Home Health Help Reference¶

The Home Health PPS is used to reimburse home health agencies for Medicare Part A and Part B services.

[!NOTE] This content is sourced from the official CMS Web Pricer.

0420 Date of service¶

Date of the physical therapy visit, revenue code 042x.

0420 Physical therapy¶

The general classification of revenue codes is all that is needed for billing.Enter the number of physical therapy visits provided in the episode, which corresponds to the number of revenue code 042x lines on a claim.

0420 Units¶

The total number of covered physical therapy units for each revenue code 042x.

0420 Visits¶

The total number of covered physical therapy visits for revenue code 042x.

0430 Date of service¶

Date of the occupational therapy visit, revenue code 043x.

0430 Occupational therapy¶

The general classification of revenue codes is all that is needed for billing.Enter the number of occupational therapy visits provided in the episode, which corresponds to the number of revenue code 043x lines on a claim.

0430 Units¶

The total number of covered occupational units for each revenue code 043x.

0430 Visits¶

The total number of covered occupational therapy visits for revenue code 043x.

0440 Date of service¶

Date of the speech pathology visit, revenue code 044x.

0440 Speech pathology¶

The general classification of revenue codes is all that is needed for billing.Enter the number of speech pathology visits provided in the episode, which corresponds to the number of revenue code 044x lines on a claim.

0440 Units¶

The total number of covered speech pathology units for each revenue code 044x.

0440 Visits¶

The total number of covered speech pathology visits for revenue code 044x.

0550 Date of service¶

Date of the skilled nursing visit, revenue code 055x.

0550 Skilled nursing¶

The general classification of revenue codes is all that is needed for billing.Enter the number of skilled nursing visits provided in the episode, which corresponds to the number of revenue code 055x lines on a claim.

0550 Units¶

The total number of covered speech pathology units for each revenue code 055x.

0550 Visits¶

The total number of covered skilled nursing visits for revenue code 055x.

0560 Date of service¶

Date of the social work visit, revenue code 056x.

0560 Medical social work¶

The general classification of revenue codes is all that is needed for billing.Enter the number of medical social work visits provided in the episode, which corresponds to the number of revenue code 056x lines on a claim.

0560 Units¶

The total number of covered social work units for each revenue code 056x.

0560 Visits¶

The total number of covered social work visits for revenue code 056x.

0570 Date of service¶

Date of the home health aide visit, revenue code 057x.

0570 Home health aide¶

The general classification of revenue codes is all that is needed for billing.Enter the number of home health aide visits provided in the episode, which corresponds to the number of revenue code 057x lines on a claim.

0570 Units¶

The total number of covered home health aide units for each revenue code 057x.

0570 Visits¶

The total number of covered home health aide visits for revenue code 057x.

Actual geographic MSA¶

Actual Geographic Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), indicates where a provider is located. The Actual Geographic MSA is entered as a 4-digit value, that ranges from 0040-9965. In a rural area, the Actual Geographic MSA is entered as '00' followed by the 2-digit numeric state code. For example, Ohio with state code 36 would be entered as '0036'.

Add-on visit amount¶

The add-on amount to be applied to the earliest line item date with the corresponding revenue code.

Adjustment indicator¶

Default value set to '0'. The adjustment indicator equal to '2' is used when a LUPA add-on claim is identified as not being the first or only period in a sequence.

Admit date¶

This field requires the date the patient was admitted to the facility (the ADMIT date in FL 12 of the UB 04).

AIDS Add-on Indicator¶

Flag indicating if an AIDS adjustment is applicable.

Bed size¶

The facility bed size is equal to the number of adult hospital beds and pediatric beds available to inpatient lodging. This field must be greater than zero.

Beneficiary CBSA¶

Enter the Beneficiary Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA), for the beneficiary's residence, whether or not it is an inpatient setting, is reported on the claim using value code 61.

Beneficiary CBSA results summary¶

Beneficiary Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) for the beneficiary's residence.

