The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking a definition of the term "uninsured" that includes some insured, reported AHA News Now.
CMS issued a proposed rule last week that would define "uninsured" to help calculate the disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payment limit.
Under the rule, hospitals could count as uncompensated care the cost of medically necessary services excluded by their insurance coverage, or have exhausted their benefits or are up against lifetime caps for coverage. Hospitals also could include some of the care provided to individuals covered by the Indian Health Service as uncompensated.
However, state and federal prisoners who receive care at hospitals would be considered insured.
The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register this week, with public comments accepted through February 17.
To learn more:
- read the AHA News Now news brief
- check out the proposed rule (.pdf)