[Federal Register: December 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 250)]
[Notices]
[Page 78445-78464]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30de04-82]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
[CMS-1249-CN2]
RIN 0938-AM46
Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated
Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Corrections
AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.
ACTION: Correction notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the
July 30, 2004 Federal Register, entitled ``Medicare Program;
Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing
Facilities--Update--Notice.''
EFFECTIVE DATE: This correction is effective October 1, 2004, except
for certain wage index corrections that are effective January 1, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Kranacs, (410) 786-9385, Bill
Ullman, (410) 786-5667, or Sheila Lambowitz, (410) 786-7605.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On October 7, 2004, we published a correction notice (FR Doc. 04-
22399, 69 FR 60158) to correct a number of technical errors that had
appeared in the FY 2005 SNF PPS update notice published on July 30,
2004 (FR Doc. 04-17443, 69 FR 45775). In that notice we indicated that
the corrected wage tables and other tables were being posted on the CMS
Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/snfpps, and we also
expressed our intent to publish them in a forthcoming Federal Register
notice. In this notice we are fulfilling that intent, as well as
correcting certain additional technical errors in wage index values
that have been recently identified. The corrections appear in this
document under the heading ``Correction of Errors.'' The provisions in
this correction notice are effective as if they had been included in
the document published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2004, that
is, as of October 1, 2004, except for those wage index value
corrections that we specifically note to be effective as of January 1,
2005.
In this notice, we hereby set forth the corrected versions of
Tables 8, 9, 10, and 12 that were referenced in FR Doc. 04-22399 (69 FR
60158).
In addition, Table 8 is further revised to reflect the following
additional corrections, which become effective as of January 1, 2005:
1. The entry of ``0.7959'' for Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
3960 (Lake Charles, LA) is revised by adding ``(0.7972, effective
January 1, 2005)''.
2. The entry of ``0.8053'' for MSA 4280 (Lexington, KY) is revised
by adding ``(0.9219, effective January 1, 2005)''.
3. The entry of ``1.0025'' for MSA 5000 (Miami, FL) is revised by
adding ``(0.9870, effective January 1, 2005)''.
4. The entry of ``1.2921'' for MSA 5380 (Nassau-Suffolk, NY) is
revised by adding ``(1.2907, effective January 1, 2005)''.
5. The entry of ``1.3587'' for MSA 5600 (New York, NY) is revised
by adding ``(1.3586, effective January 1, 2005)''.
6. The entry of ``1.0975'' for MSA 6780 (Riverside-San Bernardino,
CA) is revised by adding ``(1.0970, effective January 1, 2005)''.
7. The entry of ``0.9964'' for MSA 8780 (Visalia-Tulare-
Porterville, CA) is revised by adding ``(0.9975, effective January 1,
2005)''.
8. The entry of ``1.0059'' for MSA 8960 (West Palm Beach-Boca
Raton, FL) is revised by adding ``(1.0362, effective January 1,
2005)''.
9. The entry of ``0.9472'' for MSA 9040 (Wichita, KS) is revised by
adding ``(0.9468, effective January 1, 2005)''.
II. Correction of Errors
In FR Doc. 04-17443 (69 FR 45775), make the following corrections:
1. On pages 45787 through 45814, in Table 8--Wage Index for Rural
Areas the table is corrected to read as follows:
[[Page 78446]]
Table 8.--Wage Index for Urban Areas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Urban area (constituent counties
MSA or county equivalents) Wage index
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0040..................................... Abilene, TX...................... 0.8009
Taylor, TX
0060..................................... Aguadilla, PR.................... 0.4294
Aguada, PR
Aguadilla, PR
Moca, PR
0080..................................... Akron, OH........................ 0.9055
Portage, OH
Summit, OH
0120..................................... Albany, GA....................... 1.1266
Dougherty, GA
Lee, GA
0160..................................... Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY...... 0.8570
Albany, NY
Montgomery, NY
Rensselaer, NY
Saratoga, NY
Schenectady, NY
Schoharie, NY
0200..................................... Albuquerque, NM.................. 1.0485
Bernalillo, NM
Sandoval, NM
Valencia, NM
0220..................................... Alexandria, LA................... 0.8171
Rapides, LA
0240..................................... Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA... 0.9536
Carbon, PA
Lehigh, PA
Northampton, PA
0280..................................... Altoona, PA...................... 0.8462
Blair, PA
0320..................................... Amarillo, TX..................... 0.9178
Potter, TX
Randall, TX
0380..................................... Anchorage, AK.................... 1.2109
Anchorage, AK
0440..................................... Ann Arbor, MI.................... 1.0816
Lenawee, MI
Livingston, MI
Washtenaw, MI
0450..................................... Anniston,AL...................... 0.7881
Calhoun, AL
0460..................................... Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, WI...... 0.9115
Calumet, WI
Outagamie, WI
Winnebago, WI
0470..................................... Arecibo, PR...................... 0.3757
Arecibo, PR
Camuy, PR
Hatillo, PR
0480..................................... Asheville, NC.................... 0.9501
Buncombe, NC
Madison, NC
0500..................................... Athens, GA....................... 1.0202
Clarke, GA
Madison, GA
Oconee, GA
0520..................................... Atlanta, GA...................... 0.9971
Barrow, GA
Bartow, GA
Carroll, GA
Cherokee, GA
Clayton, GA
Cobb, GA
Coweta, GA
De Kalb, GA
Douglas, GA
Fayette, GA
Forsyth, GA
Fulton, GA
Gwinnett, GA
Henry, GA
[[Page 78447]]
Newton, GA
Paulding, GA
Pickens, GA
Rockdale, GA
Spalding, GA
Walton, GA
0560..................................... Atlantic City-Cape May, NJ....... 1.0907
Atlantic City, NJ
Cape May, NJ
0580..................................... Auburn-Opelika, AL............... 0.8215
Lee, AL
0600..................................... Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC............. 0.9208
Columbia, GA
McDuffie, GA
Richmond, GA
Aiken, SC
