Medicare Managed Care Manual 
Chapter 17, Subchapter C 
Cost Apportionment for Cost-Based HMO/CMPs 
 
Last Updated - Rev. 17, 01-01-03 
 
Table of Contents 
 
10 - Cost Apportionment for Cost-Based Health Maintenance Organization and 
Competitive Medical Plans (HMO/CMPs) 
10.1 - Objectives of Apportionment 
20 - Cost-Based HMO/CMP Services Furnished Non-Enrolled Medicare Patients 
30 - Apportionment of Provider Services 
40 - Provider Services Furnished Directly by Cost-Based HMO/CMPs 
50 - Provider Services Furnished by the Cost-Based HMO/CMPs Through Arrangements 
60 - Apportionment of Physician and Other Part B Services 
70 - Apportionment of Medical Services Furnished Directly and Under Arrangements 
70.1 - Services Furnished Directly 
70.2 - Services Furnished Under Arrangements 
80 - Emergency and Urgently Needed Provider Services, and Out of Area Provider 
Services for Which the Cost-Based HMO/CMP Assumes Financial Responsibility 
90 - Emergency and Urgently Needed Medical Services and Other Covered Medical 
Services for Which the Cost-Based HMO/CMP Assumes Financial Responsibility 
100 - Apportionment of Administrative and General Costs Not Directly Associated With 
Providing Medical Care 
110 - Allocation and Distribution of Other Administrative and General Costs 
120 - Alternate Allocation and Apportionment Methods 
 
 
10 - Cost Apportionment for Cost-Based Health Maintenance 
Organization and Competitive Medical Plans (HMO/CMPs) 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The term apportionment, as used here, refers to the process of distributing allowable costs 
among various groups of cost-based HMO/CMP patients.  This chapter sets forth 
instructions for apportionment of the total allowable direct and indirect costs of the cost-
based HMO/CMP among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the HMO/CMP, other  enrollees, and any non-enrolled patients.  Certain costs incurred by HMO/CMPs for the 
purpose of meeting special Medicare program requirements are separately identified and 
paid in full by Medicare.  These are discussed in Chapter 17, Subchapter B. 
10.1 - Objectives of Apportionment 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The objectives of the apportionment process are to assure that: 
  Costs of covered care to Medicare enrollees will not be borne by non-Medicare 
enrollees and non-enrolled patients of the cost-based HMO/CMP; and  
  Costs of services to non-Medicare enrollees and non-enrolled patients will not be 
borne by Medicare enrollees. 
20 - Cost-Based HMO/CMP Services Furnished Non-Enrolled Medicare 
Patients 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The HMO/CMP may furnish services to Medicare beneficiaries who are not enrolled in 
the HMO/CMPs prepayment plan.  Since the contract with CMS is limited to Medicare 
beneficiaries actually enrolled in the HMO/CMP, the cost apportionment process 
distinguishes between Medicare enrollees of the HMO/CMP and non-enrolled Medicare 
patients.  For services furnished Medicare patients not enrolled in the HMO/CMP, 
Medicare payment is made through the Part A intermediary or Part B carrier, outside the 
scope of the cost-based HMO/CMP contract with CMS. 
30 - Apportionment of Provider Services 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
A provider of services (e.g., a hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health agency, 
comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation center) which furnishes services to the 
HMO/CMP enrollees is subject to the same principles of reimbursement under Medicare 
as are providers which do not have HMO/CMP involvement.  Consequently, except for 
specific instructions in this chapter regarding apportionment of provider costs, the rules 
in the Medicare Provider Reimbursement Manual (Pub. 15) apply. 
40 - Provider Services Furnished Directly by Cost-Based HMO/CMPs 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
When a provider owned or operated by the cost-based HMO/CMP, or related to the 
HMO/CMP by common ownership or control (referred to here as a "plan provider"), 
furnishes services directly to the HMO/CMPs enrollees, it is subject to the same cost 
finding and apportionment requirements or the prospective payment system applicable to 
other providers under Medicare.  These are set forth in Chapters 23 and 28 of the 
Medicare Provider Reimbursement Manual (Pub. 15), Part I.  An approved method of 
cost finding described in that manual must be used to determine the actual cost of 
covered services furnished directly by the HMO/CMP during the reporting period.  The essential difference between cost-based HMO/CMP and non-HMO/CMP (i.e., 
unrelated) providers is that a cost-based plan provider will, in effect, have two separate 
reimbursement settlements with the Medicare program.  It will have, one for Medicare 
patients who are not enrolled in the cost-based HMO/CMP, and one for Medicare 
beneficiaries who are cost-based HMO/CMP enrollees. 
