Medicare program; competitive acquisition for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) and other issues. Final rule

This final rule establishes competitive bidding programs for certain Medicare Part B covered items of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) throughout the United States in accordance with sections 1847(a) and (b) of the Social Security Act. These competitive bidding programs, which will be phased in over several years, utilize bids submitted by DMEPOS suppliers to establish applicable payment amounts under Medicare Part B.     

Medicare program; revisions to the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) supplier safeguards. Final rule

This final rule removes the definition of "direct solicitation' and allows DMEPOS suppliers, including DMEPOS competitive bidding program contract suppliers, to contract with licensed agents to provide DMEPOS supplies, unless prohibited by State law. It also removes the requirement for compliance with local zoning laws and modifies certain State licensure requirement exceptions.     

Medicare program; end-stage renal disease prospective payment system and quality incentive program; ambulance fee schedule; durable medical equipment; and competitive acquisition of certain durable medical equipment prosthetics, orthotics and supplies. Final rule

This final rule updates and makes certain revisions to the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) prospective payment system (PPS) for calendar year (CY) 2012. We are also finalizing the interim final rule with comment period published on April 6, 2011, regarding the transition budget-neutrality adjustment under the ESRD PPS,. This final rule also sets forth requirements for the ESRD quality incentive program (QIP) for payment years (PYs) 2013 and 2014. In addition, this final rule revises the ambulance fee schedule regulations to conform to statutory changes. This final rule also revises the definition of durable medical equipment (DME) by adding a 3-year minimum lifetime requirement (MLR) that must be met by an item or device in order to be considered durable for the purpose of classifying the item under the Medicare benefit category for DME. Finally, this final rule implements certain provisions of section 154 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) related to the durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Acquisition Program and responds to comments received on an interim final rule published January 16, 2009, that implemented these provisions of MIPPA effective April 18, 2009. (See the Table of Contents for a listing of the specific issues addressed in this final rule.)     

Medicare program; carrier jurisdiction for claims for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS)--HCFA. Final rule

This final rule would address the provisions of section 1834(a)(12) of the Social Security Act that authorizes us to designate one carrier for one or more regions to process all claims within that region. It incorporates in regulations the four designated carriers that will process claims for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, supplies and certain other items covered under Part B of Medicare. We expect the above changes to lead to more efficient and economical administration of the Medicare program.     

Medicare program; carrier jurisdiction for claims for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) and other issues involving suppliers, and criteria and standards for evaluating regional DMEPOS carriers--HCFA. Final rule with comment period

This final rule Modifies regulations to provide that claims for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and certain other items covered under part B of Medicare be processed by designated carriers. Specifies the jurisdictions each designated carrier will serve. Changes the method by which claims for these items are allocated among the carriers from "point of sale" to "beneficiary residence." Establishes certain minimum standards for suppliers for purposes of submitting the above claims. Incorporates in regulations certain supplier disclosure requirements imposed under section 4164 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, as part of the process for issuing and renewing a supplier's billing number. Describes the criteria and standards to be used beginning October 1, 1993 for evaluating the performance of designated carriers processing claims for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) in the administration of the Medicare program. Section 1842(b)(2) of the Social Security Act requires us to publish criteria and standards against which we evaluate Medicare carriers for public comment in the Federal Register. We expect the above changes to lead to more efficient and economical administration of the Medicare program.     

Medicaid program; state allotments for payment of Medicare Part B premiums for qualifying individuals: federal fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2007. Final rule

This final rule sets forth the methodology and process used to compute and issue each State's allotments for fiscal years (FY) 2006 and FY 2007 that are available to pay Medicare Part B premiums for qualifying individuals. It also provides the final FY 2006 allotments and the preliminary FY 2007 allotments determined under this methodology. We are also confirming the April 28, 2006 interim final rule as final.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 2003 rates. Final rule

We are revising the Medicare acute care hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating and capital costs to implement changes arising from our continuing experience with these systems. In addition, in the Addendum to this final rule, we describe the changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. These changes are applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2002. We also are setting forth rate-of-increase limits as well as policy changes for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the acute care hospital inpatient prospective payment systems. In addition, we are setting forth changes to other hospital payment policies, which include policies governing: Payments to hospitals for the direct and indirect costs of graduate medical education; pass-through payments for the services of nonphysician anesthetists in some rural hospitals; clinical requirements for swing-bed services in critical access hospitals (CAHs); and requirements and responsibilities related to provider-based entities.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1994 rates--HCFA. Final rule

