Article Detail - JE Part A

We are pleased to announce that our Audit and Reimbursement department has released a new Volume Decrease Adjustment (VDA) Checklist. This checklist is designed to assist providers in navigating the process of requesting payment adjustments due to significant decreases in inpatient discharges.

What is the VDA Checklist?

The VDA Checklist provides a comprehensive guide for Sole Community Hospitals (SCHs) and Medicare-dependent Small Rural Hospitals (MDHs) to request payment adjustments when experiencing a decrease of more than 5% in total inpatient discharges compared to the previous cost reporting period. This adjustment helps cover fixed and semi-fixed costs that hospitals cannot control due to reduced patient volume.

Key Features of the Checklist:

• Detailed instructions on the required documentation
• Steps to submit a request before the desk review is completed or within 180 days after receiving the MAC's Notice of Program Reimbursement (NPR)
• Information on discharge data, circumstances leading to the decrease, and cost data

Access the Checklist:

Providers can access the VDA Checklist directly on the Noridian Medicare website on the Audit and Reimbursement Forms page.

We encourage all eligible providers to review the checklist and ensure they have the necessary documentation to support their requests. For any questions or further assistance, please contact our Provider Contact Center.