Critical Access Hospital Reimbursement & Medicare Cost Reporting Virtual Boot Camp

Get the training and information you need to improve Medicare reimbursements and financial operating results at your Medicare-designated Critical Access Hospital.

Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) receive cost-based reimbursement for services rendered to Medicare beneficiaries. Many state Medicaid programs also reimburse on a cost basis with Medicare Advantage Plans, piggy-backing on traditional Medicare interim payment rates. Sound conceptual understanding of the cost-based reimbursement system along with knowledge of the Medicare Cost Reporting forms are essential skills for CAH finance professionals.

This virtual education event is designed to provide CAH finance leaders with a fundamental understanding of the Medicare program’s cost-based reimbursement system, as well as Medicare cost reporting forms and compilation requirements. After attending this program, participants will better understand cost reporting basics, as well as strategies to employ to ensure an accurate and complete Medicare cost report and Medicare reimbursement.

Topics will include:

• Introduction to the Medicare Critical Access Hospital program and key CAH Conditions of Participation that impact reimbursement
• Basic principles of cost-based reimbursement and the Medicare apportionment formulary
• The relationship between cost report settlements, patient volume, and hospital Medicare contractual allowances and adjustments
• Medicare cost report forms, Medicare cost apportionment formulas, and compilation requirements:
  • The purpose of each cost report worksheet
  • Data required for each worksheet
  • How the cost report “flows” to determine a hospital’s Medicare program settlement amounts
• Underlying cost reporting issues that affect reimbursement and final settlement, as well as cost reporting strategies and practices that yield appropriate Medicare reimbursements
• Detailed cost reporting issues such as:
  • Cost Report Questionnaire (now incorporated into cost report, previously a separate report CMS-339)
  • Reporting requirement for patient statistics
  • Medicare allowable cost principles, cost allocation methodology, and cost apportionment process
  • How to review the Medicare Cost Report for overall accuracy, including settlement estimates
  • Compilation and work paper compilation practices that result in accurate and complete Medicare cost reimbursements.
  • Overview of cost reporting compilation and reporting methods that can improve cost-based reimbursements
• Discussions on material allowable cost issues such as:
  • Physician compensation costs and allowable emergency department physician staffing costs
  • Interest costs and other capital cost issues
  • Other Medicare defined non-allowable costs
  • Cost allocation strategies that yield appropriate hospital reimbursements

Note: Participants will receive a copy of QHR Health’s cost report review checklist and handouts to assist with annual cost report compilation process

Register above. In order to be awarded the full credits, you must respond to the polling questions asked during each session and complete the evaluation.