Department of Health and Human Services October 10, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the inpatient hospital deductible and the hospital and extended care services coinsurance amounts for services furnished in calendar year (CY) 2015 under Medicare's Hospital Insurance Program (Medicare Part A). The Medicare statute specifies the formulae used to determine these amounts. For CY 2015, the inpatient hospital deductible will be $1,260. The daily coinsurance amounts for CY 2015 will be: (1) $315 for the 61st through 90th day of hospitalization in a benefit period; (2) $630 for lifetime reserve days; and (3) $157.50 for the 21st through 100th day of extended care services in a skilled nursing facility in a benefit period.

This notice announces the monthly actuarial rates for aged (age 65 and over) and disabled (under age 65) beneficiaries enrolled in Part B of the Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) program beginning January 1, 2015. In addition, this notice announces the monthly premium for aged and disabled beneficiaries as well as the income-related monthly adjustment amounts to be paid by beneficiaries with modified adjusted gross income above certain threshold amounts. The monthly actuarial rates for 2015 are $209.80 for aged enrollees and $254.80 for disabled enrollees. The standard monthly Part B premium rate for all enrollees for 2015 is $104.90, which is equal to 50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for aged enrollees or approximately 25 percent of the expected average total cost of Part B coverage for aged enrollees. (The 2014 standard premium rate was $104.90.) The Part B deductible for 2015 is $147.00 for all Part B beneficiaries. If a beneficiary has to pay an income-related monthly adjustment, they may have to pay a total monthly premium of about 35, 50, 65, or 80 percent of the total cost of Part B coverage.

On April 23, 2014, the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) published a document in the Federal Register (79 FR 22604). The document provided the Children's Bureau's plan to replace the statewide data indicators used to determine a state's substantial conformity with titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act through the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs). After consideration of the public comments and additional Children's Bureau analysis, the Children's Bureau is now publishing its final plan. Where relevant, this document addresses key comments from the field in response to the April 23, 2014 Federal Register document.