50 - Provider Services Furnished by the Cost-Based HMO/CMPs 
Through Arrangements 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
Costs of covered services the cost-based HMO/CMP furnishes to Medicare enrollees 
through arrangements with non-plan providers will, in most cases, be the amount the 
HMO/CMP pays the provider under its financial arrangement, to the extent it is found 
reasonable (subject to the rules in Chapter 17 (Subchapters A and B)).  The 
apportionment process used to determine the reasonable cost of, or prospective payment 
for, provider services furnished to the Medicare enrollees must be on the same basis that 
is used by the provider in determining the reasonable cost of, or prospective payment for, 
provider services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries who are not cost-based HMO/CMP 
enrollees, subject to the rules set forth in Chapter 17.  However, if the special nature or 
terms of the cost-based HMO/CMPs financial arrangements with the provider would 
result in the Medicare program bearing the costs of delivering care to individuals other 
than Medicare enrollees of the cost-based HMO/CMP, the apportionment must be on 
some other appropriate basis approved by CMS intended to assure that the share allocated 
to the Medicare program does not include costs of delivering care to non-Medicare 
enrollees. 
When the HMO/CMP elects to have hospital or skilled nursing facility providers seek 
reimbursement directly from the Fee-For-Service (FFS) system for covered services 
furnished to the HMO/CMPs Medicare enrollees, the share to be borne by CMS is the 
amount that the FFS system pays the provider.  This will be determined on the same 
approved basis otherwise used by the hospital or skilled nursing facility provider in 
apportioning Medicares share of allowable costs or the Medicare prospective payment 
for covered services furnished Medicare beneficiaries who are not enrollees of the 
HMO/CMP. 
60 - Apportionment of Physician and Other Part B Services 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The following sections set forth the requirements for apportionment of the allowable 
costs of physician services and other Part B services.  In general, medical services are 
furnished through the HMO/CMPs medical service facility or through arrangements with 
a medical group or IPA. 
70 - Apportionment of Medical Services Furnished Directly and Under 
Arrangements 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The apportionment rules contained in this section shall apply to cost-based HMO/CMPs.  70.1 - Services Furnished Directly 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The total allowable cost of Part B physician and supplier services (see Chapter 17, 
Subpart B, 120-150) furnished directly shall be apportioned to Medicare on the basis of 
the ratio of covered Part B services furnished to Medicare enrollees to total services 
furnished to all the organizations enrollees and non-enrolled patients. 
The HMO/CMP must use a method for reporting costs and statistics that is approved by 
CMS.  CMS will base its approval on findings that the method: 
  Results in an accurate and equitable allocation of allowable costs; and  
  Is justifiable from an administrative and cost efficiency standpoint. 
For example, if the HMO/CMP elects to use a relative value system to apportion costs, 
the HMO/CMP must use the entire system as described by the designer of the system, 
and obtain CMS approval before implementation. 
70.2 - Services Furnished Under Arrangements 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The Part B physician and supplier services that the cost-based HMO/CMP furnishes 
under arrangement are grouped into two categories for apportionment purposes.  The 
basis the HMO/CMP uses to pay for a service determines in which category the service is 
grouped.  The two categories are: 
  Services furnished under an arrangement that provides for the cost-based 
HMO/CMP to pay for the service on a fee-for-service (FFS) basis; and  
  Services furnished under an arrangement that provides for the cost-based 
HMO/CMP to pay for the service on some basis other than FFS.   
If the arrangement provides for the HMO/CMP to pay for these services on a FFS basis, 
the total cost for the services furnished under such arrangement shall be apportioned 
between Medicare enrollees and others based on the ratio of charges for Medicare-
covered services furnished to Medicare enrollees to total charges for services furnished to 
all enrollees and non-enrolled patients.  (See payment limitations contained in Chapter 
17, Subchapter B, 250-300).  If apportionment on this basis would result in Medicare 
bearing the cost of furnishing services to individuals who are not Medicare enrollees, the 
Medicare share must be determined on another basis (approved by CMS) to ensure that 
Medicare pays only for services furnished to Medicare enrollees. 
If the arrangement provides for the HMO/CMP to pay for these services on some basis 
other than FFS, the reasonable cost the HMO/CMP pays, under the financial arrangement 
for the services furnished, shall be apportioned between Medicare enrollees and others 
based on the ratio of Medicare-covered services furnished to Medicare enrollees to total 
services furnished to all enrollees and non-enrolled patients.  If apportionment on this 
basis would result in Medicare bearing the cost of furnishing services to individuals who 
are not Medicare enrollees, the Medicare share must be determined on another basis  (approved by CMS) to ensure that Medicare pays only for services furnished to Medicare 
enrollees. 
