Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Refinement and Rate Update for Calendar Year 2008; Corrections, 67656-67663 [E7-23272]

Agencies

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 230 (Friday, November 30, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67656-67663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23272]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Part 484

[CMS-1541-CN2]
RIN 0938-AO32


Medicare Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System 
Refinement and Rate Update for Calendar Year 2008; Corrections

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Final rule with comment period; correction notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document corrects typographical and technical errors that 
appeared in the August 29, 2007 Federal Register, entitled ``Medicare 
Program; Home Health Prospective Payment System Refinement and Rate 
Update for Calendar Year 2008.''

EFFECTIVE DATE: This correction notice is effective January 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Ventura, (410) 786-1985.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    FR Doc. 07-4184 of August 29, 2007 (72 FR 49762) contained several 
typographical and technical errors that this notice serves to identify 
and correct.

II. Summary of Errors

    On page 49773, in the second paragraph of the third column, the 
reference to the McCall report is incomplete. We are correcting the 
error by providing the complete reference.
    In the first column on page 49774, we are clarifying and correcting 
an erroneous reference to certain V codes in our response to a comment.
    In the first full paragraph of the first column on page 49775, we 
inadvertently imply that a table is included in the August 29, 2007 
final rule. However, the referenced table is found in the May 4, 2007 
proposed rule. We are correcting this by referencing the proposed rule.
    On page 49780, the example in column 1 is revised to reflect the 
updates made to Table 2A in the final rule with comment period.
    On page 49789, in the fourth column of Table 2B, the Short 
Descriptions of ICD-9-CM codes 161, 162, 163, 164, and 165 incorrectly 
contain asterisks.
    On page 49793, in Table 2B, the ICD-9-CM code 321.8, we 
inadvertently did not include an `M' next to it under the column 
titled, ``Manifestation codes'' in order to properly identify it as a 
manifestation code.
    To more accurately reflect ICD-9-CM coding terminology, we are 
correcting the Diagnostic Category titles for ICD-9-CM codes V55.0 and 
V55.5 on page 49817 of Table 2B. In addition we are correcting the 
Diagnostic Category titles for ICD-9-CM codes V55.5, V55.0, and V55.6 
and the Short Descriptions for ICD-9-CM codes V55.5 and V55.0 on page 
49855 of Table 10B.
    During production of Table 4 on pages 49826 through 49827, the 
decimal amounts were incorrectly rounded when computing the scaled 
coefficients. We are revising Table 4 to reflect the corrected rounded 
amounts.
    The average cost amounts in Table 5 on pages 49828 through 49832 
were also rounded incorrectly. Therefore, we are revising Table 5 to 
reflect the average cost of each case-mix group. There are no changes 
to the relative weights in Table 5.
    On page 49833, second paragraph, a negative sign was inadvertently 
placed before ``8.7 percent.''
    On page 49844, we incorrectly stated the acronym for the Health 
Insurance Prospective Payment System (HIPPS) code. The correct acronym 
is HIPPS. We are correcting the acronym to HIPPS wherever it appears.
    On page 49853 the description for Item 5 for selected skin 
conditions in Table 10A incorrectly includes the words ``or other''. 
Also on page 49853, in the first column of the Note section for Table 
10A, we are correcting punctuation errors. Therefore, in the second 
column of the Note section for Table 10A, the reference to Table 12B 
should refer to Table 10B. Lastly, we inadvertently excluded a footnote 
to Table 10A that clarified how points are awarded for ulcer related 
conditions.
    On page 49854, we are correcting the short description of ICD-9-CM 
code 250.8x & 707.10-707.9 from ``(PRIMARY OR FIRST OTHER DIAGNOSIS = 
250.8x AND PRIMARY OR FIRST OTHER DIAGNOSIS = 707.10-707.9).'' to 
``(PRIMARY DIAGNOSIS = 250.8x AND OTHER DIAGNOSIS = 707.10-707.9).''
    On page 49855, we inadvertently omitted ICD-9-CM code 948 from 
Table 10B under the traumatic wounds, burns and post-operative 
complications category. We are adding code 948 and its short 
description to Table 10B.
    Table 12 and 14 contain several typographical errors. The CY 2007 
per-visit amount for the speech-language pathology discipline found in 
the second column of both Table 12 on page

[[Page 67657]]

