This article has been updated as of July 13, 2023.
This time of the year there is a lot of activity with the Hospital Wage Index reporting. We want to make sure you are up to date on all the deadlines and submission dates. Below you will find an outline of the FY 2024 Hospital Wage Index deadlines and 2022 Occupational Mix Survey due date.
Deadline for Hospitals to Request Revisions to Worksheet S-3 Wage Data: September 1, 2023
If your hospital needs to request revisions to the preliminary FY 2025 unaudited FY 2021 Worksheet S-3 wage data file (cost reports with a begin date on or after 10/01/2020 and before 10/01/2021), those revision requests and supporting documentation must be submitted on or before this date.
Deadline for MACs to notify State associations about non-responsive Hospitals: November 3, 2023
The purpose of the letter is to inform the State hospital association and its member hospitals that a hospital’s failure to respond to matters raised by the MAC can result in lowering an area’s wage index value which will lower Medicare payments for all hospitals in the area.
Deadline for MACs to complete all desk reviews: November 15, 2023
This date is the deadline for MACs to complete all desk reviews and they must send a revised Worksheet S-3 to CMS.
Release of revised FY 2025 wage index as PUF: January 31, 2024
These data will have been desk reviewed and verified by the MACs before being published. Also, a file including each urban and rural area’s average hourly wages will be provided.
Deadline for hospitals to submit requests for revisions to FY 2025 PUF: February 16, 2024
Hospitals may submit requests to either 1) correct errors in the January PUR due to CMS or MAC mishandling the wage index data or, 2) revise the MAC desk review adjustments and include supporting documentation for the revision.
IMPORTANT NOTE: MACs must receive the requests and supporting documentation by this date. No new requests for wage index will be accepted after this date.
Deadline for Hospitals to Appeal MAC Adjustments: April 3, 2024
If your hospital is in disagreement with the MAC’s determination of your FY 2025 Hospital Wage Index information, you can request for CMS to intervene. Your request to CMS must include ALL correspondence between the MAC and the hospital along with proof that there was an effort to resolve the issue.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If your MAC did not receive a request prior to the February 16, 2024 deadline, data that was incorrect in the preliminary/January PUF will not be considered for correction.
Approximate Date for FY 2025 Proposed Rule: April/May 2024
This is the approximate date CMS has set to release the proposed rule. This will include the proposed Wage Index and will start the 60-day comment period as well as the 45-day withdrawal for hospitals applying for a geographic reclassification.
Final FY 2025 Wage Index & Occupational Mix Data Released: April 29, 2024
CMS will publish the Final FY 2025 Wage Index and Occupational Mix Data on the CMS website. It is extremely important that you verify all of your hospital’s information is accurately reported. You will have approximately 1 month to review and submit corrections to both your MAC and CMS.
Deadline to Submit Corrections to Final FY 2025 Wage Index & Occ Mix: May 29, 2024
Your hospital must submit all corrections to your MAC and CMS by this date, if it is necessary.
IMPORTANT NOTE: CMS is asking that you submit all appeals and supporting documentation for the FY 2025 Wage Index through the Wage Index Appeals (WIA) module in the Medicare Electronic Application Request Information System (MEARIS). More information regarding this system can be found here.
Approximate Date for the Publication of the FY 2025 Final Rules with Wage Index Data Corrections: August 1, 2024
Effective Date of FY 2025 Wage Index: October 1, 2024
Contact Blue & Co.
Our team of reimbursement experts are here to assist your hospital with any questions, appeals, submission process, and more when it comes to the Wage Index Survey and Occupational Mix. We will work with your hospital to help ensure compliance with CMS regulations and assist in appropriately capturing all of the information required.
Please reach out to your local Blue & Co. Advisor or contact one of our experts listed below if your organization needs more information about the Hospital Wage Index Reporting timeline for 2023 – 2024.
Kyle Smith, CPA, 340B ACE, Director
kcsmith@blueandco.com
Past Deadlines:
Approximate Date for FY 2024 Proposed Rule: April/May 2023
This is the approximate date CMS has set to release the proposed rule. This will include the proposed Wage Index and will start the 60-day comment period as well as the 45-day withdrawal for hospitals applying for a geographic reclassification.
Final FY 2024 Wage Index & Occupational Mix Data Released: April 28, 2023
CMS will publish the Final FY 2024 Wage Index and Occupational Mix Data on the CMS website. It is extremely important that you verify all of your hospital’s information is accurately reported. You will have approximately 1 month to review and submit corrections to both your MAC and CMS.
Deadline to Submit Corrections to Final FY 2024 Wage Index & Occ Mix: May 26, 2023
Your hospital must submit all corrections to your MAC and CMS by this date, if it is necessary.
IMPORTANT NOTE: CMS is asking that you submit all appeals and supporting documentation for the FY 2024 Wage Index through the Wage Index Appeals (WIA) module in the Medicare Electronic Application Request Information System (MEARIS). More information regarding this system can be found here.
2022 Occupational Mix Survey Due: June 30, 2023
PPS hospitals must submit CY 2022 Occupational Mix data to their MAC. Hospitals must complete the survey using the Excel file posted on the CMS website located here.
Once your organization has submitted your data, here are two other dates to keep in mind:
- Approximate Date for the Publication of the FY 2024 Final Rules with Wage Index Data Corrections: August 1, 2023
- Effective Date of FY 2024 Wage Index: October 1, 2023
