DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance
PROPOSED
Title XIX: Reimbursement Methodology for Inpatient Hospital Services
In compliance with the State's Administrative Procedures Act (APA - Title 29, Chapter 101 of the Delaware Code) with 42 CFR §447.205, and under the authority of Title 31 of the Delaware Code, Chapter 5, Section 512, Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) / Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) is amending the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan to revise the reimbursement methodology for inpatient hospital services.
Any person who wishes to make written suggestions, compilations of data, testimony, briefs or other written materials concerning the proposed new regulations must submit same to Sharon L. Summers, Planning & Policy Development Unit, Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, 1901 North DuPont Highway, P.O. Box 906, New Castle, Delaware 19720-0906 or by fax to (302) 255-4454 by September 30, 2009.
The action concerning the determination of whether to adopt the proposed regulation will be based upon the results of Department and Division staff analysis and the consideration of the comments and written materials filed by other interested persons.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT
The purpose of this proposal is to amend the Title XIX Medicaid State Plan to revise the hospital outlier reimbursement methodology.
Statutory Authority
Summary of Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment is intended to revise the calculation of high cost outlier payments. Currently, high cost outliers will be identified when the cost of the discharge exceeds the threshold of three times the hospital operating rate per discharge. Effective October 1, 2009, the proposal changes the threshold to four times the hospital operating rate per discharge.
The provisions of this amendment are subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Fiscal Impact Statement
The proposal will result in reduced spending of $4.9 million in total funds.
DMMA PROPOSED REGULATION #09-35
REVISIONS:
ATTACHMENT 4.19-A
PAGE 3
METHODS AND STANDARDS FOR ESTABLISHING PAYMENT RATES - INPATIENT HOSPITAL CARE (Continued)
Rate Setting Methods - Development of Implementation Year Operating Rates, Updates and Rebasing (Continued)
The implementation year rates will be updated in FY96 using published TEFRA inflation indices. Rates will be rebased using fiscal year 1994 claims and cost report data for implementation in State FY97.
Effective for admission dates on or after April 1, 2009, payment rates for inpatient hospital care will be adjusted to the rates that were in effect on December 31, 2008. Future rate adjustments will be suspended until further notice.
Other Related Inpatient Reimbursement Policies
Outliers - High cost outliers will be identified when the cost of the discharge exceeds the threshold of three four times the hospital operating rate per discharge. Outlier cases will be reimbursed at the discharge rate plus 79 70 percent of the difference between the outlier threshold and the total cost of the case. Costs of the case will be determined by applying the hospital-specific cost to charge ratio to the allowed charges reported on the claim for discharge.
Effective January 1, 2006, any provider with a high cost client case (outlier) will receive an interim payment; that is, a payment prior to the discharge of that patient when the charge amount reaches the designated level. An interim payment will be made for that inpatient stay when the client’s charges have reached twenty-five (25) times the general discharge rate of that facility, or when the client’s stay is greater than sixty (60) days. Additional interim payments will be made when either of the outlier conditions for an interim payment is met again. The interim payment amount is based on the current reimbursement methodology used to pay outliers. Upon the discharge of the client, the facility will receive the balance of the payment that would have been paid if the case were paid in full at the time of discharge.
