[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 250 (Thursday, December 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78445-78464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28157]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

[CMS-1249-CN2]
RIN 0938-AM46


Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated 
Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Corrections

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

ACTION: Correction notice.

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

SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the 
July 30, 2004 Federal Register, entitled ``Medicare Program; 
Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing 
Facilities--Update--Notice.''

EFFECTIVE DATE: This correction is effective October 1, 2004, except 
for certain wage index corrections that are effective January 1, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Kranacs, (410) 786-9385, Bill 
Ullman, (410) 786-5667, or Sheila Lambowitz, (410) 786-7605.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 7, 2004, we published a correction notice (FR Doc. 04-
22399, 69 FR 60158) to correct a number of technical errors that had 
appeared in the FY 2005 SNF PPS update notice published on July 30, 
2004 (FR Doc. 04-17443, 69 FR 45775). In that notice we indicated that 
the corrected wage tables and other tables were being posted on the CMS 
Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/snfpps, and we also 
expressed our intent to publish them in a forthcoming Federal Register 
notice. In this notice we are fulfilling that intent, as well as 
correcting certain additional technical errors in wage index values 
that have been recently identified. The corrections appear in this 
document under the heading ``Correction of Errors.'' The provisions in 
this correction notice are effective as if they had been included in 
the document published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2004, that 
is, as of October 1, 2004, except for those wage index value 
corrections that we specifically note to be effective as of January 1, 
2005.
    In this notice, we hereby set forth the corrected versions of 
Tables 8, 9, 10, and 12 that were referenced in FR Doc. 04-22399 (69 FR 
60158).
    In addition, Table 8 is further revised to reflect the following 
additional corrections, which become effective as of January 1, 2005:
    1. The entry of ``0.7959'' for Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) 
3960 (Lake Charles, LA) is revised by adding ``(0.7972, effective 
January 1, 2005)''.
    2. The entry of ``0.8053'' for MSA 4280 (Lexington, KY) is revised 
by adding ``(0.9219, effective January 1, 2005)''.
    3. The entry of ``1.0025'' for MSA 5000 (Miami, FL) is revised by 
adding ``(0.9870, effective January 1, 2005)''.
    4. The entry of ``1.2921'' for MSA 5380 (Nassau-Suffolk, NY) is 
revised by adding ``(1.2907, effective January 1, 2005)''.
    5. The entry of ``1.3587'' for MSA 5600 (New York, NY) is revised 
by adding ``(1.3586, effective January 1, 2005)''.
    6. The entry of ``1.0975'' for MSA 6780 (Riverside-San Bernardino, 
CA) is revised by adding ``(1.0970, effective January 1, 2005)''.
    7. The entry of ``0.9964'' for MSA 8780 (Visalia-Tulare-
Porterville, CA) is revised by adding ``(0.9975, effective January 1, 
2005)''.
    8. The entry of ``1.0059'' for MSA 8960 (West Palm Beach-Boca 
Raton, FL) is revised by adding ``(1.0362, effective January 1, 
2005)''.
    9. The entry of ``0.9472'' for MSA 9040 (Wichita, KS) is revised by 
adding ``(0.9468, effective January 1, 2005)''.

II. Correction of Errors

    In FR Doc. 04-17443 (69 FR 45775), make the following corrections:
    1. On pages 45787 through 45814, in Table 8--Wage Index for Rural 
Areas the table is corrected to read as follows:

[[Page 78446]]



                                      Table 8.--Wage Index for Urban Areas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Urban area (constituent counties
                   MSA                           or county equivalents)                   Wage index
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0040.....................................  Abilene, TX......................  0.8009
                                           Taylor, TX
0060.....................................  Aguadilla, PR....................  0.4294
                                           Aguada, PR
                                           Aguadilla, PR
                                           Moca, PR
0080.....................................  Akron, OH........................  0.9055
                                           Portage, OH
                                           Summit, OH
0120.....................................  Albany, GA.......................  1.1266
                                           Dougherty, GA
                                           Lee, GA
0160.....................................  Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY......  0.8570
                                           Albany, NY
                                           Montgomery, NY
                                           Rensselaer, NY
                                           Saratoga, NY
                                           Schenectady, NY
                                           Schoharie, NY
0200.....................................  Albuquerque, NM..................  1.0485
                                           Bernalillo, NM
                                           Sandoval, NM
                                           Valencia, NM
0220.....................................  Alexandria, LA...................  0.8171
                                           Rapides, LA
0240.....................................  Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA...  0.9536
                                           Carbon, PA
                                           Lehigh, PA
                                           Northampton, PA
0280.....................................  Altoona, PA......................  0.8462
                                           Blair, PA
0320.....................................  Amarillo, TX.....................  0.9178
                                           Potter, TX
                                           Randall, TX
0380.....................................  Anchorage, AK....................  1.2109
                                           Anchorage, AK
0440.....................................  Ann Arbor, MI....................  1.0816
                                           Lenawee, MI
                                           Livingston, MI
                                           Washtenaw, MI
0450.....................................  Anniston,AL......................  0.7881
                                           Calhoun, AL
0460.....................................  Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI......  0.9115
                                           Calumet, WI
                                           Outagamie, WI
                                           Winnebago, WI
0470.....................................  Arecibo, PR......................  0.3757
                                           Arecibo, PR
                                           Camuy, PR
                                           Hatillo, PR
0480.....................................  Asheville, NC....................  0.9501
                                           Buncombe, NC
                                           Madison, NC
0500.....................................  Athens, GA.......................  1.0202
                                           Clarke, GA
                                           Madison, GA
                                           Oconee, GA
0520.....................................  Atlanta, GA......................  0.9971
                                           Barrow, GA
                                           Bartow, GA
                                           Carroll, GA
                                           Cherokee, GA
                                           Clayton, GA
                                           Cobb, GA
                                           Coweta, GA
                                           De Kalb, GA
                                           Douglas, GA
                                           Fayette, GA
                                           Forsyth, GA
                                           Fulton, GA
                                           Gwinnett, GA
                                           Henry, GA

[[Page 78447]]

