system), the additional cost of furnishing services in private room accommodations is apportioned to Medicare only if these accommodations are furnished to program beneficiaries, and are medically necessary. To determine routine service cost applicable to beneficiaries—

(A) Multiply the average cost per diem (as defined in paragraph (b) of this section) by the total number of Medicare patient days (including private room days whether or not medically necessary);

(B) Add the product of the average per diem private room cost differential (as defined in paragraph (b) of this section) and the number of medically necessary private room days used by beneficiaries; and

(C) Effective October 1, 1990, do not include private rooms furnished for SNF-type and NF-type services under the swing-bed provision in the number of days in paragraphs (a)(1)(ii)(A) and (B) of this section.

The

(2) Carve-out out method-(i) carve-out out method is used to allocate hospital inpatient general routine service costs in a participating swingbed hospital, as defined in §413.114(b). Under this method, effective for services furnished on or after October 1, 1990, the reasonable costs attributable to the inpatient routine SNF-type and NF-type services furnished to all classes of patients are subtracted from total inpatient routine service costs before computing the average cost per diem for inpatient routine hospital care.

(ii) The cost per diem attributable to the routine SNF-type services covered by Medicare is based on the regional Medicare swing-bed SNF rate in effect for a given calendar year, as described in §413.114(c). The Medicare SNF rate applies only to days covered and paid as Medicare days. When Medicare coverage runs out, the Medicare rate no longer applies.

(iii) The cost per diem attributable to all non-Medicare swing-bed days is based on the average statewide Medicaid NF rate for the prior calendar year, adjusted to approximate the average NF rate for the current calendar year. (iv) The sum of total Medicare SNFtype days multiplied by the cost per diem attributable to Medicare SNF

type services and the total NF-type days multiplied by the cost per diem attributable to all non-Medicare days is subtracted from total inpatient general routine service costs. The cost per diem for inpatient routine hospital care is computed based on the remaining inpatient routine service costs.

(3) Cost per visit by type-of-service method-HHAs. For cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1980, all HHAs must use the cost per visit by type-of-service method of apportioning costs between Medicare and non-Medicare beneficiaries. Under this method, the total allowable cost of all visits for each type of service is divided by the total number of visits for that type of service. Next, for each type of service, the number of Medicare covered visits is multiplied by the average cost per visit just computed. This represents the cost Medicare will recognize as the cost for that service, subject to cost limits published by HCFA (see § 413.30).

(b) Definitions. As used in this section

Ancillary services means the services for which charges are customarily made in addition to routine services.

Apportionment means an allocation or distribution of allowable cost between the beneficiaries of the Medicare program and other patients.

Average cost per diem for general routine services means the following:

(1) For cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1982, subject to the provisions on swing-bed hospitals, the average cost of general routine services net of the private room cost differential. The average cost per diem is computed by the following methodology:

(i) Determine the total private room cost differential by multiplying the average per diem private room cost differential determined in paragraph (c) of this section by the total number of private room patient days.

(ii) Determine the total inpatient general routine service costs net of the total private room cost differential by subtracting the total private room cost differential from total inpatient general routine service costs.

(iii) Determine the average cost per diem by dividing the total inpatient

general routine service cost net of private room cost differential by all inpatient general routine days, including total private room days.

the

(2) For swing-bed hospitals, amount computed by-(i) Subtracting the routine costs associated with Medicare SNF-type days and non-Medicare NF-type days from the total allowable inpatient cost for routine services (excluding the cost of services provided in intensive care units, coronary care units, and other intensive care type inpatient hospital units and nursery costs); and

(ii) Dividing the remainder (excluding the total private room cost differential) by the total number of inpatient hospital days of care (excluding Medicare SNF-type days and non-Medicare NF-type days of care, days of care in intensive care units, coronary care units, and other intensive care type inpatient hospital units; and newborn days; but including total private room days).

Average cost per diem for hospital intensive care type units means the amount computed by dividing the total allowable costs for routine services in each of these units by the total number of inpatient days of care furnished in each of these units.

Average per diem private room cost differential means the difference in the average per diem cost of furnishing routine services in a private room and in a semi-private room. (This differential is not applicable to hospital intensive care type units.) (The method for computing this differential is described in paragraph (c) of this section.)

Charges means the regular rates for various services that are charged to both beneficiaries and other paying patients who receive the services. Implicit in the use of charges as the basis for apportionment is the objective that charges for services be related to the cost of the services.

Intensive care type inpatient hospital unit means a hospital unit that furnishes services to critically ill inpatients. Examples of intensive care type units include, but are not limited to, intensive care units, trauma units, coronary care units, pulmonary care units, and burn units. Excluded as intensive care type units are post

recovery

rooms,

operative postanesthesia recovery rooms, maternity labor rooms, and subintensive or intermediate care units. units. (The unit must also meet the criteria of paragraph (d) of this section.)

Nursing facility (NF)-type services, formerly known as ICF and SNF-type services, are routine services furnished by a swing-bed hospital to Medicaid and other non-Medicare patients. Under the Medicaid program, effective October 1, 1990, facilities are no longer certified as SNFs or ICFs but instead are certified only as NFs and can provide services as defined defined in section 1919(a)(1) of the Act.

Skilled nursing facility (SNF)-type services are routine services furnished by a swing-bed hospital that would constitute extended care services if furnished by an SNF. SNF-type services include routine SNF services furnished in the distinct part SNF of a hospital complex that is combined with the hospital general routine service area cost center under § 413.24(d)(5). Effective October 1, 1990, only Medicare covered services are included in the definition of SNF-type services.

