All Medicare home health agencies must annually submit a cost report. This is not a simple or useless exercise. While home health agencies are no longer subject to cost reimbursement, the properly submitted cost report must adhere to cost reimbursement principles. At the same, the properly composed cost report can become a valuable tool for the financial management of a Medicare home health agency. This workshop introduces participants to the cost report, addresses cost reporting principles, and provides insights as to how the cost report can be used to help manage the agency's operations.

Objectives

Describe the basics of the Medicare cost reporting process.
Explain Medicare cost reimbursement principles as they relate to cost reporting.
Recognize internal uses for the Medicare cost report.