 
                                           Newton, GA
                                           Paulding, GA
                                           Pickens, GA
                                           Rockdale, GA
                                           Spalding, GA
                                           Walton, GA
0560.....................................  Atlantic City-Cape May, NJ.......  1.0907
                                           Atlantic City, NJ
                                           Cape May, NJ
0580.....................................  Auburn-Opelika, AL...............  0.8215
                                           Lee, AL
0600.....................................  Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC.............  0.9208
                                           Columbia, GA
                                           McDuffie, GA
                                           Richmond, GA
                                           Aiken, SC
                                           Edgefield, SC
0640.....................................  Austin-San Marcos, TX............  0.9595
                                           Bastrop, TX
                                           Caldwell, TX
                                           Hays, TX
                                           Travis, TX
                                           Williamson, TX
0680.....................................  Bakersfield, CA..................  1.0036
                                           Kern, CA
0720.....................................  Baltimore, MD....................  0.9907
                                           Anne Arundel, MD
                                           Baltimore, MD
                                           Baltimore City, MD
                                           Carroll, MD
                                           Harford, MD
                                           Howard, MD
                                           Queen Annes, MD
0733.....................................  Bangor, ME.......................  0.9955
                                           Penobscot, ME
0743.....................................  Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA..........  1.2335
                                           Barnstable, MA
0760.....................................  Baton Rouge, LA..................  0.8354
                                           Ascension, LA
                                           East Baton Rouge
                                           Livingston, LA
                                           West Baton Rouge, LA
0840.....................................  Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX.........  0.8616
                                           Hardin, TX
                                           Jefferson, TX
                                           Orange, TX
0860.....................................  Bellingham, WA...................  1.1642
                                           Whatcom, WA
0870.....................................  Benton Harbor, MI................  0.8847
                                           Berrien, MI
0875.....................................  Bergen-Passaic, NJ...............  1.1967
                                           Bergen, NJ
                                           Passaic, NJ
0880.....................................  Billings, MT.....................  0.8961
                                           Yellowstone, MT
0920.....................................  Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS...  0.8649
                                           Hancock, MS
                                           Harrison, MS
                                           Jackson, MS
0960.....................................  Binghamton, NY...................  0.8447
                                           Broome, NY
                                           Tioga, NY
1000.....................................  Birmingham, AL...................  0.9198
                                           Blount, AL
                                           Jefferson, AL
                                           St. Clair, AL
                                           Shelby, AL
1010.....................................  Bismarck, ND.....................  0.7505
                                           Burleigh, ND
                                           Morton, ND
1020.....................................  Bloomington, IN..................  0.8587
                                           Monroe, IN

[[Page 78448]]

 
1040.....................................  Bloomington-Normal, IL...........  0.9111
                                           McLean, IL
1080.....................................  Boise City, ID...................  0.9352
                                           Ada, ID
                                           Canyon, ID
1123.....................................  Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell-  1.1290
                                            Brockton, MA-NH.
                                           Bristol, MA
                                           Essex, MA
                                           Middlesex, MA
                                           Norfolk, MA
                                           Plymouth, MA
                                           Suffolk, MA
                                           Worcester, MA
                                           Hillsborough, NH
                                           Merrimack, NH
                                           Rockingham, NH
                                           Strafford, NH
1125.....................................  Boulder-Longmont, CO.............  1.0046
                                           Boulder, CO
1145.....................................  Brazoria, TX.....................  0.8524
                                           Brazoria, TX
1150.....................................  Bremerton, WA....................  1.0614
                                           Kitsap, WA
1240.....................................  Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito,  1.0125
                                            TX.
                                           Cameron, TX
1260.....................................  Bryan-College Station, TX........  0.9243
                                           Brazos, TX
1280.....................................  Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY........  0.9339
                                           Erie, NY
                                           Niagara, NY
1303.....................................  Burlington, VT...................  0.9322
                                           Chittenden, VT
                                           Franklin, VT
                                           Grand Isle, VT
1310.....................................  Caguas, PR.......................  0.4061
                                           Caguas, PR
                                           Cayey, PR
                                           Cidra, PR
                                           Gurabo, PR
                                           San Lorenzo, PR
1320.....................................  Canton-Massillon, OH.............  0.8895
                                           Carroll, OH
                                           Stark, OH
1350.....................................  Casper, WY.......................  0.9243
                                           Natrona, WY
1360.....................................  Cedar Rapids, IA.................  0.8975
                                           Linn, IA
1400.....................................  Champaign-Urbana, IL.............  0.9527
                                           Champaign, IL
1440.....................................  Charleston-North Charleston, SC..  0.9420
                                           Berkeley, SC
                                           Charleston, SC
                                           Dorchester, SC
1480.....................................  Charleston, WV...................  0.8876
                                           Kanawha, WV
                                           Putnam, WV
1520.....................................  Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-  0.9711
                                            SC.
                                           Cabarrus, NC
                                           Gaston, NC
                                           Lincoln, NC
                                           Mecklenburg, NC
                                           Rowan, NC
                                           Union, NC
                                           York, SC
1540.....................................  Charlottesville, VA..............  1.0294
                                           Albemarle, VA
                                           Charlottesville City, VA
                                           Fluvanna, VA
                                           Greene, VA
1560.....................................  Chattanooga, TN-GA...............  0.9207
                                           Catoosa, GA
                                           Dade, GA

[[Page 78449]]

 
                                           Walker, GA
                                           Hamilton, TN
                                           Marion, TN
1580.....................................  Cheyenne, WY.....................  0.8980
                                           Laramie, WY
1600.....................................  Chicago, IL......................  1.0851
                                           Cook, IL
                                           De Kalb, IL
                                           Du Page, IL
                                           Grundy, IL
                                           Kane, IL
                                           Kendall, IL
                                           Lake, IL
                                           McHenry, IL
                                           Will, IL
1620.....................................  Chico-Paradise, CA...............  1.0542
                                           Butte, CA
1640.....................................  Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN.............  0.9595
                                           Dearborn, IN
                                           Ohio, IN
                                           Boone, KY
                                           Campbell, KY
                                           Gallatin, KY
                                           Grant, KY
                                           Kenton, KY
                                           Pendleton, KY
                                           Brown, OH
                                           Clermont, OH
                                           Hamilton, OH
                                           Warren, OH
1660.....................................  Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY..  0.8022
                                           Christian, KY
                                           Montgomery, TN
1680.....................................  Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH......  0.9626
                                           Ashtabula, OH
                                           Geauga, OH
                                           Cuyahoga, OH
                                           Lake, OH
                                           Lorain, OH
                                           Medina, OH
1720.....................................  Colorado Springs, CO.............  0.9792
                                           El Paso, CO
1740.....................................  Columbia MO......................  0.8396
                                           Boone, MO
1760.....................................  Columbia, SC.....................  0.9450
                                           Lexington, SC
                                           Richland, SC
1800.....................................  Columbus, GA-AL..................  0.8690
                                           Russell,AL
                                           Chattanoochee, GA
                                           Harris, GA
                                           Muscogee, GA
1840.....................................  Columbus, OH.....................  0.9753
                                           Delaware, OH
                                           Fairfield, OH
                                           Franklin, OH
                                           Licking, OH
                                           Madison, OH
                                           Pickaway, OH
1880.....................................  Corpus Christi, TX...............  0.8647
                                           Nueces, TX
                                           San Patricio, TX
1890.....................................  Corvallis, OR....................  1.0545
                                           Benton, OR
1900.....................................  Cumberland, MD-WV................  0.8662
                                           Allegany MD
                                           Mineral WV
1920.....................................  Dallas, TX.......................  1.0054
                                           Collin, TX
                                           Dallas, TX
                                           Denton, TX
                                           Ellis, TX