Ratio of beneficiary charges to total charges on a departmental basis means the ratio of charges to beneficiaries of the Medicare program for services of a revenue-producing department or center to the charges to all patients for that center during an accounting period. After each revenue-producing center's ratio is determined, the cost of services furnished to beneficiaries of the Medicare program is computed by applying the individual ratio for the center to the cost of the related center for the period.

Routine services means the regular room, dietary, and nursing services, minor medical and surgical supplies, and the use of equipment and facilities for which a separate charge is not customarily made.

(c) Method for computing the average per diem private room cost differential. Compute the average per diem private room cost differential as follows:

(1) Determine the average per diem private room charge differential by subtracting the average per diem charge for all semi-private room accommodations from the average per

diem charge for all private room accommodations. The average per diem charge for private room accommodations is determined by dividing the total charges for private room accommodations by the total number of days of care furnished in private room accommodations. The average per diem charge for semi-private accommodations is determined by dividing the total charges for semi-private room accommodations by the total number of days of care furnished in semi-private accommodations.

(2) Determine the inpatient general routine cost to charge ratio by dividing total inpatient general routine service cost by the total inpatient general routine service charges.

(3) Determine the average per diem private room cost differential by multiplying the average per diem private room charge differential determined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section by the ratio determined in paragraph (c)(2) of this section.

(d) Criteria for identifying intensive care type units. For purposes of determining costs under this section, a unit will be identified as an intensive care type inpatient hospital unit only if the unit

(1) Is in a hospital;

(2) Is physically and identifiably separate from general routine patient care areas, including subintensive or intermediate care units, and ancillary service areas. There cannot be a concurrent sharing of nursing staff between an intensive care type unit and units or areas furnishing different levels or types of care. However, two or more intensive care type units that concurrently share nursing staff can be reimbursed as one combined intensive care type unit if all other criteria are met. Float nurses (nurses who work in different units on an as-needed basis) can be utilized in the intensive care type unit. If a float nurse works in two different units during the same eight hour shift, then the costs must be allocated

to the appropriate units depending upon the time spent in those units. The hospital must maintain adequate records to support the allocation. If such records are not available, then the costs must be allocated to the general routine services cost areas;

(3) Has specific written policies that include criteria for admission to, and discharge from, the unit;

(4) Has registered nursing care available on a continuous 24-hour basis with at least one registered nurse present in the unit at all times;

(5) Maintains a minimum nurse-patient ratio of one nurse to two patients per patient day. Included in the calculation of this nurse-patient ratio are registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants who provide patient care. Not included are general support personnel such as ward clerks, custodians, and housekeeping personnel; and

(6) Is equipped, or has available for immediate use, life-saving equipment necessary to treat the critically ill patients for which it is designed. This equipment may include, but is not limited to, respiratory and cardiac monitoring equipment, respirators, cardiac defibrillators, and wall or canister oxygen and compressed air.

(e) Application—(1) Departmental method; Cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1982.

(i) The following example illustrates how costs would be determined, using only inpatient data, for cost reporting periods beginning on or after October 1, 1982, based on apportionment of—

(A) The average cost per diem for general routine services (subject to the private room differential provisions of paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section);

(B) The average cost per diem for each intensive care type unit;

(C) The ratio of beneficiary charges to total charges applied to cost by department.

Subpart E-Payments to Providers

§ 413.60 Payments to providers: General.

(a) The fiscal intermediaries will establish a basis for interim payments to each provider. This may be done by one of several methods. If an intermediary is already paying the provider on a cost basis, the intermediary may adjust its rate of payment to an estimate of the result under the Medicare principles of reimbursement. If no organization is paying the provider on a cost basis, the intermediary may obtain the previous year's financial statement from the provider and, by applying the principles of reimbursement, compute or approximate an appropriate rate of payment. The interim payment may be

related to the last year's average per diem, or to charges, or to any other ready basis of approximating costs.

(b) At the end of the period, the actual apportionment, based on the cost finding and apportionment methods selected by the provider, determines the Medicare reimbursement for the actual services provided to beneficiaries during the period.

(c) Basically, therefore, interim payments to providers will be made for services throughout the year, with final settlement on a retroactive basis at the end of the accounting period. Interim payments will be made as often as possible and in no event less frequently than once a month. The retroactive payments will take fully into account the costs that were actually incurred and settle on an actual, rather than on an estimated basis.

§ 413.64 Payments to providers: Specific rules.

(a) Reimbursement on a reasonable cost basis. Providers of services paid on the basis of the reasonable cost of services furnished to beneficiaries will receive interim payments approximating the actual costs of the provider. These payments will be made on the most expeditious schedule administratively feasible but not less often than monthly. A retroactive adjustment based on actual costs will be made at the end of a reporting period.

(b) Amount and frequency of payment. Medicare states that providers of services will be paid the reasonable cost of services furnished to beneficiaries. Since actual costs of services cannot be determined until the end of the accounting period, the providers must be paid on an estimated cost basis during the year. While Medicare provides that interim payments will be made no less often than monthly, intermediaries are expected to make payments on the most expeditious basis administratively feasible. Whatever estimated cost basis is used for determining interim payments during the year, the intent is that the interim payments shall approximate actual costs as nearly as is practicable so that the retroactive adjustment based on actual costs will be as small as possible.