
How to File Medicare Cost Reports. Cost reports must be submitted in electronic format, known as Electronic Cost Reports or ECRs. They used to need to be submitted via floppy disk, CD, or flash drive only. Submission requirements include submitting the ECR files and the signed signature sheet.
Full Answer
What is the purpose of a Medicare Cost Report?
For downloadable copies of the forms, visit our page on CMS Cost Report Forms and Instructions:
- Form 1728-20: Home Health Agency
- Form 2540-10: Skilled Nursing Facility
- Form 287-05: Home Office
- Form 1984-14: Hospice Facility
- Form 222-17: RHC
- Form 224-14: FQHC
- Form 2552-10: Hospitals
How to file a Medicare Cost Report?
Highlights of this episode include:
- Review of key reimbursement factors are that are used to calculate the pass-through payments on a cost report
- How the Wage Index drives reimbursement
- How the S-10 has become such an important worksheet for the Cost Report
- How state agencies use Medicare Cost Reports
What is the Medicare Cost Report used for?
The annual Medicare cost report is a critical document for cost-based reimbursed providers, such as critical access hospitals, whose payments are based on this report. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), “Medicare-certified institutional providers are required to submit an annual cost report to a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).
How to collect Medicare bad debt on the cost report?
- The debt must be related to covered services and derived from deductible and coinsurance amounts;
- The provider must be able to establish that reasonable collection efforts were made;
- The debt was actually uncollectible when claimed as worthless and;
- Sound business judgment established that there was no likelihood of recovery at any time in the future.

What are the key elements of the Medicare cost report?
The cost report contains provider information such as facility characteristics, utilization data, cost and charges by cost center (in total and for Medicare), Medicare settlement data, and financial statement data.
How often are Medicare cost reports filed?
Each yearEach year, Medicare Part A providers must submit an acceptable Medicare Cost Report (MCR) package to their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the purposes of determining their Medicare reimbursable cost.
What is a cost report Medicare?
Medicare Cost Reports. A series of forms that collect descriptive, financial, and statistical data to determine: ▪ Medicare over or underpaid the provider. ˗ Facility that cares for Medicare patients.
How do you do a cost report?
2:457:28Cost Report Basics - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf the parent provider has sub-units make sure all sub-units are included in the cost. Report thisMoreIf the parent provider has sub-units make sure all sub-units are included in the cost. Report this includes any sub-units that have termed during the fiscal.
What is included in a cost report?
The cost report contains provider information such as facility characteristics, utilization data, cost and charges by cost center (in total and for Medicare), Medicare settlement data, and financial statement data. CMS maintains the cost report data in the Healthcare Provider Cost Reporting Information System (HCRIS).
What are cost reports used for?
Cost reporting is a process used to inform a client (or other party) about the magnitude of a construction project's predicted, or actual cost. This can be expressed either in absolute terms or as a variance compared to the project budget.
How do you calculate Medicare costs?
If you want to see and compare costs for specific health care plans, visit the Medicare Plan Finder. The amount you must pay for health care or prescriptions before Original Medicare, your Medicare Advantage Plan, your Medicare drug plan, or your other insurance begins to pay.
What is a cost report settlement?
Cost Report Settlements means, collectively, all amounts owing to Borrower from the applicable Governmental Authority in connection with Medicare and Medicaid cost reports, for any period of determination.
How are hospital costs calculated?
Hospital and outpatient center prices are calculated by combining records for patients who got a particular treatment or service at that facility. The price includes fees paid to the facility, the doctor and any other health professionals.
Which of the following is a step in the preparation of a production cost report?
a. 1)Summarize the cost flow of physical units; (2) Compute the total cost of equivalent units of production; (3) Compute the cost per equivalent unit of production; and (4) Assign costs to units completed and units in process.
What information does a production cost report provide?
The production cost report. summarizes the production and cost activity within a department for a reporting period. It is simply a formal summary of the four steps performed to assign costs to units transferred out and units in ending work-in-process (WIP) inventory.
How do you prepare a product cost sheet?
Method of Preparation of Cost Sheet: Step I = Prime Cost = Direct Material + Direct Labour + Direct Expenses. ADVERTISEMENTS: Step II = Works Cost = Prime Cost + Factory/Indirect Expenses. Step III = Cost of Production = Works Cost + Office and Administration Expenses.