80 - Emergency and Urgently Needed Provider Services, and Out of 
Area Provider Services for Which the Cost-Based HMO/CMP Assumes 
Financial Responsibility 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
The Medicare FFS system may pay the providers for the reasonable cost of covered 
emergency or urgently needed services and other covered out of area services for which 
the cost-based HMO/CMP assumes financial responsibility and which are furnished to 
the HMO/CMPs Medicare enrollees. 
Alternatively, the HMO/CMP may reimburse a provider for these services, in which case 
payment will be made to the HMO/CMP through the cost reporting mechanism.  
However, payment to the HMO/CMP for such services is allowable only to the extent 
that it does not exceed the reasonable cost for the service or Medicares prospective 
payment for the service, as defined in 42 CFR, Parts 405, 412, and 413. 
Exception: 
Payment in excess of the amount allowed under 42 CFR, Parts 405, 412, and 413 may be 
made if the HMO/CMP demonstrates to CMSs satisfaction that the excess payment is 
justified on the basis of advantages gained by the HMO/CMP.  (See 42 CFR 417.558.) 
90 - Emergency and Urgently Needed Medical Services and Other 
Covered Medical Services for Which the Cost-Based HMO/CMP 
Assumes Financial Responsibility 
(Rev.  17, 01-01-03) 
Payments for services to non-plan physicians and suppliers for purchased services, such 
as emergency or urgently needed care outside the HMO/CMP or unusual specialty 
services not available within the HMO/CMP, are apportioned to Medicare enrollees in 
accordance with the principles set forth in section 70 of this chapter.  In most cases, this 
will limit CMSs payment to the HMO/CMP to what the FFS system would have paid for 
the service in that area. 
100 - Apportionment of Administrative and General Costs Not Directly 
Associated With Providing Medical Care 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
Enrollment and marketing costs (as defined in Chapter 17, Subchapter B, section 160), 
membership costs (as defined in Chapter 17, Subchapter B, section 180), as well as other 
administrative and general costs of the HMO/CMP that benefit the total enrolled 
population of the HMO/CMP which are not directly associated with providing medical 
care, are apportioned on the basis of a ratio of Medicare enrollment to total HMO/CMP 
enrollment.  These costs are classified as Plan Administration costs.  Examples of such 
costs are:    Directors salaries and fees;  
  Executive and staff administrative salaries;  
  Organizational costs; and  
  Other costs of administering the plan.   
110 - Allocation and Distribution of Other Administrative and General 
Costs 
(Rev. 4, 10-01-01) 
Administrative and General (A&G) costs other than those described in section 100 of this 
chapter which bear a significant relationship to the services rendered are not apportioned 
to Medicare directly.  Instead, these costs are allocated or distributed to the components 
of the cost-based HMO/CMP which, in turn, are then apportioned to Medicare in 
accordance with the rules contained in this chapter.  The allocation or distribution process 
occurs in two steps: 
1.  The total allowable costs of a separate entity or department that performs 
administrative services (e.g., centralized purchasing, accounting, data processing) 
that can be quantitatively measured, should be allocated or distributed to each 
component of the HMO/CMP in reasonable proportion to the benefits received by 
that component.   
2.  Those remaining service-related administrative costs that cannot otherwise be 
distributed or allocated in reasonable proportion to the benefits received by the 
components must be allocated to the components on the basis of a ratio of total 
incurred and distributed cost of the component to total incurred and distributed 
cost to all components.   
120 - Alternate Allocation and Apportionment Methods 
(Rev.  17, 01-01-03) 
A method of apportionment or basis for allocation of costs other than the methods 
prescribed in this chapter may be used, provided the desired change results in a more 
accurate and equitable apportionment or allocation of costs and is justifiable from an 
administrative cost standpoint.  An HMO/CMP that desires to use an alternative method 
of apportionment or basis for allocation of costs, which represents a departure from the 
method used in the previous cost reporting period, must submit its request to CMS in 
writing at least 90 days prior to the beginning of the period in which the different method 
or basis of allocation is to be used.  The HMO/CMPs request would state the specific 
change it desires and explain how this will result in a more accurate and equitable 
apportionment or allocation. 
CMSs approval of a request to change methods will be given to the cost-based 
HMO/CMP in writing and is binding as of the approval date.  Once approval is given, the 
HMO/CMP is bound to this method for the cost reporting period to which the request  applies and all subsequent periods, unless CMS approves a subsequent request to change 
methods.