Edgefield, SC
0640..................................... Austin-San Marcos, TX............ 0.9595
Bastrop, TX
Caldwell, TX
Hays, TX
Travis, TX
Williamson, TX
0680..................................... Bakersfield, CA.................. 1.0036
Kern, CA
0720..................................... Baltimore, MD.................... 0.9907
Anne Arundel, MD
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore City, MD
Carroll, MD
Harford, MD
Howard, MD
Queen Annes, MD
0733..................................... Bangor, ME....................... 0.9955
Penobscot, ME
0743..................................... Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA.......... 1.2335
Barnstable, MA
0760..................................... Baton Rouge, LA.................. 0.8354
Ascension, LA
East Baton Rouge
Livingston, LA
West Baton Rouge, LA
0840..................................... Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX......... 0.8616
Hardin, TX
Jefferson, TX
Orange, TX
0860..................................... Bellingham, WA................... 1.1642
Whatcom, WA
0870..................................... Benton Harbor, MI................ 0.8847
Berrien, MI
0875..................................... Bergen-Passaic, NJ............... 1.1967
Bergen, NJ
Passaic, NJ
0880..................................... Billings, MT..................... 0.8961
Yellowstone, MT
0920..................................... Biloxi-Gulfport-Pascagoula, MS... 0.8649
Hancock, MS
Harrison, MS
Jackson, MS
0960..................................... Binghamton, NY................... 0.8447
Broome, NY
Tioga, NY
1000..................................... Birmingham, AL................... 0.9198
Blount, AL
Jefferson, AL
St. Clair, AL
Shelby, AL
1010..................................... Bismarck, ND..................... 0.7505
Burleigh, ND
Morton, ND
1020..................................... Bloomington, IN.................. 0.8587
Monroe, IN
[[Page 78448]]
1040..................................... Bloomington-Normal, IL........... 0.9111
McLean, IL
1080..................................... Boise City, ID................... 0.9352
Ada, ID
Canyon, ID
1123..................................... Boston-Worcester-Lawrence-Lowell- 1.1290
Brockton, MA-NH.
Bristol, MA
Essex, MA
Middlesex, MA
Norfolk, MA
Plymouth, MA
Suffolk, MA
Worcester, MA
Hillsborough, NH
Merrimack, NH
Rockingham, NH
Strafford, NH
1125..................................... Boulder-Longmont, CO............. 1.0046
Boulder, CO
1145..................................... Brazoria, TX..................... 0.8524
Brazoria, TX
1150..................................... Bremerton, WA.................... 1.0614
Kitsap, WA
1240..................................... Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, 1.0125
TX.
Cameron, TX
1260..................................... Bryan-College Station, TX........ 0.9243
Brazos, TX
1280..................................... Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY........ 0.9339
Erie, NY
Niagara, NY
1303..................................... Burlington, VT................... 0.9322
Chittenden, VT
Franklin, VT
Grand Isle, VT
1310..................................... Caguas, PR....................... 0.4061
Caguas, PR
Cayey, PR
Cidra, PR
Gurabo, PR
San Lorenzo, PR
1320..................................... Canton-Massillon, OH............. 0.8895
Carroll, OH
Stark, OH
1350..................................... Casper, WY....................... 0.9243
Natrona, WY
1360..................................... Cedar Rapids, IA................. 0.8975
Linn, IA
1400..................................... Champaign-Urbana, IL............. 0.9527
Champaign, IL
1440..................................... Charleston-North Charleston, SC.. 0.9420
Berkeley, SC
Charleston, SC
Dorchester, SC
1480..................................... Charleston, WV................... 0.8876
Kanawha, WV
Putnam, WV
1520..................................... Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC- 0.9711
SC.
Cabarrus, NC
Gaston, NC
Lincoln, NC
Mecklenburg, NC
Rowan, NC
Union, NC
York, SC
1540..................................... Charlottesville, VA.............. 1.0294
Albemarle, VA
Charlottesville City, VA
Fluvanna, VA
Greene, VA
1560..................................... Chattanooga, TN-GA............... 0.9207
Catoosa, GA
Dade, GA
[[Page 78449]]
Walker, GA
Hamilton, TN
Marion, TN
1580..................................... Cheyenne, WY..................... 0.8980
Laramie, WY
1600..................................... Chicago, IL...................... 1.0851
Cook, IL
De Kalb, IL
Du Page, IL
Grundy, IL
Kane, IL
Kendall, IL
Lake, IL
McHenry, IL
Will, IL
1620..................................... Chico-Paradise, CA............... 1.0542
Butte, CA
1640..................................... Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN............. 0.9595
Dearborn, IN
Ohio, IN
Boone, KY
Campbell, KY
Gallatin, KY
Grant, KY
Kenton, KY
Pendleton, KY
Brown, OH
Clermont, OH
Hamilton, OH
Warren, OH
1660..................................... Clarksville-Hopkinsville, TN-KY.. 0.8022
Christian, KY
Montgomery, TN
1680..................................... Cleveland-Lorain-Elyria, OH...... 0.9626
Ashtabula, OH
Geauga, OH
Cuyahoga, OH
Lake, OH
Lorain, OH
Medina, OH
1720..................................... Colorado Springs, CO............. 0.9792
El Paso, CO
1740..................................... Columbia MO...................... 0.8396
Boone, MO
1760..................................... Columbia, SC..................... 0.9450
Lexington, SC
Richland, SC
1800..................................... Columbus, GA-AL.................. 0.8690
Russell,AL
Chattanoochee, GA
Harris, GA
Muscogee, GA
1840..................................... Columbus, OH..................... 0.9753
Delaware, OH
Fairfield, OH
Franklin, OH
Licking, OH
Madison, OH
Pickaway, OH
1880..................................... Corpus Christi, TX............... 0.8647
Nueces, TX
San Patricio, TX
1890..................................... Corvallis, OR.................... 1.0545
Benton, OR
1900..................................... Cumberland, MD-WV................ 0.8662
Allegany MD
Mineral WV
1920..................................... Dallas, TX....................... 1.0054
Collin, TX
Dallas, TX
Denton, TX
Ellis, TX
[[Page 78450]]
Henderson, TX
Hunt, TX
Kaufman, TX
Rockwall, TX
1950..................................... Danville, VA..................... 0.8643
Danville City, VA
Pittsylvania, VA
1960..................................... Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA- 0.8773
IL.