Capital cost-to-charge ratio¶

The capital cost-to-charge ratio is derived from the latest cost report and corresponding charge data from the billing file.For hospitals for which the MAC is unable to compute a reasonable cost-to-charge ratio, it uses the appropriate statewide average cost-to-charge ratio calculated annually by CMS and published in the Federal Register. A provider may submit evidence to justify a capital cost-to-charge ratio that lies outside a 3 standard deviation band. The MAC uses the hospital's ratio rather than the statewide average if it agrees the hospital's rate is justified.

Capital exception payment¶

Exception payments are provided for hospitals with inordinately high levels of capital obligations. The capital exception payment rate is the per discharge exception payment to which a hospital is entitled.

Capital hospital-specific rate¶

The hospital-specific capital rate is the hospital's allowable adjusted base year inpatient capital costs per discharge. This must be present unless a "Y" is entered in the Capital Indirect Medical Education Ratio field; or a "08" is entered in the Provider type field; or a termination date is present in Termination Date field. This field is not used as of October 1, 2002.

Capital indirect medical¶

An adjustment is provided to the Federal rate for indirect costs of medical education of interns and residents. The capital indirect medical education ratio field is the ratio of interns and residents to the hospital's average daily census. It is calculated by dividing the hospital's full-time equivalent total of residents during the fiscal year by the hospital's total inpatient days. This field is relevant for IPPS hospitals and IRFs.

Capital new harmless ratio¶

The new capital hold harmless ratio is the ratio of the hospital's allowable inpatient costs for new capital to the hospital's total allowable inpatient capital costs. This field is updated annually.

Capital old harmless rate¶

The old capital hold harmless rate shows the hospital's allowable inpatient "old" capital costs per discharge incurred for assets acquired before December 31, 1990, for capital PPS.

Capital PPS pay code¶

The capital PPS payment code indicates the type of capital payment methodology for hospitals. "A" indicates hold harmless, cost payment for old capital. "B" indicates hold harmless, 100% federal rate. "C" indicates fully prospective blended rate.

Case-mix-index¶

A hospital's case-mix-index (CMI) represents the average diagnosis-related group (DRG) relative weight for that hospital. It is calculated by summing the DRG weights for all Medicare discharges and dividing by the number of discharges. CMIs are calculated using both transfer-adjusted cases and unadjusted cases.

Change code for reclass¶

When this field is active, "Y" indicates that the provider's wage index location has been reclassified for the year. "N" indicates that the provider has not been reclassified for the year.

Core-based statistical area (CBSA)¶

A Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) is a geographic area defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The CBSA designation is used to adjust for geographic differences in wages.The term refers collectively to metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, which consist of one or more counties (or equivalents) anchored by an urban center of at least 10,000 people plus adjacent counties that are tied to the urban center.

Core-based statistical area / Geographic CBSA¶

A Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) is a labor market area definition adopted by CMS based on the delineations defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). A hospital's geographic CBSA is based on its geographic location, irrespective of any reclassification.

Cost¶

The dollar amount determined by the Pricer to be the payment for the visits in each discipline if the claim is paid as a Low Utilization Payment Adjustment (LUPA).

Cost of living adjustment¶

The cost of living adjustment (COLA) factor accounts for a higher cost of living in Alaska and Hawaii. The COLA factor provided to facilities is published annually in the final rule for the prospective payment systems.

Cost-to-charge ratio¶

The cost-to-charge ratio is derived from the latest settled facility cost report and corresponding charge data from the billing file. It is calculated by dividing the Medicare operating costs by Medicare covered charges.Medicare operating costs can be obtained from the Medicare cost report form CMS-2552-96, Supplemental Worksheet D-1, Part II, Line 53. Medicare covered charges can be obtained from the MAC billing file, i.e., PS&R record. For hospitals for which the MAC is unable to compute a reasonable cost-to-charge ratio, they use the appropriate urban or rural statewide average cost-to-charge ratio calculated annually by CMS and published in the Federal Register. These average ratios are used to calculate cost outlier payments for those hospitals where computed cost-to-charge ratios are not within the limits published in the Federal Register. For IRF and LTCH PPS, a combined operating and capital cost-to-charge ratio is entered here.

