E6-13785. Reimbursement Rates for Calendar Year 2006

AGENCY:

Indian Health Service, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Notice is given that the Director of Indian Health Service (IHS), under the authority of sections 321(a) and 322(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 248 and 249(b)), Public Law 83-568 (42 U.S.C. 2001 (a)), and the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), has approved the following rates for inpatient and outpatient medical care provided by IHS facilities for Calendar Year 2006 for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and beneficiaries of other Federal programs. The Medicare Part A inpatient rates are excluded from the table below as they are paid based on the prospective payment system. Since the inpatient rates set forth below do not include all physician services and practitioner services, additional payment may be available to the extent that those services meet applicable requirements. Public Law 106-554, section 432, dated December 21, 2000, authorized IHS facilities to file Medicare Part B claims with the carrier for payment for physician and certain other practitioner services provided on or after July 1, 2001.

	Calendar year 2006
Inpatient Hospital Per Diem Rate (Excludes Physician/Practitioner Services):
Lower 48 States	$1,660
Alaska	2,131
Outpatient Per Visit Rate (Excluding Medicare):
Lower 48 States	242
Alaska	406
Outpatient Per Visit Rate (Medicare):
Lower 48 States	193
Alaska	348
Medicare Part B Inpatient Ancillary Per Diem Rate:
Lower 48 States	340
Alaska	625

Outpatient Surgery Rate (Medicare)

Established Medicare rates for freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Centers.

Effective Date for Calendar Year 2006 Rates

Consistent with previous annual rate revisions, the Calendar Year 2006 rates will be effective for services provided on/or after January 1, 2006 to the extent consistent with payment authorities including the applicable Medicaid State plan.

Dated: June 27, 2006.

Charles W. Grim,

Assistant Surgeon General, Director, Indian Health Service.