[[Page 78450]]

 
                                           Henderson, TX
                                           Hunt, TX
                                           Kaufman, TX
                                           Rockwall, TX
1950.....................................  Danville, VA.....................  0.8643
                                           Danville City, VA
                                           Pittsylvania, VA
1960.....................................  Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-  0.8773
                                            IL.
                                           Scott, IA
                                           Henry, IL
                                           Rock Island, IL
2000.....................................  Dayton-Springfield, OH...........  0.9231
                                           Clark, OH
                                           Greene, OH
                                           Miami, OH
                                           Montgomery, OH
2020.....................................  Daytona Beach, FL................  0.8900
                                           Flagler, FL
                                           Volusia, FL
2030.....................................  Decatur, AL......................  0.8894
                                           Lawrence, AL
                                           Morgan, AL
2040.....................................  Decatur, IL......................  0.8122
                                           Macon, IL
2080.....................................  Denver, CO.......................  1.0904
                                           Adams, CO
                                           Arapahoe, CO
                                           Broomfield, CO
                                           Denver, CO
                                           Douglas, CO
                                           Jefferson, CO
2120.....................................  Des Moines, IA...................  0.9266
                                           Dallas, IA
                                           Polk, IA
                                           Warren, IA
2160.....................................  Detroit, MI......................  1.0227
                                           Lapeer, MI
                                           Macomb, MI
                                           Monroe, MI
                                           Oakland, MI
                                           St. Clair, MI
                                           Wayne, MI
2180.....................................  Dothan, AL.......................  0.7596
                                           Dale, AL
                                           Houston, AL
2190.....................................  Dover, DE........................  0.9825
                                           Kent, DE
2200.....................................  Dubuque, IA......................  0.8748
                                           Dubuque, IA
2240.....................................  Duluth-Superior, MN-WI...........  1.0356
                                           St. Louis, MN
                                           Douglas, WI
2281.....................................  Dutchess County, NY..............  1.1657
                                           Dutchess, NY
2290.....................................  Eau Claire, WI...................  0.9139
                                           Chippewa, WI
                                           Eau Claire, WI
2320.....................................  El Paso, TX......................  0.9181
                                           El Paso, TX
2330.....................................  Elkhart-Goshen, IN...............  0.9278
                                           Elkhart, IN
2335.....................................  Elmira, NY.......................  0.8445
                                           Chemung, NY
2340.....................................  Enid, OK.........................  0.9001
                                           Garfield, OK
2360.....................................  Erie, PA.........................  0.8699
                                           Erie, PA
2400.....................................  Eugene-Springfield, OR...........  1.0940
                                           Lane, OR
2440.....................................  Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY......  0.8395
                                           Posey, IN
                                           Vanderburgh, IN

[[Page 78451]]

 
                                           Warrick, IN
                                           Henderson, KY
2520.....................................  Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN............  0.9114
                                           Clay, MN
                                           Cass, ND
2560.....................................  Fayetteville, NC.................  0.9363
                                           Cumberland, NC
2580.....................................  Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers,    0.8636
                                            AR.
                                           Benton, AR
                                           Washington, AR
2620.....................................  Flagstaff, AZ-UT.................  1.0611
                                           Coconino, AZ
                                           Kane, UT
2640.....................................  Flint, MI........................  1.1178
                                           Genesee, MI
2650.....................................  Florence, AL.....................  0.7883
                                           Colbert, AL
                                           Lauderdale, AL
2655.....................................  Florence, SC.....................  0.8960
                                           Florence, SC
2670.....................................  Fort Collins-Loveland, CO........  1.0218
                                           Larimer, CO
2680.....................................  Ft. Lauderdale, FL...............  1.0165
                                           Broward, FL
2700.....................................  Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL........  0.9371
                                           Lee, FL
2710.....................................  Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL...  1.0046
                                           Martin, FL
                                           St. Lucie, FL
2720.....................................  Fort Smith, AR-OK................  0.8303
                                           Crawford, AR
                                           Sebastian, AR
                                           Sequoyah, OK
2750.....................................  Fort Walton Beach, FL............  0.8786
                                           Okaloosa, FL
2760.....................................  Fort Wayne, IN...................  0.9737
                                           Adams, IN
                                           Allen, IN
                                           De Kalb, IN
                                           Huntington, IN
                                           Wells, IN
                                           Whitley, IN
2800.....................................  Forth Worth-Arlington, TX........  0.9520
                                           Hood, TX
                                           Johnson, TX
                                           Parker, TX
                                           Tarrant, TX
2840.....................................  Fresno, CA.......................  1.0407
                                           Fresno, CA
                                           Madera, CA
2880.....................................  Gadsden, AL......................  0.8049
                                           Etowah, AL
2900.....................................  Gainesville, FL..................  0.9459
                                           Alachua, FL
2920.....................................  Galveston-Texas City, TX.........  0.9403
                                           Galveston, TX
2960.....................................  Gary, IN.........................  0.9342
                                           Lake, IN
                                           Porter, IN
2975.....................................  Glens Falls, NY..................  0.8467
                                           Warren, NY
                                           Washington, NY
2980.....................................  Goldsboro, NC....................  0.8778
                                           Wayne, NC
2985.....................................  Grand Forks, ND-MN...............  0.9091
                                           Polk, MN
                                           Grand Forks, ND
2995.....................................  Grand Junction, CO...............  0.9900
                                           Mesa, CO
3000.....................................  Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI  0.9519
                                           Allegan, MI
                                           Kent, MI

[[Page 78452]]

 
                                           Muskegon, MI
                                           Ottawa, MI
3040.....................................  Great Falls, MT..................  0.8810
                                           Cascade, MT
3060.....................................  Greeley, CO......................  0.9444
                                           Weld, CO
3080.....................................  Green Bay, WI....................  0.9586
                                           Brown, WI
3120.....................................  Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High      0.9312
                                            Point, NC.
                                           Alamance, NC
                                           Davidson, NC
                                           Davie, NC
                                           Forsyth, NC
                                           Guilford, NC
                                           Randolph, NC
                                           Stokes, NC
                                           Yadkin, NC
3150.....................................  Greenville, NC...................  0.9183
                                           Pitt, NC
3160.....................................  Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson,   0.9400
                                            SC.
                                           Anderson, SC
                                           Cherokee, SC
                                           Greenville, SC
                                           Pickens, SC
                                           Spartanburg, SC
3180.....................................  Hagerstown, MD...................  0.9940
                                           Washington, MD
3200.....................................  Hamilton-Middletown, OH..........  0.9066
                                           Butler, OH
3240.....................................  Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA..  0.9286
                                           Cumberland, PA
                                           Dauphin, PA
                                           Lebanon, PA
                                           Perry, PA
3283.....................................  Hartford, CT.....................  1.1054
                                           Hartford, CT
                                           Litchfield, CT
                                           Middlesex, CT
                                           Tolland, CT
3285.....................................  Hattiesburg, MS..................  0.7362
                                           Forrest, MS
                                           Lamar, MS
3290.....................................  Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC.....  0.9502
                                           Alexander, NC
                                           Burke, NC
                                           Caldwell, NC
                                           Catawba, NC
3320.....................................  Honolulu, HI.....................  1.1013
                                           Honolulu, HI
3350.....................................  Houma, LA........................  0.7721
                                           Lafourche, LA
                                           Terrebonne, LA
3360.....................................  Houston, TX......................  1.0117
                                           Chambers, TX
                                           Fort Bend, TX
                                           Harris, TX
                                           Liberty, TX
                                           Montgomery, TX
                                           Waller, TX
3400.....................................  Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH.....  0.9564
                                           Boyd, KY
                                           Carter, KY
                                           Greenup, KY
                                           Lawrence, OH
                                           Cabell, WV
                                           Wayne, WV
3440.....................................  Huntsville, AL...................  0.8851
                                           Limestone, AL
                                           Madison, AL
3480.....................................  Indianapolis, IN.................  1.0039
                                           Boone, IN
                                           Hamilton, IN