49868 and in Table 14 on page 49873 should be $121.32, and the speech-
language pathology per-visit amount for CY 2008 in column 5 of Table 12 
should be $124.65. Similarly, on page 49873, the speech-language 
pathology per-visit amount for CY 2008 in column 5 of Table 14 should 
be $122.23.
    We are correcting errors in the outlier example that begins on page 
49870 and continues on page 49871 as well as providing clarifying 
narrative language. Due to corrections being made to the outlier 
example, noted below, the utilization used in the outlier example that 
was published in the final rule would not allow the episode to qualify 
for an outlier payment. Consequently, we are increasing the number of 
skilled nursing and home health aide visits in the corrected outlier 
example of this correction notice.
    In addition, in Step 2, on page 49871, in the calculation of the 
total wage-adjusted fixed dollar loss amount, the NRS amount was 
inadvertently included as part of the calculation. We are removing the 
language in Step 2 of the outlier example that incorrectly includes the 
NRS amount, in order to reflect the correct outlier policy.
    In Step 3 of the outlier example, near the bottom of the second 
column and the top of the third column on page 49871, we incorrectly 
refer to physical therapy visits as home health aide visits in three 
instances.
    In Step 4 of the outlier example, on page 49871, we incorrectly 
calculated the costs absorbed by the Home Health Agencies (HHAs) in 
excess of the outlier threshold by subtracting only the episode payment 
from the HHA's imputed costs. The sum of the episode payment and the 
fixed dollar loss amount, which together make up the outlier threshold, 
should be subtracted from the imputed costs. (This is reflected in the 
corrected Step 4 of the outlier example in Section III Correction of 
Errors).
    On page 49877, in Table 15 under the impacts by ``Type of 
Facility'', we are correcting a typographical error in the group name 
for the subtotal for voluntary non-profit HHAs.
    During our calculation of the hospital wage index, wage data from 
two inpatient hospital providers that belong in the Hartford-West 
Hartford-East Hartford, CT core-based statistical area (CBSA) were 
inadvertently included in rural Connecticut. Accordingly, in Addendum 
A, we are revising the wage index value for CBSA Code 07 (rural 
Connecticut) from 1.1283 to 1.1711. We are also correcting the wage 
index value in Addendum C as well as correcting the percentage change 
from CY 2007 to CY 2008 for rural Connecticut to 0.02 percent.
    In Addendum B, we are revising the wage index value for CBSA Code 
25540 (Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT) from 1.0937 to 1.0930. 
We are also correcting the wage index value in Addendum C as well as 
correcting the percentage change from CY 2007 to CY 2008 for CBSA 25540 
to 0.33 percent.
    During our calculation of the hospital wage index, wage data from 
one IPPS hospital was incorrectly assigned to CBSA 16180 (Carson City, 
NV) and should have been assigned to CBSA 39900 (Reno-Sparks, NV). 
Accordingly, in Addendum B, we are revising the wage index values for 
CBSA Code 16180 (Carson City, NV) from 0.9353 to 1.0003 and for CBSA 
Code 39900 (Reno-Sparks, NV) from 1.0959 to 1.0715. We are also 
correcting these two wage index errors in Addendum C as well as 
correcting the percentage change from CY 2007 to CY 2008 for CBSA 16180 
and CBSA 39900 to -0.22 percent and -10.43 percent respectively.
    In addition, in the footnote of Addendum A, at the end of the 
second sentence, we are correcting the CY that was referenced as CY 
2007, instead of CY 2008. Additionally, we inadvertently left out the 
last two sentences which more fully describe the wage index values for 
Massachusetts and Puerto Rico and are correcting the footnote by adding 
those sentences at the end of the footnote at the bottom of Addendum A.
    In Addendum B, on page 49901, the reference to the footnote for 
CBSA 25980 was incorrectly labeled as footnote ``2'', when there is 
only one footnote for Addendum B. Footnote 2 on page 49932 is also 
incorrectly labeled. Consequently, the reference to the footnote for 
CBSA 25980 and the actual footnote should be ``1''.

