§ 413.180 Procedures for requesting exceptions to payment rates.

(a) Outpatient maintenance dialysis payments. All payments for outpatient maintenance dialysis furnished at or by facilities are made on the basis of prospective payment rates.

(b) Criteria for requesting an exception. If a pediatric ESRD facility projects on the basis of prior year costs and utilization trends that it has an allowable cost per treatment higher than its prospective rate set under § 413.174, and if these excess costs are attributable to one or more of the factors in § 413.182, the facility may request, in accordance with paragraph (e) of this section, that CMS approve an exception to that rate and set a higher prospective payment rate.

(c) Application of deductible and coinsurance. The higher payment rate is subject to the application of deductible and coinsurance in accordance with § 413.176.

(d) Payment rate exception request. Effective October 1, 2002, CMS may approve exceptions to a pediatric ESRD facility's updated prospective payment rate, if the pediatric ESRD facility did not have an approved exception rate as of October 1, 2002. A pediatric ESRD facility may request an exception to its payment rate at any time after it is in operation for at least 12 consecutive months.

(e) Documentation for a payment rate exception request. If the facility is requesting an exception to its payment rate, it must submit to CMS its most recently completed cost report as required under § 413.198 and whatever statistics, data, and budgetary projections as determined by CMS to be needed to adjudicate each type of exception. CMS may audit any cost report or other information submitted. The materials submitted to CMS must—