County code¶

A 5-digit value.The county code format is entered as the two-digit State FIPS code, followed by the three-digit County FIPS code.For example, if the two-digit State FIPS code is '24' and the three-digit County FIPS code '000', the county code would be entered as '24000'.

Covered charges¶

This field requires the covered charges from the claim. “Covered charges” means the benefits that Medicare will reimburse on this claim.

Covered days¶

This field requires the number of covered days from the claim. “Covered days” means the number of days of inpatient stay in this facility that Medicare will reimburse on this claim.

Current census division¶

The current census division indicates the census division to which the facility belongs for payment purposes. The 9 census regions can be viewed at the U.S. Census Bureau website, here: https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-maps/2010/geo/2010-census-regions-and-divisions-of-the-united-states.html

Date of service¶

Enter the date of service for the visits that occurred for each revenue code, if applicable.

Device cost-to-charge ratio¶

Derived from the latest available cost report data. Does not apply to ESRD Facilities.

Diagnosis code¶

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code set used to report the beneficiary's principal diagnosis or and other diagnoses during the stay.For example, A49.02 can be entered as A4902 without decimals.

Diagnosis related group (DRG) code¶

Enter the Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) for the claim. The MS-DRG is determined by the Grouper software or may be on the UB-04 claim form in FL 71.

Dollar rate¶

The dollar rates used by the Web Pricer to calculate the payment for the visits in each discipline if the claim is paid as a Low Utilization Payment Adjustment (LUPA).

Effective date¶

The effective date is the date of the provider's first PPS period, or, for subsequent PPS periods, the effective date of a change to the provider specific file. Whenever the status of any element of the file changes, the Fiscal Intermediary (FI) prepares an additional record showing the effective date. For example, when a hospital's FY beginning date changes as a result of a change in ownership or other "good cause," the FI makes an additional record showing the effective date of the change.

Electronic health record (EHR) incentive program reduction indicator¶

Enter Y or N; or leave blank.

ESRD children hospital quality indicator¶

Children's Hospitals for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Facilities. Enter the code applicable to the ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP). - Blank = no reduction

• 1 = ½ percent payment reduction

• 2 = 1 percent payment reduction

• 3 = 1½ percent payment reduction

• 4 = 2 percent payment reduction

Estimated total pass-through amount¶

When the "HMO Paid Claim" field equals "no," this amount is the product of the total pass-through & miscellaneous field and the length of stay.When the "HMO Paid Claim" field equals "yes," this amount is the product of the sum of the total pass-through amount & miscellaneous field, subtracting the pass-through amounts for Direct Medical Education, Organ Acquisition, and Allogeneic Stem Cell Acquisition, and the length of stay.

Facility specific rate¶

The PPS Facility Specific Rate or Case Mix Adjusted Cost Per Discharge is calculated for PPS hospitals and waiver state non-excluded hospitals as the base year cost per discharge divided by the case-mix-index. New providers are entered as zero.

Federal PPS blend indicator¶

The federal PPS blend indicator variable determines the blended payment rate. The percentage payment varies by provider type.

Filing penalty override indicator¶

An indicator of whether an exception request to the late filing penalty has been granted by the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). Valid values: 'Y' equals exception has been granted, no late filing penalty will be calculated and 'N' equals no exception applies, calculate late filing penalty, if applicable.

Fiscal year begin date¶

The fiscal year begin date is the date on which the provider's cost reporting period begins. This field must be equal to or less than the effective date. This date is updated annually in the provider specific file (PSF) by the MAC to show the current year for providers receiving a blended payment based on their FY begin date.

