If you must submit a Medicare cost report, you might as well just do it right. Analysis of existing filed Medicare home health cost reports indicates that their accuracy is in doubt. Nevertheless, Congress and the Administration continue to make payment-rate judgments based upon cost report data. Additionally, providers of home health services utilize cost report-related benchmarks in making management and operations decisions. This program offers a top-to-bottom tutorial on proper preparation of a Medicare cost report for home health agencies. While primarily directed towards newcomers to home health, the program offers substantial value to those veterans who have forgotten most of what they've known about cost reporting since the onset of prospective payment.

Objectives:
1. Describe the purpose of the Cost Report.
2. Site Medicare cost calculation methodologies in reimbursable and non-reimbursable cost centers.
3. Identify sources of information to complete the cost report worksheets.
4. Identify the financial outcomes reflected in the cost report that will have an affect on operations.