[[Page 78453]]

 
                                           Hancock, IN
                                           Hendricks, IN
                                           Johnson, IN
                                           Madison, IN
                                           Marion, IN
                                           Morgan, IN
                                           Shelby, IN
3500.....................................  Iowa City, IA....................  0.9654
                                           Johnson, IA
3520.....................................  Jackson, MI......................  0.9146
                                           Jackson, MI
3560.....................................  Jackson, MS......................  0.8406
                                           Hinds, MS
                                           Madison, MS
                                           Rankin, MS
3580.....................................  Jackson, TN......................  0.8900
                                           Chester, TN
                                           Madison, TN
3600.....................................  Jacksonville, FL.................  0.9548
                                           Clay, FL
                                           Duval, FL
                                           Nassau, FL
                                           St. Johns, FL
3605.....................................  Jacksonville, NC.................  0.8401
                                           Onslow, NC
3610.....................................  Jamestown, NY....................  0.7589
                                           Chautaqua, NY
3620.....................................  Janesville-Beloit, WI............  0.9583
                                           Rock, WI
3640.....................................  Jersey City, NJ..................  1.0923
                                           Hudson, NJ
3660.....................................  Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol,    0.8202
                                            TN-VA.
                                           Carter, TN
                                           Hawkins, TN
                                           Sullivan, TN
                                           Unicoi, TN
                                           Washington, TN
                                           Bristol City, VA
                                           Scott, VA
                                           Washington, VA
3680.....................................  Johnstown, PA....................  0.7980
                                           Cambria, PA
                                           Somerset, PA
3700.....................................  Jonesboro, AR....................  0.8144
                                           Craighead, AR
3710.....................................  Joplin, MO.......................  0.8721
                                           Jasper, MO
                                           Newton, MO
3720.....................................  Kalamazoo-Battlecreek, MI........  1.0350
                                           Calhoun, MI
                                           Kalamazoo, MI
                                           Van Buren, MI
3740.....................................  Kankakee, IL.....................  1.0603
                                           Kankakee, IL
3760.....................................  Kansas City, KS-MO...............  0.9641
                                           Johnson, KS
                                           Leavenworth, KS
                                           Miami, KS
                                           Wyandotte, KS
                                           Cass, MO
                                           Clay, MO
                                           Clinton, MO
                                           Jackson, MO
                                           Lafayette, MO
                                           Platte, MO
                                           Ray, MO
3800.....................................  Kenosha, WI......................  0.9772
                                           Kenosha, WI
3810.....................................  Killeen-Temple, TX...............  0.9242
                                           Bell, TX
                                           Coryell, TX
3840.....................................  Knoxville, TN....................  0.8508

[[Page 78454]]

 
                                           Anderson, TN
                                           Blount, TN
                                           Knox, TN
                                           Loudon, TN
                                           Sevier, TN
                                           Union, TN
3850.....................................  Kokomo, IN.......................  0.8986
                                           Howard, IN
                                           Tipton, IN
3870.....................................  La Crosse, WI-MN.................  0.9289
                                           Houston, MN
                                           La Crosse, WI
3880.....................................  Lafayette, LA....................  0.8105
                                           Acadia, LA
                                           Lafayette, LA
                                           St. Landry, LA
                                           St. Martin, LA
3920.....................................  Lafayette, IN....................  0.9067
                                           Clinton, IN
                                           Tippecanoe, IN
3960.....................................  Lake Charles, LA.................  0.7959 (0.7972**)
                                           Calcasieu, LA
3980.....................................  Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL........  0.8930
                                           Polk, FL
4000.....................................  Lancaster, PA....................  0.9883
                                           Lancaster, PA
4040.....................................  Lansing-East Lansing, MI.........  0.9658
                                           Clinton, MI
                                           Eaton, MI
                                           Ingham, MI
4080.....................................  Laredo, TX.......................  0.8747
                                           Webb, TX
4100.....................................  Las Cruces, NM...................  0.8784
                                           Dona Ana, NM
4120.....................................  Las Vegas, NV-AZ.................  1.1121
                                           Mohave, AZ
                                           Clark, NV
                                           Nye, NV
4150.....................................  Lawrence, KS.....................  0.8644
                                           Douglas, KS
4200.....................................  Lawton, OK.......................  0.8212
                                           Comanche, OK
4243.....................................  Lewiston-Auburn, ME..............  0.9562
                                           Androscoggin, ME
4280.....................................  Lexington, KY....................  0.8053 (0.9219**)
                                           Bourbon, KY
                                           Clark, KY
                                           Fayette, KY
                                           Jessamine, KY
                                           Madison, KY
                                           Scott, KY
                                           Woodford, KY
4320.....................................  Lima, OH.........................  0.9258
                                           Allen, OH
                                           Auglaize, OH
4360.....................................  Lincoln, NE......................  1.0208
                                           Lancaster, NE
4400.....................................  Little Rock-North Little, AR.....  0.8826
                                           Faulkner, AR
                                           Lonoke, AR
                                           Pulaski, AR
                                           Saline, AR
4420.....................................  Longview-Marshall, TX............  0.8739
                                           Gregg, TX
                                           Harrison, TX
                                           Upshur, TX
4480.....................................  Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.......  1.1732
                                           Los Angeles, CA
4520.....................................  Louisville, KY-IN................  0.9162
                                           Clark, IN
                                           Floyd, IN
                                           Harrison, IN

[[Page 78455]]