III. Correction of Errors

    In FR Doc. 07-4184 of August 29, 2007 (72 FR 49762), make the 
following corrections:
    1. On page 49773, in the third column, in the second paragraph, in 
line 6, replace ``(McCall et al., 2003)'' with ``(N McCall et al., 
``Utilization of Home Health Services before and after the Balanced 
Budget Act of 1997: What Were the Initial Effects?'' Health Services 
Research, Feb. 2003:85-106.)''.
    2. On page 49774, in the first column, in the fifth full paragraph, 
in line 8, revise ``However, we have tested the non-routine supplies 
for stoma conditions for which we have added appropriate ``status (V44) 
V-codes'' and ``attention (V55) V-codes'' to the model.'' to read 
``However, we have tested both the case-mix model and the non-routine 
supplies model for stoma conditions, and as a result we have added 
appropriate ``attention to'' V-codes (selected codes within V55) to the 
scoring systems''.
    3. On page 49775, in the first column, in the first full paragraph, 
in lines 13 and 14, revise ``(please see Table 2A at the end of section 
III.B.5)'' to read ``(please see Table 2A in the May 4, 2007 HH PPS 
proposed rule)''.
    4. On page 49780, in the first column, in line 6, revise ``Items 16 
and 17'' to read ``Items 15, 16, and 17''. Also, in the first column of 
page 49780, in line 7, revise ``both'' to read ``all three''.
    5. On page 49789, in Table 2B, in the fourth column, in lines 3 
through 7, remove the asterisk at the end of each Short Description of 
ICD-9-CM codes 161, 162, 163, 164, and 165.
    6. On page 49793, in the third column of Table 2B, in line 6 from 
the bottom, insert an ``M'' next to the ICD-9-CM code ``321.8''.
    7. On page 49817, in the first column of Table 2B, ``Tracheostomy 
care'' is corrected to read ``Tracheostomy''. Similarly, ``Urostomy/
Cystostomy care'' is corrected to read ``Urostomy/Cystostomy''.
    8. On pages 49826 and 49827, Table 4 is corrected to read as 
follows:

   Table 4.--Regression Coefficients for Calculating Case-Mix Relative
                                 Weights
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intercept (constant for all case mix groups)............       $1,322.92
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              1st and 2nd Episodes, 0 to 13 Therapy Visits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
C2......................................................          342.36
C3......................................................          722.64
F2......................................................          201.15
F3......................................................          391.18
S2 (6 therapy visits)...................................          608.45

[[Page 67658]]

 
S3 (7-9 therapy visits).................................        1,083.40
S4 (10 therapy visits)..................................        1,570.38
S5 (11-13 therapy visits)...............................        1,970.41
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              1st and 2nd Episodes, 14 to 19 Therapy Visits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Constant................................................        2,336.39
C2......................................................          569.40
C3......................................................        1,227.33
F2......................................................          264.04
F3......................................................          429.54
S2 (16-17 therapy visits)...............................          353.49
S3 (18-19 therapy visits)...............................          664.75
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  3rd+ Episodes, 0 to 13 Therapy Visits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Constant................................................          162.55
C2......................................................          131.91
C3......................................................          648.40
F2......................................................          304.00
F3......................................................          592.10
S2 (6 therapy visits)...................................          794.16
S3 (7-9 therapy visits).................................        1,253.67
S4 (10 therapy visits)..................................        1,755.87
S5 (11-13 therapy visits)...............................        2,152.49
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             3rd+ Episodes, 14 to 19 Therapy Visits Constant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Constant................................................        2,656.96
C2......................................................          623.43
C3......................................................        1,350.61
F2......................................................          297.18
F3......................................................          681.32
S2 (16-17 therapy visits)...............................          263.13
S3 (18-19 therapy visits)...............................          617.98
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                All Episodes, 20+ Therapy Visits Constant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Constant................................................        4,465.27
C2......................................................          485.17
C3......................................................        1,212.35
F2......................................................          430.23
F3......................................................         916.53
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Regression coefficients were scaled by a multiplier representing
  the ratio of the HH PS base payment level to the Abt Associates
  average resource cost level.

    9. On pages 49828 through 49832, Table 5 is corrected to read as 
follows:

                          Table 5.--Case Mix Groups, Average Cost, and Case Mix Weight
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Severity Level for Each Dimension
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          Average      Case mix
              Clinical                       Functional          Service  utilization       cost        weight
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1st and 2nd Episodes, 0 to 13 Therapy Visits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C1..................................  F1                       S1                         $1,322.92       0.5827
C1..................................  F1                       S2                          1,931.36       0.8507
C1..................................  F1                       S3                          2,406.31       1.0599
C1..................................  F1                       S4                          2,893.30       1.2744
C1..................................  F1                       S5                          3,293.33       1.4506
C1..................................  F2                       S1                          1,524.07       0.6713
C1..................................  F2                       S2                          2,132.51       0.9393
C1..................................  F2                       S3                          2,607.46       1.1485
C1..................................  F2                       S4                          3,094.45       1.3630
C1..................................  F2                       S5                          3,494.48       1.5392
C1..................................  F3                       S1                          1,714.09       0.7550
C1..................................  F3                       S2                          2,322.54       1.0230
C1..................................  F3                       S3                          2,797.49       1.2322
C1..................................  F3                       S4                          3,284.47       1.4467
C1..................................  F3                       S5                          3,684.50       1.6229

[[Page 67659]]

