[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 15315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8502]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Care Financing Administration

42 CFR Part 413

[HCFA-1808-CN]
RIN 0938-AG70


Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Salary Equivalency Guidelines for 
Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, and 
Occupational Therapy Services; Revised Effective Date and Technical 
Correction

AGENCY: Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), HHS.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date and correction.

SUMMARY: This document delays the effective date of the final rule on 
salary equivalency guidelines, published in the Federal Register (63 FR 
5106) on January 30, 1998, from April 1, 1998 to April 10, 1998. In 
addition, we are making a technical correction in the preamble to the 
January 30, 1998 final rule.

EFFECTIVE DATES: The effective date of the final rule published at 63 
FR 5106 is April 10, 1998. The technical correction is effective April 
10, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jackie Gordon, (410) 786-4517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 30, 1998, we issued a final rule 
in the Federal Register (63 FR 5106) that set forth revisions to the 
salary equivalency guidelines for Medicare payment for the reasonable 
costs of physical therapy and respiratory therapy services furnished 
under arrangements by an outside contractor. This final rule also set 
forth new salary equivalency guidelines for Medicare payment for the 
reasonable costs of speech language pathology and occupational therapy 
services furnished under arrangements by an outside contractor. The 
guidelines do not apply to inpatient hospital services and hospice 
services. The guidelines will be used by Medicare fiscal intermediaries 
to determine the maximum allowable cost of those services. We announced 
that the effective date for this final rule would be April 1, 1998.

Revised Effective Date

    This rule is a major rule as defined in Title 5, United States 
Code, section 804(2). Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(3), this rule may not 
take effect until 60 days after the report required by that section is 
submitted to Congress. The report for this rule was submitted to 
Congress on February 10, 1998. Therefore, the earliest date this rule 
can become effective is April 10, 1998.

Technical Correction

    In the January 30, 1998 final rule (63 FR 5106) on page 5108, first 
column, beginning in the sixth line, the phrase ``Medicare 
beneficiaries whose nursing home stays are not paid by Medicare'' is 
corrected to read ``Medicare SNF residents who are not in a covered 
Part A stay''.

    Authority: Secs. 1102, 1861(v)(1)(A), and 1871 of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C 1302, 1395x(v)(1)(A), and 1395hh).

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

    Dated: March 3, 1998.
Nancy-Ann Min DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.

    Dated: March 26, 1998.
Donna E. Shalala,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-8502 Filed 3-30-98; 8:45 am]
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