Fiscal year end date¶

The fiscal year end date is the last day covered by the provider's cost report. The fiscal year end date is formatted as CCYYMMDD.

Health insurance PPS (HIPPS) code¶

The Health Insurance Prospective Payment System (HIPPS) code that corresponds to the revenue code 0023 line on a RAP or claim. This field is used by the program to determine the appropriate case-mix weight for payment calculations.

Home health resource group (HHRG) days¶

A number of days calculated by the shared systems for each HIPPS code. The number is determined by the span of days from and including the first line item service date provided under that HIPPS code to and including the last line item service date provided under that HIPPS code.

Home health resource group (HHRG) weights¶

The weight used by the Pricer to determine the payment amount on the claim.

Hospital quality indicator¶

The hospital quality indicator indicates that the hospital meets criteria to receive higher payment per MMA (Medicare Modernization Act of 2003) quality standards. If the field is blank, the hospital does not meet criteria. If the field shows "1", the hospital quality standards have been met. For more information about CMS Quality Programs, visit: https://www.qualitynet.org/

Hospital readmission reduction adjustment¶

The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) is a Medicare value-based purchasing program that reduces payments to hospitals with excess readmissions. For each eligible hospital, CMS calculates the payment adjustment factor (PAF), which represents the percent the hospital’s payment is reduced. Hospitals with higher PAFs have lower payment reductions. More information about the HRRP adjustment factor can be viewed here: https://www.qualitynet.org/inpatient/hrrp/payment

Hospital readmission reduction program participant¶

The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) is a Medicare value-based purchasing program that reduces payments to hospitals with excess readmissions. The hospital readmissions reduction program participant field indicates if an acute inpatient hospital is participating. "0" indicates that the hospital is not participating in the program. "1" indicates that the hospital is participating in the program. More information about HRRP can be viewed here: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AcuteInpatientPPS/Readmissions-Reduction-Program

Hospital-acquired condition (HAC) reduction program participant¶

Enter Y or N; only for those providers subject to IPPS.

Initial payment QRP indicator¶

This is an item that is added to a RAP in Medicare processing, to indicate whether a particular provider has been determined ineligible for RAP payments.- 0: Default value, normal percentage payments are made on RAPs.- 1: All RAP calculations will result in zero.- 2: Payment will be calculated based on the 2% reduction.- 3: All RAP calculations will result in zero and the payment will be calculated based on the 2% reduction.

Inpatient core-based statistical area (CBSA)¶

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA), used to wage-adjust inpatient levels of care. Hospices shall report the CBSA for inpatient levels of care in value code G8.

Intermediary number¶

Intermediary number refers to the fiscal intermediary (FI) or the Part A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to which the provider is assigned.

Intern-to-bed ratio¶

The intern-to-beds ratio is the provider's intern and resident to bed ratio. This is calculated by dividing the provider's full-time equivalent residents by the number of available beds, based on the average number of full-time equivalent residents assigned to the hospital during the fiscal year. This calculation does not include residents in anesthesiology who are employed to replace anesthetists or those assigned to PPS-excluded units. This field will display zero for non-teaching hospitals.

Late submission penalty amount¶

The late submission penalty amount, determined by subtracting the total payment after the late submission penalty from the HH PPS payment that would otherwise apply to the claim. Added to the claim as a value code QF amount.

Lifetime reserve days¶

In this field, you may enter the lifetime reserve days for the beneficiary. Lifetime reserve days, also known as reserve days, are for when a beneficiary is in the hospital for more than 90 days.Medicare will pay for 60 additional reserve days that a beneficiary can only use once in his or her lifetime. They are not renewable once they are used.Not applicable for Indian Health Service or Contract Health Service. Lifetime reserve days are Medicare days and are only applicable for Medicare beneficiaries.

Low-volume adjustment factor¶

An adjustment received once a hospital makes a written request for low-volume hospital status and is deemed qualified to receive the low-volume payment adjustment.