 
                                           Scott, IN
                                           Bullitt, KY
                                           Jefferson, KY
                                           Oldham, KY
4600.....................................  Lubbock, TX......................  0.8777
                                           Lubbock, TX
4640.....................................  Lynchburg, VA....................  0.9017
                                           Amherst, VA
                                           Bedford City, VA
                                           Bedford, VA
                                           Campbell, VA
                                           Lynchburg City, VA
4680.....................................  Macon, GA........................  0.9596
                                           Bibb, GA
                                           Houston, GA
                                           Jones, GA
                                           Peach, GA
                                           Twiggs, GA
4720.....................................  Madison, WI......................  1.0395
                                           Dane, WI
4800.....................................  Mansfield, OH....................  0.9105
                                           Crawford, OH
                                           Richland, OH
4840.....................................  Mayaguez, PR.....................  0.4769
                                           Anasco, PR
                                           Cabo Rojo, PR
                                           Hormigueros, PR
                                           Mayaguez, PR
                                           Sabana Grande, PR
                                           San German, PR
4880.....................................  McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX.....  0.8602
                                           Hidalgo, TX
4890.....................................  Medford-Ashland, OR..............  1.0534
                                           Jackson, OR
4900.....................................  Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL  0.9633
                                           Brevard, FL
4920.....................................  Memphis, TN-AR-MS................  0.9234
                                           Crittenden, AR
                                           De Soto, MS
                                           Fayette, TN
                                           Shelby, TN
                                           Tipton, TN
4940.....................................  Merced, CA.......................  1.0575
                                           Merced, CA
5000.....................................  Miami, FL........................  1.0025 (0.9870**)
                                           Dade, FL
5015.....................................  Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ.  1.1360
                                           Hunterdon, NJ
                                           Middlesex, NJ
                                           Somerset, NJ
5080.....................................  Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI...........  1.0076
                                           Milwaukee, WI
                                           Ozaukee, WI
                                           Washington, WI
                                           Waukesha, WI
5120.....................................  Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI......  1.1066
                                           Anoka, MN
                                           Carver, MN
                                           Chisago, MN
                                           Dakota, MN
                                           Hennepin, MN
                                           Isanti, MN
                                           Ramsey, MN
                                           Scott, MN
                                           Sherburne, MN
                                           Washington, MN
                                           Wright, MN
                                           Pierce, WI
                                           St. Croix, WI
5140.....................................  Missoula, MT.....................  0.9618
                                           Missoula, MT
5160.....................................  Mobile, AL.......................  0.7932

[[Page 78456]]

 
                                           Baldwin, AL
                                           Mobile, AL
5170.....................................  Modesto, CA......................  1.1966
                                           Stanislaus, CA
5190.....................................  Monmouth-Ocean, NJ...............  1.0888
                                           Monmouth, NJ
                                           Ocean, NJ
5200.....................................  Monroe, LA.......................  0.7913
                                           Ouachita, LA
5240.....................................  Montgomery, AL...................  0.8300
                                           Autauga, AL
                                           Elmore, AL
                                           Montgomery, AL
5280.....................................  Muncie, IN.......................  0.8580
                                           Delaware, IN
5330.....................................  Myrtle Beach, SC.................  0.9022
                                           Horry, SC
5345.....................................  Naples, FL.......................  1.0558
                                           Collier, FL
5360.....................................  Nashville, TN....................  1.0108
                                           Cheatham, TN
                                           Davidson, TN
                                           Dickson, TN
                                           Robertson, TN
                                           Rutherford, TN
                                           Sumner, TN
                                           Williamson, TN
                                           Wilson, TN
5380.....................................  Nassau-Suffolk, NY...............  1.2921 (1.2907**)
                                           Nassau, NY
                                           Suffolk, NY
5483.....................................  New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford-     1.2254
                                            Waterbury-Danbury, CT.
                                           Fairfield, CT
                                           New Haven, CT
5523.....................................  New London-Norwich, CT...........  1.1596
                                           New London, CT
5560.....................................  New Orleans, LA..................  0.9103
                                           Jefferson, LA
                                           Orleans, LA
                                           Plaquemines, LA
                                           St. Bernard, LA
                                           St. Charles, LA
                                           St. James, LA
                                           St. John The Baptist, LA
                                           St. Tammany, LA
5600.....................................  New York, NY.....................  1.3587 (1.3586**)
                                           Bronx, NY
                                           Kings, NY
                                           New York, NY
                                           Putnam, NY
                                           Queens, NY
                                           Richmond, NY
                                           Rockland, NY
                                           Westchester, NY
5640.....................................  Newark, NJ.......................  1.1625
                                           Essex, NJ
                                           Morris, NJ
                                           Sussex, NJ
                                           Union, NJ
                                           Warren, NJ
5660.....................................  Newburgh, NY-PA..................  1.1170
                                           Orange, NY
                                           Pike, PA
5720.....................................  Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport     0.8894
                                            News, VA-NC.
                                           Currituck, NC
                                           Chesapeake City, VA
                                           Gloucester, VA
                                           Hampton City, VA
                                           Isle of Wight, VA
                                           James City, VA
                                           Mathews, VA
                                           Newport News City, VA

[[Page 78457]]

 
                                           Norfolk City, VA
                                           Poquoson City,VA
                                           Portsmouth City, VA
                                           Suffolk City, VA
                                           Virginia Beach City, VA
                                           Williamsburg City, VA
                                           York, VA
5775.....................................  Oakland, CA......................  1.5220
                                           Alameda, CA
                                           Contra Costa, CA
5790.....................................  Ocala, FL........................  0.9153
                                           Marion, FL
5800.....................................  Odessa-Midland, TX...............  0.9632
                                           Ector, TX
                                           Midland, TX
5880.....................................  Oklahoma City, OK................  0.8966
                                           Canadian, OK
                                           Cleveland, OK
                                           Logan, OK
                                           McClain, OK
                                           Oklahoma, OK
                                           Pottawatomie, OK
5910.....................................  Olympia, WA......................  1.1006
                                           Thurston, WA
5920.....................................  Omaha, NE-IA.....................  0.9754
                                           Pottawattamie, IA
                                           Cass, NE
                                           Douglas, NE
                                           Sarpy, NE
                                           Washington, NE
5945.....................................  Orange County, CA................  1.1611
                                           Orange, CA
5960.....................................  Orlando, FL......................  0.9742
                                           Lake, FL
                                           Orange, FL
                                           Osceola, FL
                                           Seminole, FL
5990.....................................  Owensboro, KY....................  0.8434
                                           Daviess, KY
6015.....................................  Panama City, FL..................  0.8124
                                           Bay, FL
6020.....................................  Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH......  0.8288
                                           Washington, OH
                                           Wood, WV
6080.....................................  Pensacola, FL....................  0.8306
                                           Escambia, FL
                                           Santa Rosa, FL
6120.....................................  Peoria-Pekin, IL.................  0.8886
                                           Peoria, IL
                                           Tazewell, IL
                                           Woodford, IL
6160.....................................  Philadelphia, PA-NJ..............  1.0824
                                           Burlington, NJ
                                           Camden, NJ
                                           Gloucester, NJ
                                           Salem, NJ
                                           Bucks, PA
                                           Chester, PA
                                           Delaware, PA
                                           Montgomery, PA
                                           Philadelphia, PA
6200.....................................  Phoenix-Mesa, AZ.................  0.9982
                                           Maricopa, AZ
                                           Pinal, AZ
6240.....................................  Pine Bluff, AR...................  0.8673
                                           Jefferson, AR
6280.....................................  Pittsburgh, PA...................  0.8756
                                           Allegheny, PA
                                           Beaver, PA
                                           Butler, PA
                                           Fayette, PA
                                           Washington, PA

