[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4464-4465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1945]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Parts 412, 413, and 424

[CMS-1213-N]
RIN 0938-AL50


Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Inpatient 
Psychiatric Facilities; Extension of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period for proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document extends the comment period for a proposed rule, 
``Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Inpatient 
Psychiatric Facilities'' published in the Federal Register (68 FR 
66920) on November 28, 2003. That rule proposes a prospective payment 
system for Medicare payment of inpatient hospital services furnished in 
psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units of acute care hospitals. 
The prospective payment system described in the proposed rule would 
replace the current reasonable cost-based payment system under the Tax 
Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1992 (TEFRA). The comment 
period that would have closed on January 27, 2004 is extended 30 days.

DATES: The comment period is extended to 5 p.m. on February 26, 2004.

[[Page 4465]]


ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-1213-P. Because 
of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by 
facsimile (FAX) transmission. Mail written comments (one original and 
two copies) to the following address ONLY: Centers for Medicare & 
Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: 
CMS-1213-P, P.O. Box 8012, Baltimore, MD 21244-8012.
    Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received 
timely in the event of delivery delays.
    If you prefer, you may deliver (by hand or courier) your written 
comments (one original and two copies) to one of the following 
addresses:

Room 445-G, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20201, or

Room C5-14-03, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

    (Because access to the interior of the HHH Building is not readily 
available to persons without Federal Government identification, 
commenters are encouraged to leave their comments in the CMS drop slots 
located in the main lobby of the building. A stamp-in clock is 
available for persons wishing to retain a proof of filing by stamping 
in and retaining an extra copy of the comments being filed.) Comments 
mailed to the addresses indicated as appropriate for hand or courier 
delivery may be delayed and could be considered late.
    For information on viewing public comments, see the beginning of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Samen, (410) 786-4533.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Inspection of Public Comments: Comments received timely will be 
available for public inspection as they are received, generally 
beginning approximately 4 weeks after publication of a document, at the 
headquarters of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 
Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244, Monday through Friday of 
each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view 
public comments, phone (410) 786-9994.
    Copies: To order copies of the Federal Register containing this 
document, send your request to: New Orders, Superintendent of 
Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Specify the date 
of the issue requested and enclose a check or money order payable to 
the Superintendent of Documents, or enclose your Visa or Master Card 
number and expiration date. Credit card orders can also be placed by 
calling the order desk at (202) 512-1800 (or toll-free at 1-888-293-
6498) or by faxing to (202) 512-2250. The cost for each copy is $10. As 
an alternative, you can view and photocopy the Federal Register 
document at most libraries designated as Federal Depository Libraries 
and at many other public and academic libraries throughout the country 
that receive the Federal Register.
    This Federal Register document is also available from the Federal 
Register online database through GPO Access, a service of the U.S. 
Government Printing Office. The Web site address is: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.
    On November 28, 2003, we issued a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 66920) proposing a prospective payment system for 
psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. The proposed rule would 
implement section 124 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Balanced 
Budget Refinement Act of 1999 (BBRA), which requires the implementation 
of a per diem prospective payment system for inpatient hospital 
services of psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units. The proposed 
prospective payment system would replace the reasonable cost-based 
payment system currently in effect. We announced that the public 
comment period for the proposed rule would close at 5 p.m. on January 
27, 2004.
    The proposed rule, ``Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System 
for Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities,'' is unique in that it proposes, 
for the first time, a completely new payment system for the inpatient 
hospital services of psychiatric hospitals and psychiatric units of 
acute care hospitals. Due to the complexity and scope of this proposed 
rule and because many people have requested additional time to examine 
the proposed rule so that they may provide meaningful comments on its 
provisions, we have decided to extend the comment period for an 
additional 30 days. This document announces the extension of the public 
comment period to February 26, 2004.

    Authority: Secs. 1102 and 1871 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1302 and 1395hh).

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

    Dated: January 23, 2004.
Dennis G. Smith,
Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
    Approved: January 26, 2004.
Tommy G. Thompson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-1945 Filed 1-27-04; 11:10 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P