2006 proposed fee schedule - American Society of Clinical Oncology

(1) Hospital Data Used
In this proposed rule, for purposes of adjusting the
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labor-related portion of the ESRD composite rate beginning
January 1, 2006, we propose to use acute care hospital
inpatient wage index data. This data was generated from
cost reporting periods beginning FY 2002, and is the most
recent complete data available.
To determine the applicable ESRD wage index values, we
are proposing to use the acute care hospital inpatient wage
data without regard to any approved geographic
reclassification under section 1886(d)(8) or (d)(10) of the
Act, which only applies to hospitals that are paid under the
IPPS. We note this policy is consistent with the area wage
adjustments used in all other non-acute care facility PPSs
(such as, SNFs, IPPSs, HHAs, and IRFs).
The proposed wage index values that would be applicable
to the ESRD composite rate for services furnished on or
after January 1, 2006, are shown in Tables 27 and 28 in this
proposed rule.
(2) Labor Market Areas with No Hospital Wage Data
In adopting OMB’s CBSA designations, we identified a
small number of ESRD facilities in both urban and rural
geographic areas where there were no hospitals, and, thus,
no hospital wage index data on which to base the
calculations of the FY 2006 ESRD wage index. The first