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Your Input Needed:
Research into Disallowed Reimbursement for CRNA Costs
Through our support of Iowa health care providers, we have become aware of a growing number of instances in Iowa where the Medicare Administrative Contractor, Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS), has disallowed reimbursement to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for their CRNA costs. The denials have been on the basis of what they have deemed to be "unreasonable compensation."
While the financial impact is both varying and seemingly isolated in nature to Iowa providers, the adjustments could serve as a precedent to support further such disallowances not only to CAHs in Iowa, but in other markets as well.
Eide Bailly has discussed this issue with WPS in the past. We are interested in gathering more specifics related to this issue so that we can continue to advise CAHs in Iowa (and elsewhere) on the best course of action to challenge this disallowance; and, ultimately, advocate a position for CAHs.
We are asking hospitals to share data, specifically related to CRNA compensation for the fiscal year related to their most recently filed Medicare cost report. Please include:
1) Whether CRNAs are employed or contracted
2) How many CRNAs work at the hospital
3) Compensation
4) Benefits
5) Hours worked
6) On-call required time
If the CRNAs are contracted and the contract specifies a different rate for on-call versus productive time, please provide the breakout of the fees and hours related to the productive time versus on-call time.
Please be assured that any data and/or information which you provide us will be kept strictly confidential.
All providers responding to our request by April 14, 2014, will receive a summary identifying the average and range of CRNA compensation in Iowa for the last filed Medicare cost report.
We can assist in summarizing the data upon your request. Please e-mail or submit the data to Gwen Moser: GMoser@eidebailly.com or
Gwen Moser
Eide Bailly, LLP
3999 Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 100
Dubuque, Iowa 52002-2273
If you have any questions, please contact Gwen at 563.557.6149.
Thank you for your assistance.
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