[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 78716-78719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30663]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

42 CFR Parts 403, 405, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 425, 489, 495, and 
498

[CMS-1612-CN]
RIN 0938-AS12


Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the 
Physician Fee Schedule, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, Access to 
Identifiable Data for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation 
Models & Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2015; Corrections

AGENCY: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS.

ACTION: Correction of final rule with comment period.

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SUMMARY: This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the 
final rule with comment period published in the Federal Register on 
November 13, 2014, entitled ``Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment 
Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule, Clinical Laboratory Fee 
Schedule, Access to Identifiable Data for the Center for Medicare and 
Medicaid Innovation Models & Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2015.''

DATES: The correcting document is effective January 1, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Melissa Heesters (410) 786-0618, for 
issues related to reports of payments or other transfers of value to 
covered recipients.
    Amy Gruber (410) 786-1542, for issues related to changes in 
geographic area designations for ambulance payment.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    In FR Doc. 2014-26183 of November 13, 2014 (79 FR 67547 through 
68092), there were a number of technical errors that are identified and 
corrected in the Correction of Errors section below. These corrections 
are effective January 1, 2015. We note that the ambulance fee schedule 
ZIP code files for the CY 2015 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule 
with comment period as corrected in this correction notice are 
available on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AmbulanceFeeSchedule/index.html.

II. Summary of Errors

A. Summary of Errors in the Preamble

    On page 67548, we inadvertently only listed Sec.  403.904(c)(8) 
with a compliance date of January 1, 2016 for new data collection 
requirements. However, all of the changes in Sec.  403.904 are 
effective January 1, 2016.
    On pages 67747, 67749, 67750 and 67993 in our discussion of the 
updated Zip code analysis based on OMB's revised delineations and 
updated Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes, the percentages and 
totals of the ZIP codes changing from urban to rural and from rural to 
urban, the percentages and totals of the ZIP codes not changed, and the 
referenced state impacts are incorrect due to a technical error in the 
application of the updated RUCA codes. In addition, the total number of 
ZIP codes is incorrect.
    On pages 67748 through 67749, in Table 47: Updated ZIP Codes 
Analysis Based on OMB's Revised Delineations and Updated RUCA Codes, 
the totals and percentages of the ZIP codes changing from urban to 
rural and from rural to urban, and the totals and percentages of the 
ZIP codes not

[[Page 78717]]

changed are incorrect in certain rows of the table due to a technical 
error in the application of the updated RUCA codes. In addition, the 
total number of ZIP codes in East Missouri and the total number of ZIP 
codes in the country are incorrect.

 B. Summary and Correction of Errors on the CMS Web Site

    As discussed in section II.A. of this correcting document, as a 
result of a technical error in the application of the updated RUCA 
codes, certain ZIP code data in Table 47 of the CY 2015 PFS final rule 
with comment period and the updated analysis of this data in that final 
rule with comment period were incorrect. For the same reason, there 
were errors in the ambulance fee schedule ZIP code files that were made 
available on the CMS Web site. These errors are corrected in the 
revised ZIP code files available on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/AmbulanceFeeSchedule/index.html.

III. Waiver of Proposed Rulemaking

    We ordinarily publish a notice of proposed rulemaking in the 
Federal Register to provide a period for public comment before the 
provisions of a rule take effect in accordance with section 553(b) of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). However, we 
can waive this notice and comment procedure if the Secretary finds, for 
good cause, that the notice and comment process is impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and incorporates a 
statement of the finding and the reasons therefore in the notice.
    Section 553(d) of the APA ordinarily requires a 30-day delay in the 
effective date of final rules after the date of their publication in 
the Federal Register. This 30-day delay in effective date can be 
waived, however, if an agency finds for good cause that the delay is 
impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest, and the 
agency incorporates a statement of the findings and its reasons in the 
rule issued.
    This document merely corrects typographical and technical errors in 
the preamble of the CY 2015 PFS final rule with comment period. The 
provisions of that final rule with comment period have been subjected 
to notice and comment procedures. The corrections contained in this 
document are consistent with, and do not make substantive changes to, 
the policies and payment methodologies that were adopted in the CY 2015 
PFS final rule with comment period. As a result, the corrections made 
through this correcting document are intended to ensure that the CY 
2015 PFS final rule with comment period accurately reflects the 
policies adopted in that rule. Therefore, we find for good cause that 
it is unnecessary and would be contrary to the public interest to 
undertake further notice and comment procedures to incorporate the 
corrections in this document into the CY 2015 PFS final rule with 
comment period. For the same reasons, we find that there is good cause 
to waive the 30-day delay in the effective date for these corrections.
    Further, we believe that it is in the public interest to ensure 
that the CY 2015 PFS final rule with comment period accurately reflects 
our policies as of the date they take effect. Therefore, we find that 
delaying the effective date of these corrections beyond the effective 
date of the final rule with comment period would be contrary to the 
public interest. In so doing, we find good cause to waive the 30-day 
delay in effective date.

