Don’t delay cost reports

HCFA officials are saying health care providers should not delay in submitting their cost reports for fiscal years closing after Sept. 30, 1997, even though the Balanced Budget Act requires a change in the reporting requirements to assess final settlements as of Oct. 1, 1997.

While HCFA officials say they do not know when the new requirements will be issued, they did note that providers with fiscal years closing on Oct. 31 will not have new reports due for some time. If a cost report must be filed before HCFA issues new requirements, fiscal intermediaries will later ask for the additional information needed to settle under the new budget requirements.