[[Page 78458]]

 
                                           Westmoreland, PA
6323.....................................  Pittsfield, MA...................  1.0439
                                           Berkshire, MA
6340.....................................  Pocatello, ID....................  0.9601
                                           Bannock, ID
6360.....................................  Ponce, PR........................  0.4954
                                           Guayanilla, PR
                                           Juana Diaz, PR
                                           Penuelas, PR
                                           Ponce, PR
                                           Villalba, PR
                                           Yauco, PR
6403.....................................  Portland, ME.....................  1.0112
                                           Cumberland, ME
                                           Sagadahoc, ME
                                           York, ME
6440.....................................  Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA........  1.1403
                                           Clackamas, OR
                                           Columbia, OR
                                           Multnomah, OR
                                           Washington, OR
                                           Yamhill, OR
                                           Clark, WA
6483.....................................  Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI.  1.1061
                                           Bristol, RI
                                           Kent, RI
                                           Newport, RI
                                           Providence, RI
                                           Washington, RI
6520.....................................  Provo-Orem, UT...................  0.9613
                                           Utah, UT
6560.....................................  Pueblo, CO.......................  0.8752
                                           Pueblo, CO
6580.....................................  Punta Gorda, FL..................  0.9441
                                           Charlotte, FL
6600.....................................  Racine, WI.......................  0.9045
                                           Racine, WI
6640.....................................  Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC...  1.0258
                                           Chatham, NC
                                           Durham, NC
                                           Franklin, NC
                                           Johnston, NC
                                           Orange, NC
                                           Wake, NC
6660.....................................  Rapid City, SD...................  0.8912
                                           Pennington, SD
6680.....................................  Reading, PA......................  0.9215
                                           Berks, PA
6690.....................................  Redding, CA......................  1.1835
                                           Shasta, CA
6720.....................................  Reno, NV.........................  1.0456
                                           Washoe, NV
6740.....................................  Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA.....  1.0520
                                           Benton, WA
                                           Franklin, WA
6760.....................................  Richmond-Petersburg, VA..........  0.9397
                                           Charles City County, VA
                                           Chesterfield, VA
                                           Colonial Heights City, VA
                                           Dinwiddie, VA
                                           Goochland, VA
                                           Hanover, VA
                                           Henrico, VA
                                           Hopewell City, VA
                                           New Kent, VA
                                           Petersburg City, VA
                                           Powhatan, VA
                                           Prince George, VA
                                           Richmond City, VA
6780.....................................  Riverside-San Bernardino, CA.....  1.0975 (1.0970**)
                                           Riverside, CA
                                           San Bernardino, CA

[[Page 78459]]

 
6800.....................................  Roanoke, VA......................  0.8428
                                           Botetourt, VA
                                           Roanoke, VA
                                           Roanoke City, VA
                                           Salem City, VA
6820.....................................  Rochester, MN....................  1.1504
                                           Olmsted, MN
6840.....................................  Rochester, NY....................  0.9196
                                           Genesee, NY
                                           Livingston, NY
                                           Monroe, NY
                                           Ontario, NY
                                           Orleans, NY
                                           Wayne, NY
6880.....................................  Rockford, IL.....................  0.9626
                                           Boone, IL
                                           Ogle, IL
                                           Winnebago, IL
6895.....................................  Rocky Mount, NC..................  0.8998
                                           Edgecombe, NC
                                           Nash, NC
6920.....................................  Sacramento, CA...................  1.1848
                                           El Dorado, CA
                                           Placer, CA
                                           Sacramento, CA
6960.....................................  Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI.....  0.9696
                                           Bay, MI
                                           Midland, MI
                                           Saginaw, MI
6980.....................................  St. Cloud, MN....................  1.0215
                                           Benton, MN
                                           Stearns, MN
7000.....................................  St. Joseph, MO...................  1.0013
                                           Andrews, MO
                                           Buchanan, MO
7040.....................................  St. Louis, MO-IL.................  0.9081
                                           Clinton, IL
                                           Jersey, IL
                                           Madison, IL
                                           Monroe, IL
                                           St. Clair, IL
                                           Franklin, MO
                                           Jefferson, MO
                                           Lincoln, MO
                                           St. Charles, MO
                                           St. Louis, MO
                                           St. Louis City, MO
                                           Warren, MO
                                           Sullivan City, MO
7080.....................................  Salem, OR........................  1.0556
                                           Marion, OR
                                           Polk, OR
7120.....................................  Salinas, CA......................  1.3823
                                           Monterey, CA
7160.....................................  Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT.........  0.9487
                                           Davis, UT
                                           Salt Lake, UT
                                           Weber, UT
7200.....................................  San Angelo, TX...................  0.8167
                                           Tom Green, TX
7240.....................................  San Antonio, TX..................  0.9023
                                           Bexar, TX
                                           Comal, TX
                                           Guadalupe, TX
                                           Wilson, TX
7320.....................................  San Diego, CA....................  1.1267
                                           San Diego, CA
7360.....................................  San Francisco, CA................  1.4712
                                           Marin, CA
                                           San Francisco, CA
                                           San Mateo, CA
7400.....................................  San Jose, CA.....................  1.4744

[[Page 78460]]