Scott, IA
Henry, IL
Rock Island, IL
2000..................................... Dayton-Springfield, OH........... 0.9231
Clark, OH
Greene, OH
Miami, OH
Montgomery, OH
2020..................................... Daytona Beach, FL................ 0.8900
Flagler, FL
Volusia, FL
2030..................................... Decatur, AL...................... 0.8894
Lawrence, AL
Morgan, AL
2040..................................... Decatur, IL...................... 0.8122
Macon, IL
2080..................................... Denver, CO....................... 1.0904
Adams, CO
Arapahoe, CO
Broomfield, CO
Denver, CO
Douglas, CO
Jefferson, CO
2120..................................... Des Moines, IA................... 0.9266
Dallas, IA
Polk, IA
Warren, IA
2160..................................... Detroit, MI...................... 1.0227
Lapeer, MI
Macomb, MI
Monroe, MI
Oakland, MI
St. Clair, MI
Wayne, MI
2180..................................... Dothan, AL....................... 0.7596
Dale, AL
Houston, AL
2190..................................... Dover, DE........................ 0.9825
Kent, DE
2200..................................... Dubuque, IA...................... 0.8748
Dubuque, IA
2240..................................... Duluth-Superior, MN-WI........... 1.0356
St. Louis, MN
Douglas, WI
2281..................................... Dutchess County, NY.............. 1.1657
Dutchess, NY
2290..................................... Eau Claire, WI................... 0.9139
Chippewa, WI
Eau Claire, WI
2320..................................... El Paso, TX...................... 0.9181
El Paso, TX
2330..................................... Elkhart-Goshen, IN............... 0.9278
Elkhart, IN
2335..................................... Elmira, NY....................... 0.8445
Chemung, NY
2340..................................... Enid, OK......................... 0.9001
Garfield, OK
2360..................................... Erie, PA......................... 0.8699
Erie, PA
2400..................................... Eugene-Springfield, OR........... 1.0940
Lane, OR
2440..................................... Evansville-Henderson, IN-KY...... 0.8395
Posey, IN
Vanderburgh, IN
[[Page 78451]]
Warrick, IN
Henderson, KY
2520..................................... Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN............ 0.9114
Clay, MN
Cass, ND
2560..................................... Fayetteville, NC................. 0.9363
Cumberland, NC
2580..................................... Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, 0.8636
AR.
Benton, AR
Washington, AR
2620..................................... Flagstaff, AZ-UT................. 1.0611
Coconino, AZ
Kane, UT
2640..................................... Flint, MI........................ 1.1178
Genesee, MI
2650..................................... Florence, AL..................... 0.7883
Colbert, AL
Lauderdale, AL
2655..................................... Florence, SC..................... 0.8960
Florence, SC
2670..................................... Fort Collins-Loveland, CO........ 1.0218
Larimer, CO
2680..................................... Ft. Lauderdale, FL............... 1.0165
Broward, FL
2700..................................... Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL........ 0.9371
Lee, FL
2710..................................... Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL... 1.0046
Martin, FL
St. Lucie, FL
2720..................................... Fort Smith, AR-OK................ 0.8303
Crawford, AR
Sebastian, AR
Sequoyah, OK
2750..................................... Fort Walton Beach, FL............ 0.8786
Okaloosa, FL
2760..................................... Fort Wayne, IN................... 0.9737
Adams, IN
Allen, IN
De Kalb, IN
Huntington, IN
Wells, IN
Whitley, IN
2800..................................... Forth Worth-Arlington, TX........ 0.9520
Hood, TX
Johnson, TX
Parker, TX
Tarrant, TX
2840..................................... Fresno, CA....................... 1.0407
Fresno, CA
Madera, CA
2880..................................... Gadsden, AL...................... 0.8049
Etowah, AL
2900..................................... Gainesville, FL.................. 0.9459
Alachua, FL
2920..................................... Galveston-Texas City, TX......... 0.9403
Galveston, TX
2960..................................... Gary, IN......................... 0.9342
Lake, IN
Porter, IN
2975..................................... Glens Falls, NY.................. 0.8467
Warren, NY
Washington, NY
2980..................................... Goldsboro, NC.................... 0.8778
Wayne, NC
2985..................................... Grand Forks, ND-MN............... 0.9091
Polk, MN
Grand Forks, ND
2995..................................... Grand Junction, CO............... 0.9900
Mesa, CO
3000..................................... Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI 0.9519
Allegan, MI
Kent, MI
[[Page 78452]]
Muskegon, MI
Ottawa, MI
3040..................................... Great Falls, MT.................. 0.8810
Cascade, MT
3060..................................... Greeley, CO...................... 0.9444
Weld, CO
3080..................................... Green Bay, WI.................... 0.9586
Brown, WI
3120..................................... Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High 0.9312
Point, NC.
Alamance, NC
Davidson, NC
Davie, NC
Forsyth, NC
Guilford, NC
Randolph, NC
Stokes, NC
Yadkin, NC
3150..................................... Greenville, NC................... 0.9183
Pitt, NC
3160..................................... Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, 0.9400
SC.