LTCH DPP indicator¶

Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Discharge Payment Percentage (DPP) Payment Adjustment indicates whether the LTCH is subject to the DPP payment adjustment for failure to maintain the required discharge payment percentage. A blank value indicates LTCH is not subject to the DPP payment adjustment. A 'Y' value indicated the LTCH is subject to the DPP payment adjustment.

LUGAR¶

A Lugar designation allows a hospital located in a rural county adjacent to one or more urban areas to be treated as urban for purposes of payment if it meets certain criteria. The Lugar field indicates if the MSA has been reclassified for wage index purposes. These are also known as Lugar reclassifications, and apply to ASC-approved services provided on an outpatient basis when a hospital qualifies for payment under an alternate wage index MSA. If there has not been a Lugar reclassification, this field is blank.

LUPA source admission code¶

This field is used by the Pricer to determine whether a LUPA add-on amount should be paid.1: On RAPs, always enter 1.B: On claims, enter 'B' if condition code 47 is reported on the claim. Otherwise, enter 1.

Medicaid ratio¶

The Medicaid ratio is used to determine if the hospital qualifies for a disproportionate share adjustment and to determine the size of the capital and operating DSH adjustments. The Medicaid ratio is the percentage of total inpatient days attributable to patients eligible for Medicaid by not Medicare Part A.

Medicare performance adjustment¶

Enter the Medicare Performance Adjustment (MPA) percentage calculated and published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Model 1 bundle percent¶

The Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) initiative was comprised of four broadly defined models of care, which linked payments for the multiple services beneficiaries received during an episode of care. In Model 1, the episode of care was defined as the inpatient stay in the acute care hospital. This field displays the discount percentage for hospitals who participated in BPCI Model 1. More information about BPCI can be viewed here: https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/bundled-payments

National labor percent¶

The base payment rate is adjusted for differences in labor costs. The national labor percent indicates the percentage of the base payment amount, known as the labor-related portion, which is multiplied by a version of the hospital wage index. The result is then added to the non-labor related portion.

National non-labor percent¶

The base payment rate is adjusted for differences in labor costs. The non-labor percent indicates the percentage of the base payment amount which is not adjusted by the hospital wage index.

New hospital¶

The new hospital field will show a "Y" (Yes) for the first two years that a new hospital is in operation. It is left blank if the hospital is not within the first two years of operation.

Partial episode payment (PEP) indicator¶

This field is used by the program to determine if a PEP payment calculation should be applied.- No: Default value- Yes: Discharge status code on the UB-04 claim is 06, since these claims are always paid as PEPs. This field will never be changed on RAPs.

Pass-through amount Allogeneic Stem Cell Acquisition¶

The per diem payment amount based on the interim payments to the hospital that includes acquisition amounts for allogeneic stem cell transplants.

Pass-through amount capital¶

The pass-through amount for capital is a per diem amount based on the interim payments to the hospital. Must be zero if location 185 = A, B, or C. Used for PPS hospitals prior to their cost reporting period beginning in FY 92, new hospitals during their first 2 years of operation FY 92 or later, and non-PPS hospitals or units. Zero-fill if this does not apply. Refer to the Provider Reimbursement Manual, §2405.2 for additional information.

Pass-through amount direct¶

The pass-through amount for direct medical education is a per diem amount based on the interim payments to the hospital. The field will display zero if this does not apply. See the Provider Reimbursement Manual, §2405.2 for more information: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Paper-Based-Manuals-Items/CMS021929

Pass-through amount for Supply Chain Costs¶

The per diem amount based on the interim payments to the hospital. Includes payment adjustments for the additional resource costs of establishing and maintaining access to buffer stocks of essential medicines. Also include payment adjustments for the additional cost for procurement of wholly domestically made NIOSH-approved surgical N95 respirators.