IV. Correction of Errors

    In FR Doc. 2014-26183 of November 13, 2014 (79 FR 67547), make the 
following corrections:

A. Correction of Errors in the Preamble

    1. On page 67548, first column, fourth full paragraph, line 3, 
remove ``(c)(8)''.
    2. On page 67747, second column, first full paragraph,
    a. Line 6, the phrase ``42,918 ZIP codes'' is corrected to read 
``42,919 ZIP codes''.
    b. Line 9, the phrase ``approximately 92.02'' is corrected to read 
``approximately 95.22''.
    c. Line 14, the phrase ``from rural to urban (3,038'' is corrected 
to read ``from rural to urban (1,600''.
    d. Line 15, the phrase ``or 7.08 percent)'' is corrected to read 
``or 3.73 percent)''.
    e. Line 16, the phrase ``(387 or 0.90 percent)'' is corrected to 
read ``(451 or 1.05 percent).''.
    f. Line 21, the phrase ``providers and suppliers in 387 ZIP'' is 
corrected to read ``providers and suppliers in 451 ZIP''.
    3. On page 67747, third column,
    a. Line 1, the phrase ``codes within 41 states'' is corrected to 
read ``codes within 42 states''.
    b. Line 6, the phrase ``state of California'' is corrected to read 
``state of Ohio''.
    c. Line 8, the phrase ``a total of 43, or 1.58 percent'' is 
corrected to read ``a total of 54, or 3.63 percent.''.
    d. Line 9, the phrase ``providers and suppliers in 3, 038 ZIP'' is 
corrected to read ``providers and suppliers in 1,600 ZIP''.
    e. Line 10, the phrase ``within 46 states'' is corrected to read 
``within 44 states''.
    f. Line 15, the phrase ``The state of Pennsylvania has'' is 
corrected to read ``The state of West Virginia has''.
    g. Line 17, the phrase ``urban (293, or 13.06 percent)'' is 
corrected to read ``urban (149, or 15.92 percent).''.
    h. Lines 17 through 21, the phrase ``, while West Virginia has the 
greatest percentage of ZIP codes changing from rural to urban (269 Zip 
codes, or 28.74 percent)'' is removed.
    4. On pages 67748 through 67749, Table 47: Updated ZIP Codes 
Analysis Based on OMB's Revised Delineations and Updated RUCA Codes, 
the table is corrected to read as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Total ZIP                  Total ZIP
                                                                           codes     Percentage of    codes     Percentage of  Total ZIP   Percentage of
                     State/ Territory *                       Total ZIP   changed      total ZIP     changed      total ZIP    codes not     total ZIP
                                                                codes     rural to       codes       urban to       codes       changed      codes not
                                                                           urban                      rural                                   changed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK..........................................................        276          0            0.00          0            0.00        276          100.00
AL..........................................................        854         43            5.04          8            0.94        803           94.03
AR..........................................................        725         19            2.62          9            1.24        697           96.14
AS..........................................................          1          0            0.00          0            0.00          1          100.00
AZ..........................................................        569         21            3.69          7            1.23        541           95.08
CA..........................................................       2723         85            3.12         43            1.58       2595           95.30
CO..........................................................        677          4            0.59          9            1.33        664           98.08
CT..........................................................        445         37            8.31          0            0.00        408           91.69
DC..........................................................        303          0            0.00          0            0.00        303          100.00
DE..........................................................         99          6            6.06          0            0.00         93           93.94
EK..........................................................         63          0            0.00          0            0.00         63          100.00

[[Page 78718]]