Anderson, SC
Cherokee, SC
Greenville, SC
Pickens, SC
Spartanburg, SC
3180..................................... Hagerstown, MD................... 0.9940
Washington, MD
3200..................................... Hamilton-Middletown, OH.......... 0.9066
Butler, OH
3240..................................... Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle, PA.. 0.9286
Cumberland, PA
Dauphin, PA
Lebanon, PA
Perry, PA
3283..................................... Hartford, CT..................... 1.1054
Hartford, CT
Litchfield, CT
Middlesex, CT
Tolland, CT
3285..................................... Hattiesburg, MS.................. 0.7362
Forrest, MS
Lamar, MS
3290..................................... Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC..... 0.9502
Alexander, NC
Burke, NC
Caldwell, NC
Catawba, NC
3320..................................... Honolulu, HI..................... 1.1013
Honolulu, HI
3350..................................... Houma, LA........................ 0.7721
Lafourche, LA
Terrebonne, LA
3360..................................... Houston, TX...................... 1.0117
Chambers, TX
Fort Bend, TX
Harris, TX
Liberty, TX
Montgomery, TX
Waller, TX
3400..................................... Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH..... 0.9564
Boyd, KY
Carter, KY
Greenup, KY
Lawrence, OH
Cabell, WV
Wayne, WV
3440..................................... Huntsville, AL................... 0.8851
Limestone, AL
Madison, AL
3480..................................... Indianapolis, IN................. 1.0039
Boone, IN
Hamilton, IN
[[Page 78453]]
Hancock, IN
Hendricks, IN
Johnson, IN
Madison, IN
Marion, IN
Morgan, IN
Shelby, IN
3500..................................... Iowa City, IA.................... 0.9654
Johnson, IA
3520..................................... Jackson, MI...................... 0.9146
Jackson, MI
3560..................................... Jackson, MS...................... 0.8406
Hinds, MS
Madison, MS
Rankin, MS
3580..................................... Jackson, TN...................... 0.8900
Chester, TN
Madison, TN
3600..................................... Jacksonville, FL................. 0.9548
Clay, FL
Duval, FL
Nassau, FL
St. Johns, FL
3605..................................... Jacksonville, NC................. 0.8401
Onslow, NC
3610..................................... Jamestown, NY.................... 0.7589
Chautaqua, NY
3620..................................... Janesville-Beloit, WI............ 0.9583
Rock, WI
3640..................................... Jersey City, NJ.................. 1.0923
Hudson, NJ
3660..................................... Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, 0.8202
TN-VA.
Carter, TN
Hawkins, TN
Sullivan, TN
Unicoi, TN
Washington, TN
Bristol City, VA
Scott, VA
Washington, VA
3680..................................... Johnstown, PA.................... 0.7980
Cambria, PA
Somerset, PA
3700..................................... Jonesboro, AR.................... 0.8144
Craighead, AR
3710..................................... Joplin, MO....................... 0.8721
Jasper, MO
Newton, MO
3720..................................... Kalamazoo-Battlecreek, MI........ 1.0350
Calhoun, MI
Kalamazoo, MI
Van Buren, MI
3740..................................... Kankakee, IL..................... 1.0603
Kankakee, IL
3760..................................... Kansas City, KS-MO............... 0.9641
Johnson, KS
Leavenworth, KS
Miami, KS
Wyandotte, KS
Cass, MO
Clay, MO
Clinton, MO
Jackson, MO
Lafayette, MO
Platte, MO
Ray, MO
3800..................................... Kenosha, WI...................... 0.9772
Kenosha, WI
3810..................................... Killeen-Temple, TX............... 0.9242
Bell, TX
Coryell, TX
3840..................................... Knoxville, TN.................... 0.8508
[[Page 78454]]
Anderson, TN
Blount, TN
Knox, TN
Loudon, TN
Sevier, TN
Union, TN
3850..................................... Kokomo, IN....................... 0.8986
Howard, IN
Tipton, IN
3870..................................... La Crosse, WI-MN................. 0.9289
Houston, MN
La Crosse, WI
3880..................................... Lafayette, LA.................... 0.8105
Acadia, LA
Lafayette, LA
St. Landry, LA
St. Martin, LA
3920..................................... Lafayette, IN.................... 0.9067
Clinton, IN
Tippecanoe, IN
3960..................................... Lake Charles, LA................. 0.7959 (0.7972**)
Calcasieu, LA
3980..................................... Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL........ 0.8930
Polk, FL
4000..................................... Lancaster, PA.................... 0.9883
Lancaster, PA
4040..................................... Lansing-East Lansing, MI......... 0.9658
Clinton, MI
Eaton, MI
Ingham, MI
4080..................................... Laredo, TX....................... 0.8747
Webb, TX
4100..................................... Las Cruces, NM................... 0.8784
Dona Ana, NM
4120..................................... Las Vegas, NV-AZ................. 1.1121
Mohave, AZ
Clark, NV
Nye, NV
4150..................................... Lawrence, KS..................... 0.8644
Douglas, KS
4200..................................... Lawton, OK....................... 0.8212
Comanche, OK
4243..................................... Lewiston-Auburn, ME.............. 0.9562
Androscoggin, ME
4280..................................... Lexington, KY.................... 0.8053 (0.9219**)
Bourbon, KY
Clark, KY
Fayette, KY
Jessamine, KY
Madison, KY
Scott, KY
Woodford, KY
4320..................................... Lima, OH......................... 0.9258
Allen, OH
Auglaize, OH
4360..................................... Lincoln, NE...................... 1.0208
Lancaster, NE
4400..................................... Little Rock-North Little, AR..... 0.8826
Faulkner, AR
Lonoke, AR
Pulaski, AR
Saline, AR
4420..................................... Longview-Marshall, TX............ 0.8739
Gregg, TX
Harrison, TX
Upshur, TX
4480..................................... Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA....... 1.1732
Los Angeles, CA
4520..................................... Louisville, KY-IN................ 0.9162
Clark, IN
Floyd, IN
Harrison, IN
[[Page 78455]]
Scott, IN
Bullitt, KY