Pass-through amount organ¶

The pass-through amount for organ acquisition is a per diem amount based on the interim payments to the hospital. It includes standard acquisition amounts for kidney, heart, lung, pancreas, intestine, and liver transplants. It does not include acquisition costs for bone marrow transplants. The field will display zero if this does not apply. See the Provider Reimbursement Manual, §2405.2 for more information: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Paper-Based-Manuals-Items/CMS021929

Payment CBSA¶

Payment Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA), a 5-digit value. Enter the appropriate code for the CBSA, 00001-89999 or 000 followed by the 2-digit numeric State code to which a hospital has been reclassified. For example, Ohio with state code 36 would be entered as '00036'. Leave blank or enter the actual location CBSA (field 35) if not reclassified.

Payment model adjustment¶

Payment Model Adjustment (PMA) Derived from payment model Technical Direction Letter.

Payment return code¶

A return code set by Pricer to define the payment circumstances of the claim or an error in input data.

Procedure code¶

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code set used to report the beneficiary's principal diagnosis or and other diagnoses during the stay.For example, A49.02 can be entered as A4902 without decimals.

Provider number¶

Enter between six - thirteen digit CMS Certification Number (CCN) present on the claim. For a sub-campus unit of a multicampus hospital, enter the full CCN number that includes the 6 digits main campus CCN plus the suffix. For example: 010001A. For information on CCN format, you must contact your MAC or review the Provider Specific File information found on the CMS Provider Data Service website. The National Provider Identifier (NPI) on the claim (if submitted by the hospital) is not entered in this field. You should receive both the CCN number and the NPI number on the claim. In rare circumstances, however, a hospital may only submit their NPI number without their CCN number. Should this occur, you will have to contact the billing hospital to obtain the CCN number as the Web Pricer cannot process using the NPI.

Provider outlier payment total¶

The total amount of outlier payments that have been made to this HHA for periods of care ending during the current calendar year.

Provider payment total¶

The total amount of HH PPS payments that have been made to this HHA for periods of care ending during the current calendar year.

Provider PPS period¶

The Provider PPS period field is obsolete and left blank as of April 1, 1991.

Provider type¶

The provider type identifies the provider type with a two-digit code. For example: 04 is Rehabilitation facility, 50 is Rehabilitation Distinct Part, 06 is Hospital Distinct Parts. For a full list of provider types, please see the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 3 - Inpatient Hospital Billing, Addendum A - Provider Specific File, accessible here: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/Internet-Only-Manuals-IOMs

Receipt date¶

The receipt date of the corresponding NOA for the estimate.

Reclassification CBSA¶

The Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) code, or the rural area, to which a hospital has been reclassified for wage index purposes. If the hospital has not been reclassified, this field will be left blank or will default to display the Geographic Location CBSA.

Reduced coinsurance trailer count¶

Enter the number of APCs the provider has elected to reduce coinsurance for. The number cannot be greater than 999.

Region Indicator¶

Flag indicating if CBSA is Rural or Urban.

Report date¶

Must be numeric, enter date format here date file created/run date of the Provider report for submittal to CMS Central Office.

Sole community or Medicare¶

The sole community or Medicare field indicates if the provider is a sole community hospital (SCH) or a Medicare dependent hospital (MDH) effective with cost reporting periods that begin on or after April 1, 1990. If the provider is not a SCH or MDH, this field is blank. If the provider is a SCH or MDH, this field shows the base year for the operating hospital-specific rate, the higher of either 82 or 87. SCHs and MDHs are paid based on either the Federal rate or their hospital-specific (HSP) rate, whichever will result in the greatest payment. As of October 1, 2012, MDHs are no longer valid provider types.

Special locality indicator¶

Indicates the type of special locality provision that applies. For End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) facilities with dates of service prior to Jan 1, 2025, value “Y” equals low volume adjustment applicable. For Dates of service on or after Jan 1, 2025, value “blank” equals no low volume adjustment applicable and value “1” or “2” equals tier number applicable for low volume adjustment.