 
EM..........................................................        857         35            4.08          4            0.47        818           95.45
FL..........................................................       1513         69            4.56          9            0.59       1435           94.84
FM..........................................................          4          0            0.00          0            0.00          4          100.00
GA..........................................................       1032         47            4.55          4            0.39        981           95.06
GU..........................................................         21          0            0.00          0            0.00         21          100.00
HI..........................................................        143          9            6.29          3            2.10        131           91.61
IA..........................................................       1080         20            1.85          3            0.28       1057           97.87
ID..........................................................        335          0            0.00          0            0.00        335          100.00
IL..........................................................       1628         68            4.18          7            0.43       1553           95.39
IN..........................................................       1000         33            3.30         20            2.00        947           94.70
KY..........................................................       1030         30            2.91          5            0.49        995           96.60
LA..........................................................        739         69            9.34          1            0.14        669           90.53
MA..........................................................        751          8            1.07          9            1.20        734           97.74
MD..........................................................        630         69           10.95          0            0.00        561           89.05
ME..........................................................        505          5            0.99         12            2.38        488           96.63
MH..........................................................          2          0            0.00          0            0.00          2          100.00
MI..........................................................       1185         22            1.86         21            1.77       1142           96.37
MN..........................................................       1043         31            2.97          7            0.67       1005           96.36
MP..........................................................          3          0            0.00          0            0.00          3          100.00
MS..........................................................        541         14            2.59          1            0.18        526           97.23
MT..........................................................        411          0            0.00          3            0.73        408           99.27
NC..........................................................       1101         87            7.90         10            0.91       1004           91.19
ND..........................................................        419          2            0.48          0            0.00        417           99.52
NE..........................................................        632          7            1.11          6            0.95        619           97.94
NH..........................................................        292          0            0.00          2            0.68        290           99.32
NJ..........................................................        747          1            0.13          2            0.27        744           99.60
NM..........................................................        438          4            0.91          2            0.46        432           98.63
NV..........................................................        257          1            0.39          2            0.78        254           98.83
NY..........................................................       2246         84            3.74         42            1.87       2120           94.39
OH..........................................................       1487         23            1.55         54            3.63       1410           94.82
OK..........................................................        791          5            0.63          7            0.88        779           98.48
OR..........................................................        495         26            5.25          9            1.82        460           92.93
PA..........................................................       2244        129            5.75         38            1.69       2077           92.56
PR..........................................................        177         21           11.86          0            0.00        156           88.14
PW..........................................................          2          0            0.00          0            0.00          2          100.00
RI..........................................................         91          2            2.20          1            1.10         88           96.70
SC..........................................................        543         47            8.66          2            0.37        494           90.98
SD..........................................................        418          0            0.00          1            0.24        417           99.76
TN..........................................................        814         52            6.39         12            1.47        750           92.14
TX..........................................................       2726         64            2.35         32            1.17       2630           96.48
UT..........................................................        359          2            0.56          0            0.00        357           99.44
VA..........................................................       1277         98            7.67         19            1.49       1160           90.84
VI..........................................................         16          0            0.00          0            0.00         16          100.00
VT..........................................................        309          3            0.97          0            0.00        306           99.03
WA..........................................................        744         17            2.28          6            0.81        721           96.91
WI..........................................................        919         19            2.07          5            0.54        895           97.39
WK..........................................................        711         11            1.55          7            0.98        693           97.47
WM..........................................................        342          2            0.58          3            0.88        337           98.54
WV..........................................................        936        149           15.92          3            0.32        784           83.76
WY..........................................................        198          0            0.00          1            0.51        197           99.49
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    TOTALS..................................................      42919       1600            3.73        451            1.05      40868           95.22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* ZIP code analysis includes U.S. States and Territories (FM--Federated States of Micronesia, GU--Guam, MH--Marshall Islands, MP--Northern Mariana
  Islands, PW--Palau, AS--American Samoa; VI--Virgin Islands; PR--Puerto Rico). Missouri is divided into east and west regions due to work distribution
  of the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs): EM--East Missouri, WM--West Missouri. Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas were changed as of
  January 2010 to East Kansas (EK) and the rest of the state is West Kansas (WK).

    5. On page 67749, third column, first partial paragraph,
    a. Line 4, the phrase ``indicates that 3,038 ZIP codes'' is 
corrected to read ``indicates that 1,600 ZIP codes''.
    b. Line 9, the phrase ``analysis indicates 387 ZIP codes'' is 
corrected to read ``analysis indicates 451 ZIP codes''.
    6. On page 67750, second column, second full paragraph,
    a. Line 4, the phrase ``(a total of 3,425 ZIP codes'' is corrected 
to read ``(a total of 2,051 ZIP codes''.
    b. Line 6, the phrase ``42,918 ZIP codes, or 7.98 percent)'' is 
corrected to read ``42,919 ZIP codes, or 4.78 percent)''.
    7. On page 67993, first column, third full paragraph,
    a. Line 2, the phrase ``approximately 92.02'' is corrected to read 
``approximately 95.22''.
    b. Line 7, the phrase ``from rural to urban (3,038'' is corrected 
to read ``from rural to urban (1,600''.
    c. Line 8, the phrase ``or 7.08 percent)'' is corrected to read 
``or 3.73 percent)''.

[[Page 78719]]

    d. Line 9, the phrase ``(387 or 0.90 percent)'' is corrected to 
read ``(451 or 1.05 percent).''.
    e. Line 14, the phrase ``providers and suppliers in 387 ZIP'' is 
corrected to read ``providers and suppliers in 451 ZIP''.
    f. Line 15, the phrase ``codes within 41 states'' is corrected to 
read ``codes within 42 states''.
    g. Line 21, the phrase ``3,038 ZIP codes within 46 states'' is 
corrected to read ``1,600 ZIP codes within 44 states''.

    Dated: December 23, 2014.
C'Reda Weeden,
Executive Secretary to the Department, Department of Health and Human 
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-30663 Filed 12-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4120-01-P