Jefferson, KY
Oldham, KY
4600..................................... Lubbock, TX...................... 0.8777
Lubbock, TX
4640..................................... Lynchburg, VA.................... 0.9017
Amherst, VA
Bedford City, VA
Bedford, VA
Campbell, VA
Lynchburg City, VA
4680..................................... Macon, GA........................ 0.9596
Bibb, GA
Houston, GA
Jones, GA
Peach, GA
Twiggs, GA
4720..................................... Madison, WI...................... 1.0395
Dane, WI
4800..................................... Mansfield, OH.................... 0.9105
Crawford, OH
Richland, OH
4840..................................... Mayaguez, PR..................... 0.4769
Anasco, PR
Cabo Rojo, PR
Hormigueros, PR
Mayaguez, PR
Sabana Grande, PR
San German, PR
4880..................................... McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX..... 0.8602
Hidalgo, TX
4890..................................... Medford-Ashland, OR.............. 1.0534
Jackson, OR
4900..................................... Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL 0.9633
Brevard, FL
4920..................................... Memphis, TN-AR-MS................ 0.9234
Crittenden, AR
De Soto, MS
Fayette, TN
Shelby, TN
Tipton, TN
4940..................................... Merced, CA....................... 1.0575
Merced, CA
5000..................................... Miami, FL........................ 1.0025 (0.9870**)
Dade, FL
5015..................................... Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ. 1.1360
Hunterdon, NJ
Middlesex, NJ
Somerset, NJ
5080..................................... Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI........... 1.0076
Milwaukee, WI
Ozaukee, WI
Washington, WI
Waukesha, WI
5120..................................... Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI...... 1.1066
Anoka, MN
Carver, MN
Chisago, MN
Dakota, MN
Hennepin, MN
Isanti, MN
Ramsey, MN
Scott, MN
Sherburne, MN
Washington, MN
Wright, MN
Pierce, WI
St. Croix, WI
5140..................................... Missoula, MT..................... 0.9618
Missoula, MT
5160..................................... Mobile, AL....................... 0.7932
[[Page 78456]]
Baldwin, AL
Mobile, AL
5170..................................... Modesto, CA...................... 1.1966
Stanislaus, CA
5190..................................... Monmouth-Ocean, NJ............... 1.0888
Monmouth, NJ
Ocean, NJ
5200..................................... Monroe, LA....................... 0.7913
Ouachita, LA
5240..................................... Montgomery, AL................... 0.8300
Autauga, AL
Elmore, AL
Montgomery, AL
5280..................................... Muncie, IN....................... 0.8580
Delaware, IN
5330..................................... Myrtle Beach, SC................. 0.9022
Horry, SC
5345..................................... Naples, FL....................... 1.0558
Collier, FL
5360..................................... Nashville, TN.................... 1.0108
Cheatham, TN
Davidson, TN
Dickson, TN
Robertson, TN
Rutherford, TN
Sumner, TN
Williamson, TN
Wilson, TN
5380..................................... Nassau-Suffolk, NY............... 1.2921 (1.2907**)
Nassau, NY
Suffolk, NY
5483..................................... New Haven-Bridgeport-Stamford- 1.2254
Waterbury-Danbury, CT.
Fairfield, CT
New Haven, CT
5523..................................... New London-Norwich, CT........... 1.1596
New London, CT
5560..................................... New Orleans, LA.................. 0.9103
Jefferson, LA
Orleans, LA
Plaquemines, LA
St. Bernard, LA
St. Charles, LA
St. James, LA
St. John The Baptist, LA
St. Tammany, LA
5600..................................... New York, NY..................... 1.3587 (1.3586**)
Bronx, NY
Kings, NY
New York, NY
Putnam, NY
Queens, NY
Richmond, NY
Rockland, NY
Westchester, NY
5640..................................... Newark, NJ....................... 1.1625
Essex, NJ
Morris, NJ
Sussex, NJ
Union, NJ
Warren, NJ
5660..................................... Newburgh, NY-PA.................. 1.1170
Orange, NY
Pike, PA
5720..................................... Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Newport 0.8894
News, VA-NC.
Currituck, NC
Chesapeake City, VA
Gloucester, VA
Hampton City, VA
Isle of Wight, VA
James City, VA
Mathews, VA
Newport News City, VA
[[Page 78457]]
Norfolk City, VA
Poquoson City,VA
Portsmouth City, VA
Suffolk City, VA
Virginia Beach City, VA
Williamsburg City, VA
York, VA
5775..................................... Oakland, CA...................... 1.5220
Alameda, CA
Contra Costa, CA
5790..................................... Ocala, FL........................ 0.9153
Marion, FL
5800..................................... Odessa-Midland, TX............... 0.9632
Ector, TX
Midland, TX
5880..................................... Oklahoma City, OK................ 0.8966
Canadian, OK
Cleveland, OK
Logan, OK
McClain, OK
Oklahoma, OK
Pottawatomie, OK
5910..................................... Olympia, WA...................... 1.1006
Thurston, WA
5920..................................... Omaha, NE-IA..................... 0.9754
Pottawattamie, IA
Cass, NE
Douglas, NE
Sarpy, NE
Washington, NE
5945..................................... Orange County, CA................ 1.1611
Orange, CA
5960..................................... Orlando, FL...................... 0.9742
Lake, FL
Orange, FL
Osceola, FL
Seminole, FL
5990..................................... Owensboro, KY.................... 0.8434
Daviess, KY
6015..................................... Panama City, FL.................. 0.8124
Bay, FL
6020..................................... Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH...... 0.8288
Washington, OH
Wood, WV
6080..................................... Pensacola, FL.................... 0.8306
Escambia, FL
Santa Rosa, FL
6120..................................... Peoria-Pekin, IL................. 0.8886
Peoria, IL
Tazewell, IL
Woodford, IL
6160..................................... Philadelphia, PA-NJ.............. 1.0824
Burlington, NJ
Camden, NJ
Gloucester, NJ
Salem, NJ
Bucks, PA
Chester, PA
Delaware, PA
Montgomery, PA
Philadelphia, PA
6200..................................... Phoenix-Mesa, AZ................. 0.9982