Special payment indicator - Claim¶

The default value for this field is blank. If you know that another special payment indicator applies, you can also enter 1, 2, or 3. - 0 = default (neither condition code nor late penalty apply)

• 1 = Claim has Condition Code 66 (this means that the provider has refused cost outlier payment for this claim)

• 2 = Late filing penalty (no longer applied)

• 3 = No outlier and late penalty, combined (no longer applied)

Special payment indicator - Provider data¶

The special payment indicator code indicates the type of special payment provision that applies. A blank field indicates that the special payment is not applicable. "Y" indicates reclassified. "1" indicates special wage index indicator. "2" indicates both special wage index indicator and reclassified. "D" indicates dual reclassified.

Special provider update factor¶

Enter the VBP adjustment factor provided by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Special provider update factor result summary¶

The VBP adjustment factor provided by CMS for each HHA.

Special wage index¶

The hospital wage index is adjusted to account for the geographic reclassification of hospitals in accordance with §§1886(d)(8)(B) and 1886(d)(10) of the Social Security Act (the Act.)According to the law, geographic reclassification only applies to hospitals. Additionally, the hospital wage index has specific floors that are required by law. Because these reclassifications and floors do not apply to HHAs, the home health rates are adjusted by the pre-floor and preclassified hospital wage index.The pre-floor and pre-reclassified hospital wage index varies slightly from the numbers published in the Medicare inpatient hospital PPS regulation that reflects the floor and reclassification adjustments. The wage indices published in the home health final rule and subsequent annual updates reflect the most recent available pre-floor and pre-reclassified hospital wage index available at the time of publication.

SSI ratio¶

The supplemental security income ratio (SSI ratio) is used to determine if the hospital qualifies for a disproportionate share adjustment and to determine the size of the capital and operation DSH (Disproportionate Share Hospital) adjustments. The SSI ratio is the percentage of Medicare inpatient days attributable to patients eligible for both Medicare Part A and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Standardized amount CBSA¶

The Standardized amount CBSA shows the Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA) code, or the rural area, to which a hospital has been reclassified. If the hospital has not been reclassified, this field will be left blank or default to display the Geographic Location CBSA.

Standardized amount MSA¶

The MSA (metropolitan statistical area) indicates where a provider is located. The Standardized amount MSA indicates if and how a facility has been reclassified for standardized amount. The Wage Index MSA field is formatted as a four digit code in the range 0040-9965 or, if a rural area, a two digit state code. CMS defines hospital geographic areas based on the definitions of urban areas and rural areas issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). A full listing of the MSAs can be found on the OMB website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/bulletins/

Standardized payment amount¶

The HH PPS payment without applying any provider-specific adjustments.

State code¶

The 2-digit state code where the provider is located.

Supplemental wage index¶

Enter the supplemental wage index that certain providers may be assigned by CMS. Enter zeroes if it does not apply.

Supplemental wage index indicator¶

Enter "1" for Prior Year Wage Index to be applied. Leave blank if it does not apply.

Temporary relief indicator¶

The Temporary Relief Indicator will be listed as "Y" if the provider qualifies for a payment update under the temporary relief provision. Otherwise, the field is left blank.Effective October 1, 2005, "Y" will display for IRFs located in the state and county in Table 2 of the Addendum of the August 15, 2005 Federal Register (70 FR 47880). The table can also be found at the following website: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/InpatientRehabFacPPS/Data-Files

Termination date¶

This field provides the date on which the reporting MAC ceased servicing the provider. If there is no termination date, this field will display as zero. If the provider is terminated or transferred to another MAC, a termination date is placed in the file to reflect the last date the provider was serviced by the outgoing MAC. Likewise, if the provider identification number changes, a termination date is placed in the provider file transmitted to CMS Central Office for the old provider identification number.

Through date¶

The beginning and ending dates of the period covered by this claim. For continuous care periods, the 'through' date must be 29 days after the 'From' date for a 30-day period of care. In cases where the beneficiary has been discharged or transferred within the period, HHAs will report the date of discharge in accordance with internal discharge procedures as the 'through' date. If the beneficiary has died, the HHA reports the date of death in the 'through date'.

