshire................... 1.0339

31......................... New Jersey \1\.................. .........

32......................... New Mexico...................... 0.8922

33......................... New York........................ 0.8220

34......................... North Carolina.................. 0.8100

35......................... North Dakota.................... 0.6785

36......................... Ohio............................ 0.8377

37......................... Oklahoma........................ 0.7704

38......................... Oregon.......................... 0.9435

39......................... Pennsylvania.................... 0.8430

40......................... Puerto Rico \1\................. 0.4047

41......................... Rhode Island \1\................ .........

42......................... South Carolina.................. 0.8329

43......................... South Dakota.................... 0.8164

44......................... Tennessee....................... 0.7444

45......................... Texas........................... 0.7874

46......................... Utah............................ 0.8732

47......................... Vermont......................... 0.9740

48......................... Virgin Islands.................. 0.7060

49......................... Virginia........................ 0.7758

50......................... Washington...................... 1.0529

51......................... West Virginia................... 0.7407

52......................... Wisconsin....................... 0.8904

53......................... Wyoming......................... 0.9243

65......................... Guam............................ 0.9611

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

\1\ All counties within the State are classified as urban, with the

exception of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico has areas designated as rural;

however, no short-term, acute care hospitals are located in the

area(s) for FY 2015. The Puerto Rico wage index is the same as FY

2014.

Addendum C

IPF Code First Table

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

Code First Instructions ICD-10-CM (effective

Code October 1, 2014)

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

F01.50................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition or sequelae of cerebrovascular

disease

F01.51................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition or sequelae of cerebrovascular

disease

F02.80................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition, such as: A52.17, A81.0-A81.9,

E75.00-E75.09, E75.10-E75.19, E75.4, E83.00-

E83.09, G10, G30.0-G30.9, G31.01, G31.09,

G31.83, G35, G40.001-G40.319, G40.401-

G40.919, G40.A01-G40.B19, M30.8 This list is

a translation of the ICD-9 codes rather than

a list of the conditions in the ICD-10

codebook code first note for category F02.

Page 26090

F02.81................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition, such as: A52.17, A81.0-A81.9,

E75.00-E75.09, E75.10-E75.19, E75.4, E83.00-

E83.09, G10, G30.0-G30.9, G31.01, G31.09,

G31.83, G35, G40.001-G40.319, G40.401-

G40.919, G40.A01-G40.B19, M30.8

F04...................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F05...................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition, such as: A52.17, A81.0-A81.9,

E75.00-E75.09, E75.10-E75.19, E75.4, E83.00-

E83.09, G10, G30.0-G30.9, G31.01, G31.09,

G31.83, G35, G40.001-G40.319, G40.401-

G40.919, G40.A01-G40.B19, M30.8

F06.0.................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.1.................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.2.................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.30................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.31................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.32................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.33................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.34................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.4.................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F06.8.................... Code first the underlying physiological

condition

F45.42................... Code also associated acute or chronic pain

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

FR Doc. 2014-10306 Filed 5-1-14; 4:15 pm

BILLING CODE 4120-01-P

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Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see the revised versions of legislation with amendments.

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Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see any amendments made to the case.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see a visualisation of a case and its relationships to other cases. An alternative to lists of cases, the Precedent Map makes it easier to establish which ones may be of most relevance to your research and prioritise further reading. You also get a useful overview of how the case was received.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Subscribers are able to see the list of results connected to your document through the topics and citations Vincent found.

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Request your trial

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Search over 120 million documents from over 100 countries including primary and secondary collections of legislation, case law, regulations, practical law, news, forms and contracts, books, journals, and more.
Thousands of Data Sources

Updated daily, vLex brings together legal information from over 750 publishing partners, providing access to over 2,500 legal and news sources from the world’s leading publishers.
Find What You Need, Quickly

Advanced A.I. technology developed exclusively by vLex editorially enriches legal information to make it accessible, with instant translation into 14 languages for enhanced discoverability and comparative research.
Over 2 million registered users

Founded over 20 years ago, vLex provides a first-class and comprehensive service for lawyers, law firms, government departments, and law schools around the world.

Medicare Program; Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System-Update for Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2014 (FY 2015)

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Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users

You can sign up for a trial and make the most of our service including these benefits.

Why Sign-up to vLex?

Over 100 Countries

Thousands of Data Sources

Find What You Need, Quickly

Over 2 million registered users