Maricopa, AZ
Pinal, AZ
6240..................................... Pine Bluff, AR................... 0.8673
Jefferson, AR
6280..................................... Pittsburgh, PA................... 0.8756
Allegheny, PA
Beaver, PA
Butler, PA
Fayette, PA
Washington, PA
[[Page 78458]]
Westmoreland, PA
6323..................................... Pittsfield, MA................... 1.0439
Berkshire, MA
6340..................................... Pocatello, ID.................... 0.9601
Bannock, ID
6360..................................... Ponce, PR........................ 0.4954
Guayanilla, PR
Juana Diaz, PR
Penuelas, PR
Ponce, PR
Villalba, PR
Yauco, PR
6403..................................... Portland, ME..................... 1.0112
Cumberland, ME
Sagadahoc, ME
York, ME
6440..................................... Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA........ 1.1403
Clackamas, OR
Columbia, OR
Multnomah, OR
Washington, OR
Yamhill, OR
Clark, WA
6483..................................... Providence-Warwick-Pawtucket, RI. 1.1061
Bristol, RI
Kent, RI
Newport, RI
Providence, RI
Washington, RI
6520..................................... Provo-Orem, UT................... 0.9613
Utah, UT
6560..................................... Pueblo, CO....................... 0.8752
Pueblo, CO
6580..................................... Punta Gorda, FL.................. 0.9441
Charlotte, FL
6600..................................... Racine, WI....................... 0.9045
Racine, WI
6640..................................... Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC... 1.0258
Chatham, NC
Durham, NC
Franklin, NC
Johnston, NC
Orange, NC
Wake, NC
6660..................................... Rapid City, SD................... 0.8912
Pennington, SD
6680..................................... Reading, PA...................... 0.9215
Berks, PA
6690..................................... Redding, CA...................... 1.1835
Shasta, CA
6720..................................... Reno, NV......................... 1.0456
Washoe, NV
6740..................................... Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA..... 1.0520
Benton, WA
Franklin, WA
6760..................................... Richmond-Petersburg, VA.......... 0.9397
Charles City County, VA
Chesterfield, VA
Colonial Heights City, VA
Dinwiddie, VA
Goochland, VA
Hanover, VA
Henrico, VA
Hopewell City, VA
New Kent, VA
Petersburg City, VA
Powhatan, VA
Prince George, VA
Richmond City, VA
6780..................................... Riverside-San Bernardino, CA..... 1.0975 (1.0970**)
Riverside, CA
San Bernardino, CA
[[Page 78459]]
6800..................................... Roanoke, VA...................... 0.8428
Botetourt, VA
Roanoke, VA
Roanoke City, VA
Salem City, VA
6820..................................... Rochester, MN.................... 1.1504
Olmsted, MN
6840..................................... Rochester, NY.................... 0.9196
Genesee, NY
Livingston, NY
Monroe, NY
Ontario, NY
Orleans, NY
Wayne, NY
6880..................................... Rockford, IL..................... 0.9626
Boone, IL
Ogle, IL
Winnebago, IL
6895..................................... Rocky Mount, NC.................. 0.8998
Edgecombe, NC
Nash, NC
6920..................................... Sacramento, CA................... 1.1848
El Dorado, CA
Placer, CA
Sacramento, CA
6960..................................... Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI..... 0.9696
Bay, MI
Midland, MI
Saginaw, MI
6980..................................... St. Cloud, MN.................... 1.0215
Benton, MN
Stearns, MN
7000..................................... St. Joseph, MO................... 1.0013
Andrews, MO
Buchanan, MO
7040..................................... St. Louis, MO-IL................. 0.9081
Clinton, IL
Jersey, IL
Madison, IL
Monroe, IL
St. Clair, IL
Franklin, MO
Jefferson, MO
Lincoln, MO
St. Charles, MO
St. Louis, MO
St. Louis City, MO
Warren, MO
Sullivan City, MO
7080..................................... Salem, OR........................ 1.0556
Marion, OR
Polk, OR
7120..................................... Salinas, CA...................... 1.3823
Monterey, CA
7160..................................... Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT......... 0.9487
Davis, UT
Salt Lake, UT
Weber, UT
7200..................................... San Angelo, TX................... 0.8167
Tom Green, TX
7240..................................... San Antonio, TX.................. 0.9023
Bexar, TX
Comal, TX
Guadalupe, TX
Wilson, TX
7320..................................... San Diego, CA.................... 1.1267
San Diego, CA
7360..................................... San Francisco, CA................ 1.4712
Marin, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Mateo, CA
7400..................................... San Jose, CA..................... 1.4744
[[Page 78460]]
Santa Clara, CA
7440..................................... San Juan-Bayamon, PR............. 0.4802
Aguas Buenas, PR
Barceloneta, PR
Bayamon, PR
Canovanas, PR
Carolina, PR
Catano, PR
Ceiba, PR
Comerio, PR
Corozal, PR
Dorado, PR
Fajardo, PR
Florida, PR
Guaynabo, PR
Humacao, PR
Juncos, PR
Los Piedras, PR
Loiza, PR
Luguillo, PR
Manati, PR
Morovis, PR
Naguabo, PR
Naranjito, PR
Rio Grande, PR
San Juan, PR
Toa Alta, PR
Toa Baja, PR
Trujillo Alto, PR
Vega Alta, PR
Vega Baja, PR
Yabucoa, PR
7460..................................... San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso 1.1118
Robles, CA.
San Luis Obispo, CA
7480..................................... Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, 1.0771
CA.
Santa Barbara, CA
7485..................................... Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA....... 1.4779
Santa Cruz, CA
7490..................................... Santa Fe, NM..................... 1.0590
Los Alamos, NM
Santa Fe, NM
7500..................................... Santa Rosa, CA................... 1.2961
Sonoma, CA
7510..................................... Sarasota-Bradenton, FL........... 0.9629
Manatee, FL
Sarasota, FL
7520..................................... Savannah, GA..................... 0.9460
Bryan, GA
Chatham, GA
Effingham, GA
7560..................................... Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton, 0.8522
PA.