On September 1, 1993, we published a final rule with comment period that implemented certain changes in the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems resulting from the enactment of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 on August 10, 1993. This final rule responds to public comments on that publication.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1999 rates--HCFA. Final rule

We are revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating costs and capital-related costs to implement applicable statutory requirements, including section 4407 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), as well as changes arising from our continuing experience with the systems. In addition, in the addendum to this final rule, we describe changes in the amounts and factors necessary to determine rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. These changes are applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1998. We also set forth rate-of-increase limits as well as changes for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems. Finally, we are implementing the provisions of section 4625 of the BBA concerning payment for the direct costs of graduate medical education.     

Medicare program; changes to the inpatient hospital prospective payment system and fiscal year 1992 rates--HCFA. Final rule

We are revising the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system to implement necessary changes arising from legislation and our continuing experience with the system. In addition, in the addendum to this final rule, we are describing changes in the amounts and factors necessary to determine prospective payment rates for Medicare inpatient hospital services. We are also setting forth the new target rate percentages for determining rate-of-increase limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment system. This final rule also responds to the comments we received concerning changes to hospital payments made in a January 7, 1991 final rule with comment. These changes include midyear changes to the inpatient hospital prospective payment system that implemented several provisions of section 4002 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990. In addition, this final rule responds to comments received concerning changes in the procedures and criteria of the Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board (MGCRB) that were set forth in a June 4, 1991 final rule with comment period.     

Medicare program; changes to the inpatient hospital prospective payment system and fiscal year 1991 rates--HCFA. Final rule

We are revising the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system to implement necessary changes arising from legislation and our continuing experience with the system. In addition, in the Addendum to this final rule, we are describing changes in the amounts and factors necessary to determine prospective payment rates for Medicare inpatient hospital services. In general, these changes are applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1990. We also set forth rate-of-increase limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment system. This final rule also responds to comments received concerning changes to hospital payments made in an April 20, 1990 final rule with comment. These changes include mid-year changes to the inpatient hospital prospective payment system that implemented provisions of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1989; and adjustments applicable to prospective payment hospitals and to the target amounts of hospitals and units excluded from the prospective payment system due to the elimination of the day limitation on covered inpatient hospital days made by the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 and later repealed by provisions in the Medicare Catastrophic Repeal Act of 1989. The April 20, 1990 final rule with comment also incorporated changes to these provisions made by the Family Support Act of 1988, which clarified the criteria for adjusting the target amounts and implementation date. In addition, this final rule clarifies the documentation requirements necessary to support the cost allocation of teaching physicians and the allowability of costs for rotating residents in determining payment for the direct costs of an approved graduate medical education program. This clarification is being made as a result of a September 29, 1989 final rule that made changes in Medicare policy concerning payment for the direct graduate medical education costs of providers associated with approved residency programs in medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, and podiatry.     

Medicare program; payment for durable medical equipment and orthotic and prosthetic devices--HCFA. Final rule

This final rule addresses comments received on an interim final rule with comment period published on December 7, 1992. The interim final rule implemented section 4062(b) of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987. It specified that payment under the Medicare program for durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, and orthotics furnished on or after January 1, 1989 is limited to the lower of the actual charge for the equipment or the fee schedule amount established by the carrier. This final rule describes amendments to the methods for computing fee schedules covering the six classes of DME and how they are updated in subsequent years in accordance with sections 13542 through 13546 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1995 rates; correction--HCFA. Final rule; correction

In the September 1, 1994 issue of the Federal Register (59 FR 45330), we published a final rule with comment period revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating costs and capital-related costs to implement necessary changes arising from our continuing experience with the system. In the addendum to that final rule with comment period, we announced the prospective payment rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1994, and set forth update factors for the rate-of-increase limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems. This notice corrects errors made in that document.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1994 rates; correction--HCFA. Final rule; correction

In the September 1, 1993, issue of the Federal Register (FR Doc 93-21026) (58 FR 46270), we revised the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating costs and capital-related costs to implement necessary changes arising from our continuing experience with the system. Additionally, in the addendum to that final rule, we announced the prospective payment rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1993, and set forth update factors for the rate-of-increase limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems. This notice corrects errors made in that document.