CMS Issues Interim Final Rule On Medicare DSH Payments

On October 1, 2013, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule modifying the process it will use in calculating Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for cost reporting periods that span more than one federal fiscal year. The new DHS methodology will be used for federal fiscal year 2014, which started October 1, 2013, and beyond.  An additional change includes Indian Health Service Hospitals in certain factors of the calculations. The Medicare DSH payments are intended to offset the cost of providing uncompensated care. The payments are targeted at hospitals that serve a . . .