Columbia, PA
Lackawanna, PA
Luzerne, PA
Wyoming, PA
7600..................................... Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA..... 1.1479
Island, WA
King, WA
Snohomish, WA
7610..................................... Sharon, PA....................... 0.7881
Mercer, PA
7620..................................... Sheboygan, WI.................... 0.8948
Sheboygan, WI
7640..................................... Sherman-Denison, TX.............. 0.9617
Grayson, TX
7680..................................... Shreveport-Bossier City, LA...... 0.9111
Bossier, LA
Caddo, LA
Webster, LA
7720..................................... Sioux City, IA-NE................ 0.9094
Woodbury, IA
Dakota, NE
[[Page 78461]]
7760..................................... Sioux Falls, SD.................. 0.9441
Lincoln, SD
Minnehaha, SD
7800..................................... South Bend, IN................... 0.9447
St. Joseph, IN
7840..................................... Spokane, WA...................... 1.0660
Spokane, WA
7880..................................... Springfield, IL.................. 0.8738
Menard, IL
Sangamon, IL
7920..................................... Springfield, MO.................. 0.8597
Christian, MO
Greene, MO
Webster, MO
8003..................................... Springfield, MA.................. 1.0173
Hampden, MA
Hampshire, MA
8050..................................... State College, PA................ 0.8461
Centre, PA
8080..................................... Steubenville-Weirton, OH-WV...... 0.8280
Jefferson, OH
Brooke, WV
Hancock, WV
8120..................................... Stockton-Lodi, CA................ 1.0564
San Joaquin, CA
8140..................................... Sumter, SC....................... 0.8520
Sumter, SC
8160..................................... Syracuse, NY..................... 0.9394
Cayuga, NY
Madison, NY
Onondaga, NY
Oswego, NY
8200..................................... Tacoma, WA....................... 1.1078
Pierce, WA
8240..................................... Tallahassee, FL.................. 0.8655
Gadsden, FL
Leon, FL
8280..................................... Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, 0.9024
FL.
Hernando, FL
Hillsborough, FL
Pasco, FL
Pinellas, FL
8320..................................... Terre Haute, IN.................. 0.8582
Clay, IN
Vermillion, IN
Vigo, IN
8360..................................... Texarkana, AR-Texarkana, TX...... 0.8413
Miller, AR
Bowie, TX
8400..................................... Toledo, OH....................... 0.9524
Fulton, OH
Lucas, OH
Wood, OH
8440..................................... Topeka, KS....................... 0.8904
Shawnee, KS
8480..................................... Trenton, NJ...................... 1.0276
Mercer, NJ
8520..................................... Tucson, AZ....................... 0.8926
Pima, AZ
8560..................................... Tulsa, OK........................ 0.8729
Creek, OK
Osage, OK
Rogers, OK
Tulsa, OK
Wagoner, OK
8600..................................... Tuscaloosa, AL................... 0.8440
Tuscaloosa, AL
8640..................................... Tyler, TX........................ 0.9502
Smith, TX
8680..................................... Utica-Rome, NY................... 0.8295
Herkimer, NY
Oneida, NY
[[Page 78462]]
8720..................................... Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA....... 1.3517
Napa, CA
Solano, CA
8735..................................... Ventura, CA...................... 1.1105
Ventura, CA
8750..................................... Victoria, TX..................... 0.8469
Victoria, TX
8760..................................... Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ. 1.0573
Cumberland, NJ
8780..................................... Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA... 0.9964 (0.9975**)
Tulare, CA
8800..................................... Waco, TX......................... 0.8146
McLennan, TX
8840..................................... Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV.......... 1.0971
District of Columbia, DC
Calvert, MD
Charles, MD
Frederick, MD
Montgomery, MD
Prince Georges, MD
Alexandria City, VA
Arlington, VA
Clarke, VA
Culpepper, VA
Fairfax, VA
Fairfax City, VA
Falls Church City, VA
Fauquier, VA
Fredericksburg City, VA
King George, VA
Loudoun, VA
Manassas City, VA
Manassas Park City, VA
Prince William, VA
Spotsylvania, VA
Stafford, VA
Warren, VA
Berkeley, WV
Jefferson, WV
8920..................................... Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA......... 0.8633
Black Hawk, IA
8940..................................... Wausau, WI....................... 0.9570
Marathon, WI
8960..................................... West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL... 1.0059 (1.0362**)
Palm Beach, FL
9000..................................... Wheeling, OH-WV.................. 0.7449
Belmont, OH
Marshall, WV
Ohio, WV
9040..................................... Wichita, KS...................... 0.9472 (0.9468**)
Butler, KS
Harvey, KS
Sedgwick, KS
9080..................................... Wichita Falls, TX................ 0.8395
Archer, TX
Wichita, TX
9140..................................... Williamsport, PA................. 0.8485
Lycoming, PA
9160..................................... Wilmington-Newark, DE-MD......... 1.1121
New Castle, DE
Cecil, MD
9200..................................... Wilmington, NC................... 0.9237
New Hanover, NC
Brunswick, NC
9260..................................... Yakima, WA....................... 1.0322
Yakima, WA
9270..................................... Yolo, CA......................... 0.9378
Yolo, CA
9280..................................... York, PA......................... 0.9150
York, PA
9320..................................... Youngstown-Warren, OH............ 0.9517
Columbiana, OH
[[Page 78463]]
Mahoning, OH
Trumbull, OH
9340..................................... Yuba City, CA.................... 1.0363
Sutter, CA
Yuba, CA
9360..................................... Yuma, AZ......................... 0.8871
Yuma, AZ
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Effective January 1, 2005
2. On page 45815, Table 9 is revised to read as follows:
Table 9.--Wage Index for Rural Areas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wage
Nonurban area index
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama....................................................... 0.7637
Alaska........................................................ 1.1637
Arizona....................................................... 0.9140
Arkansas...................................................... 0.7703
California.................................................... 1.0297
Colorado...................................................... 0.9368
Connecticut................................................... 1.1917
Delaware...................................................... 0.9503
Florida....................................................... 0.8721
Georgia....................................................... 0.8247
Guam.......................................................... 0.9611
Hawaii........................................................ 1.0522
Idaho......................................................... 0.8826
Illinois...................................................... 0.8340
Indiana....................................................... 0.8736
Iowa.......................................................... 0.8550
Kansas........................................................ 0.8087
Kentucky...................................................... 0.7844
Louisiana..................................................... 0.7290
Maine......................................................... 0.9039
Maryland...................................................... 0.9179
Massachusetts................................................. 1.0216
Michigan...................................................... 0.8740
Minnesota..................................................... 0.9339
Mississippi................................................... 0.7583
Missouri...................................................... 0.7829
Montana....................................................... 0.8701
Nebraska...................................................... 0.9035
Nevada........................................................ 0.9832
New Hampshire................................................. 0.9940
New Jersey \1\................................................ ........