 
C2..................................  F1                       S1                          1,665.28       0.7335
C2..................................  F1                       S2                          2,273.73       1.0015
C2..................................  F1                       S3                          2,748.68       1.2107
C2..................................  F1                       S4                          3,235.66       1.4252
C2..................................  F1                       S5                          3,635.69       1.6014
C2..................................  F2                       S1                          1,866.43       0.8221
C2..................................  F2                       S2                          2,474.88       1.0901
C2..................................  F2                       S3                          2,949.83       1.2993
C2..................................  F2                       S4                          3,436.81       1.5138
C2..................................  F2                       S5                          3,836.84       1.6900
C2..................................  F3                       S1                          2,056.46       0.9058
C2..................................  F3                       S2                          2,664.90       1.1738
C2..................................  F3                       S3                          3,139.85       1.3830
C2..................................  F3                       S4                          3,626.84       1.5975
C2..................................  F3                       S5                          4,026.87       1.7737
C3..................................  F1                       S1                          2,045.56       0.9010
C3..................................  F1                       S2                          2,654.23       1.1691
C3..................................  F1                       S3                          3,129.18       1.3783
C3..................................  F1                       S4                          3,615.94       1.5927
C3..................................  F1                       S5                          4,016.20       1.7690
C3..................................  F2                       S1                          2,246.71       0.9896
C3..................................  F2                       S2                          2,855.38       1.2577
C3..................................  F2                       S3                          3,330.33       1.4669
C3..................................  F2                       S4                          3,817.09       1.6813
C3..................................  F2                       S5                          4,217.35       1.8576
C3..................................  F3                       S1                          2,436.73       1.0733
C3..................................  F3                       S2                          3,045.41       1.3414
C3..................................  F3                       S3                          3,520.36       1.5506
C3..................................  F3                       S4                          4,007.11       1.7650
C3..................................  F3                       S5                          4,407.37       1.9413
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  1st and 2nd Episodes, 14 to 19 Therapy Visits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C1..................................  F1                       S1                          3,659.30       1.6118
C1..................................  F1                       S2                          4,012.79       1.7675
C1..................................  F1                       S3                          4,324.05       1.9046
C1..................................  F2                       S1                          3,923.34       1.7281
C1..................................  F2                       S2                          4,276.60       1.8837
C1..................................  F2                       S3                          4,587.86       2.0208
C1..................................  F3                       S1                          4,088.85       1.8010
C1..................................  F3                       S2                          4,442.11       1.9566
C1..................................  F3                       S3                          4,753.37       2.0937
C2..................................  F1                       S1                          4,228.70       1.8626
C2..................................  F1                       S2                          4,582.19       2.0183
C2..................................  F1                       S3                          4,893.45       2.1554
C2..................................  F2                       S1                          4,492.74       1.9789
C2..................................  F2                       S2                          4,846.00       2.1345
C2..................................  F2                       S3                          5,157.26       2.2716
C2..................................  F3                       S1                          4,658.24       2.0518
C2..................................  F3                       S2                          5,011.50       2.2074
C2..................................  F3                       S3                          5,322.77       2.3445
C3..................................  F1                       S1                          4,886.64       2.1524
C3..................................  F1                       S2                          5,240.13       2.3081
C3..................................  F1                       S3                          5,551.16       2.4451
C3..................................  F2                       S1                          5,150.45       2.2686
C3..................................  F2                       S2                          5,503.94       2.4243
C3..................................  F2                       S3                          5,814.97       2.5613
C3..................................  F3                       S1                          5,315.95       2.3415
C3..................................  F3                       S2                          5,669.44       2.4972
C3..................................  F3                       S3                          5,980.48       2.6342
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      3rd+ Episodes, 0 to 13 Therapy Visits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C1..................................  F1                       S1                          1,485.47       0.6543
C1..................................  F1                       S2                          2,279.63       1.0041
C1..................................  F1                       S3                          2,739.14       1.2065
C1..................................  F1                       S4                          3,241.34       1.4277
C1..................................  F1                       S5                          3,637.96       1.6024
C1..................................  F2                       S1                          1,789.47       0.7882
C1..................................  F2                       S2                          2,583.62       1.1380

[[Page 67660]]

