Revisit User Fees Remain in Effect

VHCA (10/5/2007)

As noted in last week’s MEMO, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began assessing revisit user fees on September 19, 2007 for onsite revisits as well as desk reviews.   While the final rule, Establishment of Revisit User Fee Program for Medicare Survey and Certification Activities, indicated that the fees would no longer be in effect after September 30, a continuing resolution has extended the timetable.  Late last week, President Bush signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by Congress that extends funding of federal programs until November 16, 2007.  Despite conflicting reports from House and Senate offices that the CR would not extend the ability of CMS to continue to assess and collect revisit user fees, AHCA received clarification that these fees are in effect for revisits conducted prior to November 16th or until the FY08 Labor Health and Human Services (LHHS) Appropriations bill can be enacted.   However, if a LHHS Appropriations Bill cannot be agreed to prior to November 16th and there is another CR, then the revisit user fees could once again be extended. 

Skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities will continue to be charged a flat fee of $2,072 for each onsite inspection revisit and $168 for each offsite revisit, often referred to as a "desk review".  Certain types of revisits, however, are exempt from the fee, such as those related to compliance with Life Safety Code requirements, state monitoring visits or federal monitoring surveys, such as look-behind surveys.  AHCA and VHCA will keep providers informed of any updates to the revisit user fees.