New Mexico.................................................... 0.8529
New York...................................................... 0.8403
North Carolina................................................ 0.8500
North Dakota.................................................. 0.7743
Ohio.......................................................... 0.8759
Oklahoma...................................................... 0.7537
Oregon........................................................ 1.0049
Pennsylvania.................................................. 0.8348
Puerto Rico................................................... 0.4047
Rhode Island \1\.............................................. ........
South Carolina................................................ 0.8640
South Dakota.................................................. 0.8393
Tennessee..................................................... 0.7876
Texas......................................................... 0.7910
Utah.......................................................... 0.8843
Vermont....................................................... 0.9375
Virginia...................................................... 0.8479
Virgin Islands................................................ 0.7456
Washington.................................................... 1.0072
West Virginia................................................. 0.8083
Wisconsin..................................................... 0.9498
Wyoming....................................................... 0.9182
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ All counties within the State are classified urban.
3. On page 45817, Table 10 is revised to read as follows:
Table 10.--SNF XYZ: Located in State College, PA
[Wage Index: 0.8461]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent Medicare
RUG Group Labor Wage index Adj. labor Non-labor Adj. rate adjustment days Payment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RVC..................................... $274.56 0.8461 $232.31 $85.65 $317.96 *$339.26 14 $4,750
RHA..................................... $212.18 0.8461 $179.53 $66.19 $245.72 *$262.18 16 $4,195
CC2..................................... $175.71 0.8461 $148.67 $54.82 $203.49 **$463.96 10 $4,640
SSC..................................... $176.74 0.8461 $149.54 $55.13 $204.67 ***$245.60 30 $7,368
IA2..................................... $119.84 0.8461 $101.40 $37.39 $138.79 $138.79 30 $4,164
---------------
Total............................... ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 100 $25,117
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Reflects a 6.7 percent adjustment from section 314 of the BIPA.
**Reflects a 128 percent adjustment from section 511 of the MMA. Section 101(a) of the BBRA no longer applies because of the MMA section 511 adjustment.
***Reflects a 20 percent adjustment from section 101(a) of the BBRA.
4. On page 45821, Table 12 is revised to read as follows:
Table 12.--Projected Impact of FY 2005 Update to the SNF PPS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Wage index Total FY
facilities change 2005 change
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................ 15,252 0.0% 2.8%
Urban............................ 10,016 0.0% 2.8%
Rural............................ 5,236 0.0% 2.8%
Hospital based urban............. 984 0.1% 2.9%
[[Page 78464]]
Freestanding urban............... 8,466 0.0% 2.8%
Hospital based rural............. 640 0.1% 2.9%
Freestanding rural............... 3,708 0.0% 2.8%
Urban by region:
New England.................. 913 -0.6% 2.2%
Middle Atlantic.............. 1,526 -0.7% 2.1%
South Atlantic............... 1,610 0.3% 3.1%
East North Central........... 1,943 0.2% 3.0%
East South Central........... 456 0.0% 2.8%
West North Central........... 691 0.4% 3.2%
West South Central........... 965 0.8% 3.6%
Mountain..................... 432 -0.4% 2.4%
Pacific...................... 1,473 0.4% 3.2%
Rural by region:
New England.................. 149 0.4% 3.2%
Middle Atlantic.............. 254 -0.4% 2.4%
South Atlantic............... 715 -0.3% 2.5%
East North Central........... 948 0.1% 2.9%
Central East South........... 595 -0.4% 2.4%
West North Central........... 1,220 0.5% 3.3%
West South Central........... 817 0.4% 3.2%
Mountain..................... 330 -0.2% 2.6%
Pacific...................... 208 0.0% 2.8%
Ownership:
Government................... 712 0.0% 2.8%
Proprietary.................. 9,457 0.0% 2.8%
Voluntary.................... 3605 0.0% 2.8%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking and Delayed Effective Date
We ordinarily publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the
Federal Register to provide a period for public comment before the
provisions of a notice such as this take effect in accordance with
section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C.
553(b)). We also ordinarily provide a 30-day delay in the effective
date of the provisions of a notice in accordance with section 553(d) of
the APA (5 U.S.C. 553(d)). However, we can waive both the notice and
comment procedure and the 30-day delay in effective date if the
Secretary finds, for good cause, that a notice and comment process is
impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest, and
incorporates a statement of the finding and the reasons therefore in
the notice.
We find it unnecessary to undertake notice-and-comment rulemaking
because this notice merely provides technical corrections to the
regulations. We are not changing our payment methodology, but rather,
are simply implementing correctly the payment methodology that we
previously proposed, received comment on, and subsequently finalized.
Thus, because the public has already had the opportunity to comment on
the payment methodology being used to calculate wage indexes,
additional comment would be unnecessary.
Further, we believe a delayed effective date is unnecessary because
this correction notice merely corrects inadvertent technical errors.
Further, we believe imposing a 30-day delay in the effective date would
be contrary to the public interest for SNF providers in the affected
MSAs. We believe that it is imperative that these providers receive
appropriate SNF PPS payments in as timely a manner as possible, and any
delay in applying the appropriate wage index would be contrary to the
public interest. Further, the changes noted above do not make any
substantive changes to the SNF PPS payment methodology or underlying
payment policies. Therefore, we find good cause to waive notice-and-
comment procedures, as well as the 30-day delay in effective date.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program No. 93.773,
Medicare--Hospital Insurance; and Program No. 93.774, Medicare--
Supplementary Medical Insurance Program)
Dated: December 15, 2004.
Ann Agnew,
Executive Secretary to the Department.
[FR Doc. 04-28157 Filed 12-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P