Through date result summary¶

The Statement Covers “Through” date from the claim.

Total pass-through amount and miscellaneous¶

Per diem amount based on the interim payments to the hospital. Must be at least equal to the Capital, Direct Medical Education, and Organ Acquisition pass through amounts. The following are also included in the total pass through amount: Allogeneic Stem Cell Acquisition, Supply Chain Costs, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), which are paid as part of Miscellaneous Pass-through for rural hospitals that perform fewer than 500 surgeries per year, and Nursing and Allied Health Professional Education, when conducted by a provider in an approved program. Do not include amounts paid for Indirect Medical Education, Hemophilia Clotting Factors, or DSH adjustments. Zero-fill if this does not apply. Refer to the Provider Reimbursement Manual, §2405.2 for additional information.

Transitional corridor payments (TOPs) indicator¶

Enter the code to indicate whether Transitional Corridor Payments (TOPs) applies or not. - Y = qualifies for TOPs

• N = does not qualify for TOPs

Type of bill¶

This 4-digit alphanumeric code gives two pieces of information. The first three digits indicate the base type of bill. The fourth digit indicates the sequence of this bill in this particular episode of care.0322RAPs are submitted using TOB 0322. The HH Pricer software will determine the first of the two HH PPS split percentage payments, which is made in response to the RAP.0327If submitting an adjustment (TOB 0327) to a previously paid HH PPS claim, the HHA enters the control number assigned to the original HH PPS claim here.0329Original HH PPS claims are submitted with TOB 0329, and provide all other information required on that claim for the HH PPS episode, including all visit-specific detail for the entire episode.

Uncompensated care amount¶

The estimated per discharge uncompensated care payment amount calculated and published by CMS for each hospital.

Units¶

Enter the number of covered units for each revenue code, if applicable.

Value-based purchasing adjustment¶

Section 3001 of the Affordable Care Act added section 1886(o) to the Social Security Act, establishing the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. The value-based purchasing (VBP) adjustment field shows the adjustment factor.

Value-based purchasing adjustment amount¶

The HH Value-Based Purchasing adjustment amount, determined by subtracting the HHVBP adjustment total payment from the HH PPS payment that would otherwise apply to the claim. Added to the claim as a value code QV amount.

Value-based purchasing participant¶

Section 3001 of the Affordable Care Act added section 1886(o) to the Social Security Act, establishing the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. The value-based purchasing (VBP) participant field will show "Y" (Yes) if the hospital is participating in the program and "N" (No) if the hospital is not participating.

Visits¶

Enter the number of covered visits for each revenue code, if applicable.

Wage index¶

As part of the methodology for determining prospective payments to hospitals, standardized amounts must be adjusted for area differences in hospital wage levels. This adjustment factor is the wage index.Section 1886(d)(3)(E) of the Social Security Act requires that, as part of the methodology for determining prospective payments to hospitals, the Secretary must adjust the standardized amounts “for area differences in hospital wage levels by a factor (established by the Secretary) reflecting the relative hospital wage level in the geographic area of the hospital compared to the national average hospital wage level.” This adjustment factor is the wage index.

Wage index MSA¶

Wage Index Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), indicates where a provider is located as well as if and how a facility has been reclassified due to its prevailing wage rates. The Wage Index MSA field is entered as a 4-digit value, that ranges from 0040-9965. In a rural area, the Wage Index MSA is entered as '00' followed by the 2-digit numeric state code. For example, Ohio with state code 36 would be entered as '0036'.

Waiver code¶

The waiver code is set to either "Y" (Yes) or "N" (No). "Y" indicates waived, meaning the provider is not under PPS. "N" indicates not waived, meaning the provider is under PPS.

Last updated: 2026-01-30. Source: CMS Web Pricer