 
                                           Santa Clara, CA
7440.....................................  San Juan-Bayamon, PR.............  0.4802
                                           Aguas Buenas, PR
                                           Barceloneta, PR
                                           Bayamon, PR
                                           Canovanas, PR
                                           Carolina, PR
                                           Catano, PR
                                           Ceiba, PR
                                           Comerio, PR
                                           Corozal, PR
                                           Dorado, PR
                                           Fajardo, PR
                                           Florida, PR
                                           Guaynabo, PR
                                           Humacao, PR
                                           Juncos, PR
                                           Los Piedras, PR
                                           Loiza, PR
                                           Luguillo, PR
                                           Manati, PR
                                           Morovis, PR
                                           Naguabo, PR
                                           Naranjito, PR
                                           Rio Grande, PR
                                           San Juan, PR
                                           Toa Alta, PR
                                           Toa Baja, PR
                                           Trujillo Alto, PR
                                           Vega Alta, PR
                                           Vega Baja, PR
                                           Yabucoa, PR
7460.....................................  San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso    1.1118
                                            Robles, CA.
                                           San Luis Obispo, CA
7480.....................................  Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc,  1.0771
                                            CA.
                                           Santa Barbara, CA
7485.....................................  Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA.......  1.4779
                                           Santa Cruz, CA
7490.....................................  Santa Fe, NM.....................  1.0590
                                           Los Alamos, NM
                                           Santa Fe, NM
7500.....................................  Santa Rosa, CA...................  1.2961
                                           Sonoma, CA
7510.....................................  Sarasota-Bradenton, FL...........  0.9629
                                           Manatee, FL
                                           Sarasota, FL
7520.....................................  Savannah, GA.....................  0.9460
                                           Bryan, GA
                                           Chatham, GA
                                           Effingham, GA
7560.....................................  Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton,  0.8522
                                            PA.
                                           Columbia, PA
                                           Lackawanna, PA
                                           Luzerne, PA
                                           Wyoming, PA
7600.....................................  Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA.....  1.1479
                                           Island, WA
                                           King, WA
                                           Snohomish, WA
7610.....................................  Sharon, PA.......................  0.7881
                                           Mercer, PA
7620.....................................  Sheboygan, WI....................  0.8948
                                           Sheboygan, WI
7640.....................................  Sherman-Denison, TX..............  0.9617
                                           Grayson, TX
7680.....................................  Shreveport-Bossier City, LA......  0.9111
                                           Bossier, LA
                                           Caddo, LA
                                           Webster, LA
7720.....................................  Sioux City, IA-NE................  0.9094
                                           Woodbury, IA
                                           Dakota, NE

[[Page 78461]]

 
7760.....................................  Sioux Falls, SD..................  0.9441
                                           Lincoln, SD
                                           Minnehaha, SD
7800.....................................  South Bend, IN...................  0.9447
                                           St. Joseph, IN
7840.....................................  Spokane, WA......................  1.0660
                                           Spokane, WA
7880.....................................  Springfield, IL..................  0.8738
                                           Menard, IL
                                           Sangamon, IL
7920.....................................  Springfield, MO..................  0.8597
                                           Christian, MO
                                           Greene, MO
                                           Webster, MO
8003.....................................  Springfield, MA..................  1.0173
                                           Hampden, MA
                                           Hampshire, MA
8050.....................................  State College, PA................  0.8461
                                           Centre, PA
8080.....................................  Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV......  0.8280
                                           Jefferson, OH
                                           Brooke, WV
                                           Hancock, WV
8120.....................................  Stockton-Lodi, CA................  1.0564
                                           San Joaquin, CA
8140.....................................  Sumter, SC.......................  0.8520
                                           Sumter, SC
8160.....................................  Syracuse, NY.....................  0.9394
                                           Cayuga, NY
                                           Madison, NY
                                           Onondaga, NY
                                           Oswego, NY
8200.....................................  Tacoma, WA.......................  1.1078
                                           Pierce, WA
8240.....................................  Tallahassee, FL..................  0.8655
                                           Gadsden, FL
                                           Leon, FL
8280.....................................  Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater,   0.9024
                                            FL.
                                           Hernando, FL
                                           Hillsborough, FL
                                           Pasco, FL
                                           Pinellas, FL
8320.....................................  Terre Haute, IN..................  0.8582
                                           Clay, IN
                                           Vermillion, IN
                                           Vigo, IN
8360.....................................  Texarkana, AR-Texarkana, TX......  0.8413
                                           Miller, AR
                                           Bowie, TX
8400.....................................  Toledo, OH.......................  0.9524
                                           Fulton, OH
                                           Lucas, OH
                                           Wood, OH
8440.....................................  Topeka, KS.......................  0.8904
                                           Shawnee, KS
8480.....................................  Trenton, NJ......................  1.0276
                                           Mercer, NJ
8520.....................................  Tucson, AZ.......................  0.8926
                                           Pima, AZ
8560.....................................  Tulsa, OK........................  0.8729
                                           Creek, OK
                                           Osage, OK
                                           Rogers, OK
                                           Tulsa, OK
                                           Wagoner, OK
8600.....................................  Tuscaloosa, AL...................  0.8440
                                           Tuscaloosa, AL
8640.....................................  Tyler, TX........................  0.9502
                                           Smith, TX
8680.....................................  Utica-Rome, NY...................  0.8295
                                           Herkimer, NY
                                           Oneida, NY

[[Page 78462]]

 
8720.....................................  Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA.......  1.3517
                                           Napa, CA
                                           Solano, CA
8735.....................................  Ventura, CA......................  1.1105
                                           Ventura, CA
8750.....................................  Victoria, TX.....................  0.8469
                                           Victoria, TX
8760.....................................  Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ.  1.0573
                                           Cumberland, NJ
8780.....................................  Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA...  0.9964 (0.9975**)
                                           Tulare, CA
8800.....................................  Waco, TX.........................  0.8146
                                           McLennan, TX
8840.....................................  Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV..........  1.0971
                                           District of Columbia, DC
                                           Calvert, MD
                                           Charles, MD
                                           Frederick, MD
                                           Montgomery, MD
                                           Prince Georges, MD
                                           Alexandria City, VA
                                           Arlington, VA
                                           Clarke, VA
                                           Culpepper, VA
                                           Fairfax, VA
                                           Fairfax City, VA
                                           Falls Church City, VA
                                           Fauquier, VA
                                           Fredericksburg City, VA
                                           King George, VA
                                           Loudoun, VA
                                           Manassas City, VA
                                           Manassas Park City, VA
                                           Prince William, VA
                                           Spotsylvania, VA
                                           Stafford, VA
                                           Warren, VA
                                           Berkeley, WV
                                           Jefferson, WV
8920.....................................  Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA.........  0.8633
                                           Black Hawk, IA
8940.....................................  Wausau, WI.......................  0.9570
                                           Marathon, WI
8960.....................................  West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL...  1.0059 (1.0362**)
                                           Palm Beach, FL
9000.....................................  Wheeling, OH-WV..................  0.7449
                                           Belmont, OH
                                           Marshall, WV
                                           Ohio, WV
9040.....................................  Wichita, KS......................  0.9472 (0.9468**)
                                           Butler, KS
                                           Harvey, KS
                                           Sedgwick, KS
9080.....................................  Wichita Falls, TX................  0.8395
                                           Archer, TX
                                           Wichita, TX
9140.....................................  Williamsport, PA.................  0.8485
                                           Lycoming, PA
9160.....................................  Wilmington-Newark, DE-MD.........  1.1121
                                           New Castle, DE
                                           Cecil, MD
9200.....................................  Wilmington, NC...................  0.9237
                                           New Hanover, NC
                                           Brunswick, NC
9260.....................................  Yakima, WA.......................  1.0322
                                           Yakima, WA
9270.....................................  Yolo, CA.........................  0.9378
                                           Yolo, CA
9280.....................................  York, PA.........................  0.9150
                                           York, PA
9320.....................................  Youngstown-Warren, OH............  0.9517
                                           Columbiana, OH

