The latest iteration of the semi-annual CMS regulatory agenda, published in the December 9, 2002 Federal Register, includes the following items of particular interest to hospitals (other than annual updates and other routine items): (1) CMS-1126-P, projected to be published in November 2002 (obviously wrong), would "reduce the (payment) for bad debt for all providers .. by 30 percent"; (2) CMS-1171-P, projected to be published in January 2003, "clarifies the Medicare DSH adjustment ... in reference to the inclusion of Medicaid patient days"; and (3) CMS-1727-P, projected to be published in May 2003, "would redefine, clarify and update the guidelines and procedures for provider reimbursement review board appeals." Historically this document has been proven to be a very unreliable predictor of when a particular document is actually published, if at all.

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