Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1998 rates; corrections--HCFA. Final rule with comment period; correction notice

In the August 29, 1997, issue of the Federal Register (62 FR 45966), 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 resulting from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-33 and changes arising from our continuing experience with the system. This document corrects technical errors made in that document.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1998 rates--HCFA. Final rule

This final rule responds to public comments received on those portions of a final rule with comment period published in the Federal Register on August 29, 1997, that revised the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating costs and capital-related costs to implement necessary changes resulting from the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997, Public Law 105-33. This rule also addresses public comments on other BBA changes relating to cost limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems as well as direct graduate medical education payments that were included in the August 29, 1997 document. Generally, these BBA changes were applicable to hospital discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1997.     

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

In the July 31, 1998 issue of the Federal Register (63 FR 40,594), we published a final rule revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating costs and capital related costs to implement applicable statutory requirements, including the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA), as well as changes arising from our continuing experience with the system. In addition, in the addendum to that final rule, we announced the amounts and factors for determining prospective payment rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1998, and set forth rate-of-increases limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems. This document corrects errors made in that document.     

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

In the May 8, 1998 issue of the Federal Register (63 FR 25575), we published a proposed rule to revise 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. This document corrects technical errors made in that document.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1997 rates; corrections--HCFA. Final rule; correction

In the August 30, 1996 issue of the Federal Register (61 FR 46166), we published a final rule 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, we announced the amounts and factors for determining prospective payment rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1996, and set forth rate-of-increase limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems. This document corrects errors made in that document.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1996 rates; corrections--HCFA. Correction to final rule

In the September 1, 1995, issue of the Federal Register (60 FR 45778), 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, 1995, and set forth update factors for the rate-of-increase limits for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems. This document corrects errors made in that document.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1998 rates--HCFA. Final rule with comment period

We are revising the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating costs and capital-related costs to implement necessary changes resulting from the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-33, and changes arising from our continuing experience with the systems. In the addendum to this final rule with comment period, we describe changes in the amounts and factors necessary to determine prospective payment rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. Generally, these changes are applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1997. We also set forth rate-of-increase limits and changes for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems.     

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.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1993 rates; correction--HCFA. Final rule; correction

In the September 1, 1992, issue of the Federal Register (FR Doc 92-20647) (57 FR 39746), we revised the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment systems for operating costs and capital-related costs. Additionally, in the addendum to that final rule, we described changes in the amounts and factors necessary to determine prospective payment 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, 1992. This notice corrects errors made in that document.     

Medicare program; changes to the hospital inpatient prospective payment systems and fiscal year 1998 rates--HCFA. Proposed rule

We are proposing to revise the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment systems for operating costs to implement necessary changes arising from our continuing experience with the systems. In addition, in the addendum to this proposed rule, we are describing proposed changes in the amounts and factors necessary to determine prospective payment rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. These changes would be applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1997. We are also setting forth proposed rate-of-increase limits as well as proposing changes for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems.     

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

We are proposing to revise 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, as well as changes arising from our continuing experience with the systems. In addition, in the addendum to this proposed rule, we are describing proposed changes in the amounts and factors necessary to determine rates for Medicare hospital inpatient services for operating costs and capital-related costs. These changes would be applicable to discharges occurring on or after October 1, 1998. We are also setting forth proposed rate-of-increase limits as well as proposing changes for hospitals and hospital units excluded from the prospective payment systems.     

Quality mammography standards; correcting amendment--FDA. Final rule; correcting amendment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting its regulations governing mammography, published in a document entitled "Quality Mammography Standards" that appeared in the Federal Register of October 28, 1997. The regulations are effective April 28, 1999; except section 900.12(b)(8)(i), (e)(4)(iii)(B), and (e)(5)(i)(B), which become effective October 28, 2002. The October 28, 1997, document was published with some inadvertent typographical errors. Some of those errors were corrected in a document entitled "Quality Mammography Standards; Correction" that appeared in the Federal Register of November 10, 1997, but additional typographical errors occurred in the publication of this document. In addition, since November 10, 1997, certain other problems with the text of the regulations have been identified that, if uncorrected, would lead to unforeseen and undesirable consequences. This document corrects those errors.     

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.     

Quality mammography standards; correction--FDA. Final rule; correction

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a document entitled "Quality Mammography Standards" that appeared in the Federal Register of October 28, 1997. The document was published with some inadvertent typographical errors and incorrect dates in the regulatory text. This document corrects those errors. FDA is also identifying with greater specificity those sections of the quality standards that will become effective October 28, 2002. For the convenience of the reader, FDA is republishing 21 CFR part 900 in its entirety with corrections.     

Medicare program; schedule of limits on home health agency costs per visit for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1997--HCFA. Notice with comment period

This notice sets forth a revised schedule of limits on home health agency costs that may be paid under the Medicare program for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1997. These limits replace the per visit limits that were set forth in our July 1, 1996 notice with comment period (61 FR 34344) and supersede those set forth in our July 1, 1997 notice with comment period (61 FR 35608). This notice also provides, in accordance with the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, that there be no changes in the home health per visit limits for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 1997 and before October 1, 1997 (that is, the cost limits set forth in our July 1, 1996 notice will apply to cost reporting periods beginning during this time period); that the establishment of the cost per visit limitations for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1997 be based on 105 percent of the median of the labor-related and nonlabor per visit costs for freestanding home health agencies; that there be no updates in the home health costs limits (including no adjustments for changes in the wage index or other updates) for cost reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 1994 and before July 1, 1996; and the wage index value that is applied to the labor portion of the per visit limitations be based on the geographic area in which the home health service is furnished.     

Interim rules for group health plans and health insurance issuers under the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act--IRS; DoL; HCFA. Interim rules with request for comments

This document contains interim rules governing the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act of 1996 (NMHPA). The interim rules provide guidance to employers, group health plans, health insurance issuers, and participants and beneficiaries relating to new requirements for hospital lengths of stay in connection with childbirth. The rules contained in this document implement changes to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) made by NMHPA, and changes to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code) enacted as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA '97). Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the interim rules for consideration by the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services (Departments) in developing final rules.     

Medicare program; prospective payment system and consolidated billing for skilled nursing facilities; extension of comment period--HCFA. Notice of extension of comment period for interim final rule

This document extends the comment period for an interim final rule with comment period that was published in the Federal Register on May 12, 1998 (63 FR 26252). That interim final rule implements provisions in section 4432 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 related to Medicare payment for skilled nursing facility services. Those include the implementation of a Medicare prospective payment system for skilled nursing facilities, consolidated billing, and a number of related changes. The comment period is extended for 60 days.     

Children suffering from spina bifida who are children of Vietnam veterans. Department of Veterans Affairs. Final rule

This document amends Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regulations concerning benefits for children suffering from spina bifida who are children of Vietnam veterans. This is necessary to implement statutory changes contained in the Veterans' Benefits Act of 1997.