 
C1..................................  F2                       S3                          3,043.36       1.3405
C1..................................  F2                       S4                          3,545.56       1.5617
C1..................................  F2                       S5                          3,942.18       1.7364
C1..................................  F3                       S1                          2,077.57       0.9151
C1..................................  F3                       S2                          2,871.73       1.2649
C1..................................  F3                       S3                          3,331.47       1.4674
C1..................................  F3                       S4                          3,833.66       1.6886
C1..................................  F3                       S5                          4,230.06       1.8632
C2..................................  F1                       S1                          1,617.38       0.7124
C2..................................  F1                       S2                          2,411.53       1.0622
C2..................................  F1                       S3                          2,871.05       1.2646
C2..................................  F1                       S4                          3,373.24       1.4858
C2..................................  F1                       S5                          3,769.87       1.6605
C2..................................  F2                       S1                          1,921.37       0.8463
C2..................................  F2                       S2                          2,715.76       1.1962
C2..................................  F2                       S3                          3,175.27       1.3986
C2..................................  F2                       S4                          3,677.46       1.6198
C2..................................  F2                       S5                          4,074.09       1.7945
C2..................................  F3                       S1                          2,209.48       0.9732
C2..................................  F3                       S2                          3,003.63       1.3230
C2..................................  F3                       S3                          3,463.37       1.5255
C2..................................  F3                       S4                          3,965.57       1.7467
C2..................................  F3                       S5                          4,361.97       1.9213
C3..................................  F1                       S1                          2,133.87       0.9399
C3..................................  F1                       S2                          2,928.03       1.2897
C3..................................  F1                       S3                          3,387.77       1.4922
C3..................................  F1                       S4                          3,889.97       1.7134
C3..................................  F1                       S5                          4,286.36       1.8880
C3..................................  F2                       S1                          2,437.87       1.0738
C3..................................  F2                       S2                          3,232.25       1.4237
C3..................................  F2                       S3                          3,691.77       1.6261
C3..................................  F2                       S4                          4,193.96       1.8473
C3..................................  F2                       S5                          4,590.59       2.0220
C3..................................  F3                       S1                          2,725.97       1.2007
C3..................................  F3                       S2                          3,520.36       1.5506
C3..................................  F3                       S3                          3,979.87       1.7530
C3..................................  F3                       S4                          4,482.07       1.9742
C3..................................  F3                       S5                          4,878.69       2.1489
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     3rd+ Episodes, 14 to 19 Therapy Visits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C1..................................  F1                       S1                          3,979.87       1.7530
C1..................................  F1                       S2                          4,243.00       1.8689
C1..................................  F1                       S3                          4,597.85       2.0252
C1..................................  F2                       S1                          4,277.06       1.8839
C1..................................  F2                       S2                          4,540.19       1.9998
C1..................................  F2                       S3                          4,894.81       2.1560
C1..................................  F3                       S1                          4,661.19       2.0531
C1..................................  F3                       S2                          4,924.32       2.1690
C1..................................  F3                       S3                          5,278.95       2.3252
C2..................................  F1                       S1                          4,603.30       2.0276
C2..................................  F1                       S2                          4,866.43       2.1435
C2..................................  F1                       S3                          5,221.28       2.2998
C2..................................  F2                       S1                          4,900.49       2.1585
C2..................................  F2                       S2                          5,163.62       2.2744
C2..................................  F2                       S3                          5,518.24       2.4306
C2..................................  F3                       S1                          5,284.62       2.3277
C2..................................  F3                       S2                          5,547.75       2.4436
C2..................................  F3                       S3                          5,902.38       2.5998
C3..................................  F1                       S1                          5,330.48       2.3479
C3..................................  F1                       S2                          5,593.39       2.4637
C3..................................  F1                       S3                          5,948.24       2.6200
C3..................................  F2                       S1                          5,627.44       2.4787
C3..................................  F2                       S2                          5,890.57       2.5946
C3..................................  F2                       S3                          6,245.42       2.7509
C3..................................  F3                       S1                          6,011.58       2.6479
C3..................................  F3                       S2                          6,274.71       2.7638
C3..................................  F3                       S3                          6,629.56       2.9201
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 67661]]