[[Page 78463]]

 
                                           Mahoning, OH
                                           Trumbull, OH
9340.....................................  Yuba City, CA....................  1.0363
                                           Sutter, CA
                                           Yuba, CA
9360.....................................  Yuma, AZ.........................  0.8871
                                           Yuma, AZ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Effective January 1, 2005

    2. On page 45815, Table 9 is revised to read as follows:

                  Table 9.--Wage Index for Rural Areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Wage
                         Nonurban area                            index
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................................................    0.7637
Alaska........................................................    1.1637
Arizona.......................................................    0.9140
Arkansas......................................................    0.7703
California....................................................    1.0297
Colorado......................................................    0.9368
Connecticut...................................................    1.1917
Delaware......................................................    0.9503
Florida.......................................................    0.8721
Georgia.......................................................    0.8247
Guam..........................................................    0.9611
Hawaii........................................................    1.0522
Idaho.........................................................    0.8826
Illinois......................................................    0.8340
Indiana.......................................................    0.8736
Iowa..........................................................    0.8550
Kansas........................................................    0.8087
Kentucky......................................................    0.7844
Louisiana.....................................................    0.7290
Maine.........................................................    0.9039
Maryland......................................................    0.9179
Massachusetts.................................................    1.0216
Michigan......................................................    0.8740
Minnesota.....................................................    0.9339
Mississippi...................................................    0.7583
Missouri......................................................    0.7829
Montana.......................................................    0.8701
Nebraska......................................................    0.9035
Nevada........................................................    0.9832
New Hampshire.................................................    0.9940
New Jersey \1\................................................  ........
New Mexico....................................................    0.8529
New York......................................................    0.8403
North Carolina................................................    0.8500
North Dakota..................................................    0.7743
Ohio..........................................................    0.8759
Oklahoma......................................................    0.7537
Oregon........................................................    1.0049
Pennsylvania..................................................    0.8348
Puerto Rico...................................................    0.4047
Rhode Island \1\..............................................  ........
South Carolina................................................    0.8640
South Dakota..................................................    0.8393
Tennessee.....................................................    0.7876
Texas.........................................................    0.7910
Utah..........................................................    0.8843
Vermont.......................................................    0.9375
Virginia......................................................    0.8479
Virgin Islands................................................    0.7456
Washington....................................................    1.0072
West Virginia.................................................    0.8083
Wisconsin.....................................................    0.9498
Wyoming.......................................................   0.9182
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All counties within the State are classified urban.

    3. On page 45817, Table 10 is revised to read as follows:

                                                    Table 10.--SNF XYZ: Located in State College, PA
                                                                  [Wage Index: 0.8461]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   Percent      Medicare
                RUG Group                     Labor      Wage index    Adj. labor     Non-labor     Adj. rate    adjustment       days         Payment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RVC.....................................       $274.56        0.8461       $232.31        $85.65       $317.96      *$339.26            14        $4,750
RHA.....................................       $212.18        0.8461       $179.53        $66.19       $245.72      *$262.18            16        $4,195
CC2.....................................       $175.71        0.8461       $148.67        $54.82       $203.49     **$463.96            10        $4,640
SSC.....................................       $176.74        0.8461       $149.54        $55.13       $204.67    ***$245.60            30        $7,368
IA2.....................................       $119.84        0.8461       $101.40        $37.39       $138.79       $138.79            30        $4,164
                                         ---------------
    Total...............................  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............  ............           100      $25,117
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Reflects a 6.7 percent adjustment from section 314 of the BIPA.
**Reflects a 128 percent adjustment from section 511 of the MMA. Section 101(a) of the BBRA no longer applies because of the MMA section 511 adjustment.
 
***Reflects a 20 percent adjustment from section 101(a) of the BBRA.

    4. On page 45821, Table 12 is revised to read as follows:

      Table 12.--Projected Impact of FY 2005 Update to the SNF PPS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Number of    Wage index    Total FY
                                    facilities     change    2005 change
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................       15,252         0.0%         2.8%
Urban............................       10,016         0.0%         2.8%
Rural............................        5,236         0.0%         2.8%
Hospital based urban.............          984         0.1%         2.9%

[[Page 78464]]

 
Freestanding urban...............        8,466         0.0%         2.8%
Hospital based rural.............          640         0.1%         2.9%
Freestanding rural...............        3,708         0.0%         2.8%
Urban by region:
    New England..................          913        -0.6%         2.2%
    Middle Atlantic..............        1,526        -0.7%         2.1%
    South Atlantic...............        1,610         0.3%         3.1%
    East North Central...........        1,943         0.2%         3.0%
    East South Central...........          456         0.0%         2.8%
    West North Central...........          691         0.4%         3.2%
    West South Central...........          965         0.8%         3.6%
    Mountain.....................          432        -0.4%         2.4%
    Pacific......................        1,473         0.4%         3.2%
Rural by region:
    New England..................          149         0.4%         3.2%
    Middle Atlantic..............          254        -0.4%         2.4%
    South Atlantic...............          715        -0.3%         2.5%
    East North Central...........          948         0.1%         2.9%
    Central East South...........          595        -0.4%         2.4%
    West North Central...........        1,220         0.5%         3.3%
    West South Central...........          817         0.4%         3.2%
    Mountain.....................          330        -0.2%         2.6%
    Pacific......................          208         0.0%         2.8%
Ownership:
    Government...................          712         0.0%         2.8%
    Proprietary..................        9,457         0.0%         2.8%
    Voluntary....................         3605         0.0%         2.8%
------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking and Delayed Effective Date

    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)). We also ordinarily provide a 30-day delay in the effective 
date of the provisions of a notice in accordance with section 553(d) of 
the APA (5 U.S.C. 553(d)). 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 a 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 it unnecessary to undertake notice-and-comment rulemaking 
because this notice merely provides technical corrections to the 
regulations. We are not changing our payment methodology, but rather, 
are simply implementing correctly the payment methodology that we 
previously proposed, received comment on, and subsequently finalized. 
Thus, because the public has already had the opportunity to comment on 
the payment methodology being used to calculate wage indexes, 
additional comment would be unnecessary.
    Further, we believe a delayed effective date is unnecessary because 
this correction notice merely corrects inadvertent technical errors. 
Further, we believe imposing a 30-day delay in the effective date would 
be contrary to the public interest for SNF providers in the affected 
MSAs. We believe that it is imperative that these providers receive 
appropriate SNF PPS payments in as timely a manner as possible, and any 
delay in applying the appropriate wage index would be contrary to the 
public interest. Further, the changes noted above do not make any 
substantive changes to the SNF PPS payment methodology or underlying 
payment policies. Therefore, we find good cause to waive notice-and-
comment procedures, as well as the 30-day delay in effective date.

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

    Dated: December 15, 2004.
Ann Agnew,
Executive Secretary to the Department.
[FR Doc. 04-28157 Filed 12-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P