Thus, the hospital will not be required to furnish such diagnostic services directly or under arrangements and the payments for surgical procedures, clinic visits, emergency room visits, etc. The new bundling rule will not apply to services hospitals furnish to SNF residents. The bundling rule will be effective for services furnished beginning on July 1, 2000. The new rules are final. These new rules will significantly alter Medicare reimbursement for hospitals participating in the Medicare program.
Estimates vary considerably by hospital-type, bed size and geographic region.
Moreover, HCFA's estimates are based on numerous questionable assumptions. Furthermore, HCFA's assumptions are based on claims experience from a period when hospitals did not always accurately code claims. Payment interruptions and delays should be anticipated. Administrative Burden . Hospitals will struggle, at least in the early years, to understand the many nuances of the new payment system and to reconfigure internal systems accordingly.