 
                                        All Episodes, 20+ Therapy Visits
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C1..................................  F1                       S1                          5,788.18       2.5495
C1..................................  F2                       S1                          6,218.41       2.7390
C1..................................  F3                       S1                          6,704.71       2.9532
C2..................................  F1                       S1                          6,273.35       2.7632
C2..................................  F2                       S1                          6,703.57       2.9527
C2..................................  F3                       S1                          7,189.88       3.1669
C3..................................  F1                       S1                          7,000.53       3.0835
C3..................................  F2                       S1                          7,430.76       3.2730
C3..................................  F3                       S1                          7,917.06       3.4872
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. On page 49833, in the first column, in the second paragraph, in 
line 18 from the bottom, remove the ``-'' (minus sign) in front of 
``8.7 percent''.
    11. On page 49844, in the first column, in the first full 
paragraph, in line 8, ``HIHH PPS'' is corrected to read ``HIPPS''. 
Also, on page 49844, in the second column, ``HIHH PPS'' is corrected to 
read ``HIPPS'' in lines 2, 4, and 14.
    12. On page 49853, in the second column of Table 10A, in line 5, 
the description for Item 5 ``Primary or other 
diagnosis=Diabetic ulcers'' is corrected to read ``Primary diagnosis = 
Diabetic ulcers''. Also in Table 10A, add ``[*]'' (an asterisk enclosed 
in brackets) at the end of lines 5 and 10. Also on page 49853, in the 
first column of the ``Note'' for Table 10A, in line 1, replace the 
``,'' after the word ``additive'' with a ``;''. Also in line 1, add a 
``,'' after the word ``however''.
    In the second column of the ``Note'' for Table 10A, in line 2, 
``Table 12b'' is corrected to read ``Table 10B''. Lastly, on page 
49853, add the following footnote, referenced by the ``[*]'' at the end 
of lines 5 and 10 in Table 10A, to the end of the current Note: ``*If 
an episode receives points for diabetic ulcers, it cannot also receive 
points for ``Non-pressure and non-stasis ulcers.''
    13. On page 49854, in the fourth column of Table 10B, in lines 7 
and 8, revise ``(PRIMARY OR FIRST OTHER DIAGNOSIS = 250.8x AND PRIMARY 
OR FIRST OTHER DIAGNOSIS = 707.10-707.9).'' to read ``(PRIMARY 
DIAGNOSIS = 250.8x AND OTHER DIAGNOSIS = 707.10-707.9).''
    14. On page 49855, in the second column of Table 10B, below ICD-9-
cm code 946.5, insert ``948''. In addition, in column 4 of Table 10B, 
insert the short description of ICD-9-CM code 948 directly under the 
short description of code 946.5. The short description for 948 should 
read, ``BURN CLASS ACCORD-BODY SURF INVOLVED''.
    15. On page 49855, in the first column of Table 10B, delete the 
word ``Care'' from the Diagnostic Category titles for ICD-9-CM codes 
V55.5, V55.0, and V55.6. In addition, in the fourth column of Table 
10B, delete the word ``CARE'' from the Short Descriptions for ICD-9-CM 
codes V55.5 and V55.0.
    16. On page 49868, in Table 12, in the second column, the CY 2007 
per-visit amount ``121.22'' for speech-language pathology, is corrected 
to read ``121.32''. In addition, in the fifth column, the CY 2008 per-
visit amount ``124.54'' for speech-language pathology is corrected to 
read ``124.65.''
    17. On page 49870, on the bottom of the page, beginning in the 
first column, remove the language that begins with ``Outlier payments 
are determined'' through page 49871, in the third column, line 26 that 
ends with ``episode, including the outlier payment.'' Replace the 
previous outlier example with the following:
    Outlier payments are determined and calculated using the same 
methodology that has been used since the implementation of the HH PPS.
    Example 3 details the calculation of an outlier payment.
Example 3. Calculation of an Outlier Payment
    The outlier payment amount is the product of the imputed amount in 
excess of the outlier threshold absorbed by the HHA and the loss 
sharing ratio. The outlier payment is added to the sum of the wage and 
case-mix adjusted 60-day episode amount. The steps to calculate the 
total episode payment, including an outlier payment, are given below.
    For this example, assume that a beneficiary lives in Greenville, SC 
and that the episode in question began and ended in CY 2008. The 
episode has a case-mix severity = C3F3S5, and is a second episode with 
98 visits (40 skilled nursing, 45 home health aide visits, and 13 
physical therapy visits). The beneficiary had 105 NRS points, for an 
NRS severity level = 6. Therefore, from Table 9, the NRS payment amount 
= $551.00; from Table 5, the case-mix weight = 1.9413; and from 
Addendum B, the wage index = 0.9860.
    1. Calculate case-mix and wage-adjusted 60-day episode payment, 
including NRS.
    National standardized 60-day episode payment amount for episodes 
beginning and ending in CY 2008

= $2,270.32

    Calculate the case-mix adjusted episode payment:
    Multiply the national standardized 60-day episode payment by the 
applicable case-mix weight:

$2,270.32 x 1.9413 = $4,407.37

    Divide the case-mix adjusted episode payment into the labor and 
non-labor portions:

Labor portion: 0.77082 x $4,407.37 = $3,397.29
Non-labor portion: 0.22918 x $4,407.37 = $1,010.08

    Wage-adjust the labor portion by multiplying it by the wage index 
factor for Greenville, SC:

0.9860 x $3,397.29 = $3,349.73

    Add wage-adjusted labor portion to the non-labor portion to 
calculate the total case-mix and wage-adjusted 60-day episode payment 
before NRS added:

$3,349.73 + $1,010.08 = $4,359.81

    Add NRS amount to get the total case-mix and wage-adjusted 60-day 
episode payment, including NRS:

$551.00 + $4,359.81 = $4,910.81

    2. Calculate wage-adjusted outlier threshold.
    Fixed dollar loss amount = national standardized 60-day episode 
payment multiplied by 0.89 FDL:


[[Page 67662]]


$2,270.32 x 0.89 = $2,020.58

    Divide fixed dollar loss amount into labor and non-labor portions:

Labor portion: 0.77082 x $2,020.58 = $1,557.50
Non-labor portion: 0.22918 x $2,020.58 = $463.08

    Wage-adjust the labor portion by multiplying the labor portion of 
the fixed dollar loss amount by the wage index:

$1,557.50 x 0.9860 = $1,535.70

    Calculate the wage-adjusted fixed dollar loss amount by adding the 
wage-adjusted portion of the fixed dollar loss amount to the non-labor 
portion of the fixed dollar loss amount:

$1,535.70 + $463.08 = $1,998.78

    Add the case-mix and wage-adjusted 60-day episode amount including 
NRS and the wage-adjusted fixed dollar loss amount to get the wage-
adjusted outlier threshold:

$4,910.81 + $1,998.78 = $6,909.59

    3. Calculate the wage-adjusted imputed cost of the episode.
    Multiply the total number of visits by the national average per-
visit amounts listed in Table 12:

40 skilled nursing visits x $104.91 = $4,196.40
45 home health aide visits x $47.51 = $2,137.95
13 physical therapy visits x $114.71 = $1,491.23

    Calculate the wage-adjusted labor and nonlabor portions for the 
imputed skilled nursing visit costs:

Labor portion: 0.77082 x $4,196.40 = $3,234.67
Non-labor portion: 0.22918 x $4,196.40 = $961.73

    Adjust the labor portion of the skilled nursing visits by the wage 
index:

0.9860 x $3,234.67 = $3,189.38

    Add the wage-adjusted labor portion of the skilled nursing visits 
to the non-labor portion for the total wage-adjusted imputed costs for 
skilled nursing visits:

$3,189.38 + $961.73 = $4,151.11

    Calculate the wage-adjusted labor and non-labor portions for the 
imputed home health aide visits:

Labor portion: 0.77082 x $2,137.95 = $1,647.97
Non-labor portion: 0.22918 x $2,137.95 = $489.98

    Adjust the labor portion of the home health aide visits by the wage 
index:

0.9860 x $1,647.97 = $1,624.90

    Add the wage-adjusted labor portion of the home health aide visits 
to the non-labor portion for the total wage-adjusted imputed costs for 
home health aide visits:

$1,624.90 + $489.98 = $2,114.88

    Calculate the wage-adjusted labor and non-labor portions for the 
imputed physical therapy visits:

Labor portion: 0.77082 x $1,491.23 = $1,149.47
Non-labor portion: 0.22918 x $1,491.23 = $341.76

    Adjust the labor portion of the physical therapy visits by the wage 
index:

0.9860 x $1,149.47 = $1,133.38

    Add the wage-adjusted labor portion of the physical therapy visits 
to the non-labor portion for the total wage-adjusted imputed costs for 
physical therapy visits:

$1,133.38 + $341.76 = $1,475.14

    Total wage adjusted imputed per-visit costs for skilled nursing, 
home health aide, and physical therapy visits during the 60-day 
episode:

$4,151.11 + $2,114.88 + $1,475.14 = $7,741.13

    4. Calculate the amount absorbed by the HHA in excess of the 
outlier threshold.
    Subtract the outlier threshold from (2) from the total wage-
adjusted imputed per-visit costs for the episode from (3).

$7,741.13 - $6,909.59 = $831.54

    5. Calculate the outlier payment and total episode payment.
    Multiply the imputed amount in excess of the outlier threshold 
absorbed by the HHA from (4) by the loss sharing ratio of 0.80:

$831.54 x 0.80 = $665.23 = outlier payment

    Add the outlier payment to the case-mix and wage-adjusted 60-day 
episode payment, including NRS, calculated in (1):

