After more than a decade, CMS ups hospitals' photocopying reimbursement.
Hospitals will be able to collect more money for expenses involved in photocopying medical records for quality improvement organizations next year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services increased the per-page rate from 7 cents to 12 cents in a final ruled published in the Dec. 5 Federal Register. The rule is designed to reflect inflationary changes in labor and supply costs since CMS' original determination in its Oct. 22, 1992, final rule on the subject. The increase goes into effect Jan. 5, 2004. To see the rule, go to
www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a031205c.html. Lesson Learned: Prospective payment system hospitals can now collect more for photocopies they prepare for QIOs.