CMS Issues Proposed Rule To Revise Uncompensated Care

Last week, CMS issued a proposed rule that redefines the word "uninsured" for the purpose of calculating uncompensated care payments. Under the proposed rule, the definition of uninsured for purposes of reimbursement -- known as disproportionate share hospital payments -- would be based on whether patients had insurance coverage for the specific services they received at the hospital. In addition, any services provided that are not covered because they exceed a plan's annual or lifetime limits would be deemed eligible for the DSH payments. CMS is accepting public comment on the proposal for 30 days.

• "CMS Proposes Wider Definition of 'Uninsured'; Move Would Have Impact on DSH Payments" (Daly/Zigmond, Modern Healthcare, 1/13).