$665.23 + $4,910.81 = $5,576.04

    $5,576.04 equals the total payment for the episode, including the 
outlier payment.
    18. On page 49873, in Table 14, in the second column, the CY 2007 
per-visit amount ``121.22'' for speech-language pathology, is corrected 
to read ``121.32''. In addition, in the fifth column, the CY 2008 per-
visit amount ``122.13'' for speech-language pathology is corrected to 
read ``122.23''.
    19. On page 49877, in the first column of Table 15, under the 
impacts by ``Type of Facility'', revise the group name ``Subtotal: Vol/
PNP'' to read ``Subtotal: Vol/NP''.
    20. On page 49880, in Addendum A, in the third column, in line 7, 
the entry ``1.1283'' that is displayed as the wage index for CBSA code 
07 (rural Connecticut) is corrected to read ``1.1711''.
    21. On page 49881, in the footnote at the bottom of Addendum A, CY 
2007 is corrected to read CY 2008. Additionally, we are correcting the 
footnote at the bottom of Addendum A to read, ``\1\ All counties within 
the State are classified as urban, with the exception of Massachusetts 
and Puerto Rico. Massachusetts and Puerto Rico have areas designated as 
rural; however, no short-term, acute care hospitals are located in the 
area(s) for CY 2008. The rural Massachusetts wage index is calculated 
as the average of all contiguous CBSAs. The Puerto Rico wage index is 
the same as for CY 2007.
    22. On page 49890, in Addendum A, in the third column, the entry 
``0.9353'' that is displayed as the wage index for CBSA code 16180 
(Carson City, NV) is corrected to read ``1.0003''.
    23. On page 49901, in Addendum B, in the third column, the entry 
``1.0937'' that is displayed as the wage index value for CBSA code 
25540 (Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT) is corrected to read 
``1.0930''.
    24. On page 49901, in Addendum B, the reference to the footnote for 
CBSA 25980 and on page 49932 the actual footnote are corrected to read 
``1''.
    25. On page 49918, in Addendum B, in the third column, the entry 
``1.0959'' that is displayed as the wage index for CBSA code 39900 
(Reno-Sparks, NV) is corrected to read ``1.0715''.
    26. On pages 49933, in Addendum C, in the fourth column, in line 7, 
the entry ``1.1283'' that is displayed as the wage index for CBSA code 
07 (rural Connecticut) is corrected to read ``1.1711''. In addition, on 
page 49933, in Addendum C, in the fifth column, in line 7, the entry of 
``-3.64'' that is displayed as the percent change from CY 07 to CY 08 
for CBSA 07 is corrected to read ``0.02''.
    27. On page 49936, in Addendum C, in the fourth column, in line 14 
from the bottom, the entry of ``0.9353'' that is displayed as the wage 
index for CBSA code 16180 (Carson City, NV) is corrected to read 
``1.0003''. In addition, on page 49936, in the fifth column, the entry 
``-6.70'' that is displayed as the percent change from CY 07 to CY 08 
for CBSA 16180 is corrected to read ``-0.22''.
    28. On page 49939, in Addendum C, in the fourth column, in line 3, 
the entry ``1.0937'' that is displayed as the wage index for CBSA code 
25540 (Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT) is corrected to read 
``1.0930''. In addition, on page 49939, in the fifth column, in line 4, 
the entry ``0.39'' that is displayed as the percent change from CY 07 
to CY 08 for CBSA 25540 is corrected to read ``0.33''.

[[Page 67663]]

    29. On page 49943, in Addendum C, in the fourth column, the entry 
of ``1.0959'' that is displayed as the wage index for CBSA code 39900 
(Reno-Sparks, NV) is corrected to read ``1.0715''. In addition, on page 
49943, in the fifth column, the entry ``-8.39'' that is displayed as 
the percent change from CY 07 to CY 08 for CBSA 39900 is corrected to 
read ``-10.43''.

IV. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    We ordinarily publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register to provide a period for public comment before the 
provisions of a notice such as this take effect in accordance with 
section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 
553(b)). However, we can waive both the notice and comment procedure 
and the 30-day delay in effective date if the Secretary finds, for good 
cause, that the notice and comment process is impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and incorporates a 
statement of the finding and the reasons therefore in the notice.
    We find for good cause that it is unnecessary to undertake notice 
and comment rulemaking because this notice merely provides 
typographical and technical corrections to the regulations. We are not 
making substantive changes to our payment methodologies or policies, 
but rather, are simply implementing correctly the payment methodologies 
and policies that we previously proposed, received comment on, and 
subsequently finalized. The public has already had the opportunity to 
comment on these payment methodologies and policies, and this 
correction notice is intended solely to ensure that the CY 2008 HH PPS 
final rule accurately reflects them. Therefore, we believe that 
undertaking further notice and comment procedures to incorporate these 
corrections into the CY 2008 HH PPS final rule is unnecessary and 
contrary to the public interest.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773, 
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)

    Dated: November 27, 2007.
Ann C. Agnew,
Executive Secretary to the Department.
[FR Doc. E7-23272 Filed 11-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P