PERMANENT RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Medical Assistance Administration)
Purpose: To update and clarify policy regarding the diagnostic-related group (DRG) classification system for inpatient hospital services provided to medical assistance clients.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-550-3000 DRG payment system.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.08.090.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-07-096 on March 17, 2005.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: May 13, 2005.
Andy Fernando, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
3530.2 (2) MAA uses the all-patient grouper (AP-DRG) to assign a
DRG to each inpatient hospital stay. MAA periodically
evaluates which ((all-patient grouper (AP-DRG) version))
version of the AP-DRG to use.
(3)(((a) MAA calculates the DRG payment for a particular
hospital by multiplying the assigned DRG's relative weight, as
determined in WAC 388-550-3100, for that admission by the
hospital's cost-based conversion factor, as determined in WAC 388-550-3450.
(b) If the hospital is participating in the selective contracting program, the department multiplies the DRG relative weight for the admission by the hospital's negotiated conversion factor, as specified in WAC 388-550-4600(4).
(4)(a) MAA pays for a hospital readmission within seven days of discharge for the same client when department review concludes the readmission did not occur as a result of premature hospital discharge.
(b) When a client is readmitted to the same hospital within seven days of discharge, and MAA review concludes the readmission resulted from premature hospital discharge, MAA treats the previous and subsequent admissions as one hospital stay and pay a single DRG for the combined stay)) A DRG payment includes, but is not limited to:
(a) All covered hospital services provided to a client during the client's inpatient hospital stay.
(b) Outpatient hospital services, including preadmission, emergency room, and observation services related to an inpatient hospital admission and provided within one calendar day of a client's inpatient hospital admission. These outpatient services must be billed on the inpatient hospital claim (see WAC 388-550-6000 (3)(c))
(c) Any specific service(s), treatment(s), or procedure(s) (such as renal dialysis services) that the admitting hospital is unable to provide and:
(i) The admitting hospital sends the client to another facility or provider for the service(s), treatment(s), or procedure(s) during the client's inpatient stay; and
(ii) The client returns as an inpatient to the admitting hospital.
(d) All transportation costs for an inpatient client when the client requires transportation to another facility or provider for a specific service(s), treatment(s), or procedure(s) that the admitting hospital is unable to provide and:
(i) The admitting hospital sends the client to another facility or provider for the service(s), treatment(s), or procedure(s); and
(ii) The client returns as an inpatient to the admitting hospital.
(4) MAA's DRG payment is determined by multiplying the assigned DRG's relative weight, as determined in WAC 388-550-3100, by the hospital's conversion factor. See WAC 388-550-3450 and 388-550-4600(4).
(5) ((If two different DRG assignments are involved in a
readmission as described in subsection (4) of this section,
MAA reviews the hospital's records to determine the
appropriate reimbursement.
(6) MAA recognizes Medicaid's DRG payment for a Medicare-Medicaid dually eligible client to be payment in full.
(a) MAA pays the Medicare deductible and co-insurance related to the inpatient hospital services provided to clients eligible for Medicare and Medicaid subject to the Medicaid maximum allowable limit set in WAC 388-550-1200(6).
(b) MAA ensures total Medicare and Medicaid payments to a provider for such client does not exceed Medicaid's maximum allowable charges.
(c) MAA pays for those allowed charges beyond the threshold using the outlier policy described in WAC 388-550-3700 in cases where:
(i) Such client's Medicare Part A benefits including lifetime reserve days are exhausted; and
(ii) The Medicaid outlier threshold status is reached)) MAA's DRG payments to hospitals may be adjusted when one or more of the following occur:
(a) A claim qualifies as a DRG high-cost or low-cost outlier (see WAC 388-550-3700);
(b) A client transfers from one acute care hospital or distinct unit to another acute care hospital or distinct unit (see WAC 388-550-3600);
(c) A client is not eligible for a medical assistance program on one or more of the days of the hospital stay;
(d) A client is eligible for Part B Medicare and Medicare has made a payment for the Part B hospital charges; or
(e) A client is discharged from an inpatient hospital stay and is readmitted as an inpatient within seven days. MAA or its designee performs a retrospective utilization review (see WAC 388-550-1700 (3)(b)(iii)) on the initial admission and the readmission(s) to determine which inpatient hospital stay(s) qualify for DRG payment.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 42 USC 1395 x(v), 42 CFR 447.271, 447.11303, and 447.2652. 99-06-046, § 388-550-3000, filed 2/26/99, effective 3/29/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.730, 74.04.050, 70.01.010, 74.09.200, [74.09.]500, [74.09.]530 and 43.20B.020. 98-01-124, § 388-550-3000, filed 12/18/97, effective 1/18/98.]