When are cost reports due for Medicare?
Cost reports are due five months after the fiscal year end. Any delays are subject to withholding of Medicare reimbursement. Facilities will try to use these cost reports to maximize legal reimbursement by ensuring correct filing and reporting of fiscal data. Facilities with low or no Medicare utilization need to submit a low-utilization cost ...
What is the RHC cost report?
The RHC cost report determines the rate per covered visit for every Medicare visit and how much reimbursement is owed to/ from the facility. The Medicare cost report also determines if there are is any reimbursement due to or from the facility. For facilities paid via PPS, there still may be reimbursement for bad debt or vaccines.
What is CMS in Medicare?
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the United States government organization in charge of Medicare, regulates the specific requirements for these reports. [ 2] Medicare cost report software is strictly monitored to be CMS-compliant so that reports will be accurate and fulfill all requirements.
What is a Medicare cost report?
Medicare-certified institutional providers are required to submit an annual cost report to a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). The cost report contains provider information such as facility characteristics, utilization data, cost and charges by cost center (in total and for Medicare), Medicare settlement data, and financial statement data.
Is CMS accurate?
These reports are a true and accurate representation of the data on file at CMS. Authenticated information is only accurate as of the point in time of validation and verification. CMS is not responsible for data that is misrepresented, misinterpreted or altered in any way. Derived conclusions and analysis generated from this data are not to be considered attributable to CMS or HCRIS.
What is MCR in Medicare?
Each year, Medicare Part A providers must submit an acceptable Medicare Cost Report ( MCR) package to their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the purposes of determining their Medicare reimbursable cost. The MCR package consists of a variety of cost report materials. The Medicare Cost Report e-Filing system (MCReF) provides all Medicare ...
What is MCR package?
The MCR package consists of a variety of cost report materials. The Medicare Cost Report e-Filing system (MCReF) provides all Medicare Part A providers the ability to electronically file 100% of their MCR package, including all supporting documentation, directly to their MAC for Fiscal Year Ends on or after 12/31/2017.
When are Medicare cost reports due?
For cost reports ending on a day other than the last day of the month, cost reports are due 150 days after the last day of the cost reporting period. Exceptions to this due date for “no Medicare utilization” cost reports are addressed in PRM-II, Section110.A. MACs are required to suspend payments to providers that fail to file their MCR by the due date.
What is a change request 10611?
Change Request (CR) 10611 informs MACs and providers of the new MCR e-filing (MCReF) system available for electronic transmission of cost reports. Medicare Part A providers file an annual MCR with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The reports are filed with a MAC assigned to each provider. The MCR is used to determine the providers’ Medicare reimbursable costs. MACs may suspend payments to providers that fail to file their MCR on the due date. Make sure your cost report staffs are aware of the new MCReF System.
When are cost reports due?
Cost reports are due on or before the last day of the fifth month following the close of the cost reporting period. For cost reports ending on a day other than the last day of the month, cost reports are due 150 days after the last day of the cost reporting period.
What is the phone number for MCREF?
While using MCReF, please refer issues or questions to: Phone: 866-484-8049, 866-523-4759TTY/TDD. Email: [email protected]. Website: https://eus.custhelp.com/app/answers/list. Note: When using MCReF to e-file your submission you can also now elect to sign electronically, saving time! (*See Below)
Do you have to report like charges for like services?
If like charges for like services are not maintained across provider settings, the cost report must not combine charges when calculating cost-to-charge ratios but must report separately, by department, costs and charges for the hospital, sub provider, and skilled nursing facility.
Do institutions have to submit one cost report?
Institutions which have multiple facilities but only one provider number, or one provider number with sub provider numbers for its related cost entities, are required to submit one cost report under that principle provider number together with the sub provider numbers, if any.
Does Medicare require utilization?
No Medicare Utilization - A provider that has not furnished any covered services to Medicare beneficiaries during the entire cost reporting period need not file a full cost report to comply with program cost reporting requirements

HCRIS Data Disclaimer
General Information
- Medicare-certified institutional providers are required to submit an annual cost report to a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC). The cost report contains provider information such as facility characteristics, utilization data, cost and charges by cost center (in total and for Medicare), Medicare settlement data, and financial statement data. ...
New Cost Report Data Available
- * Due to being replaced by newer forms and an absence of updates, the HOSPICE-1999, SNF-1996 and RNL-1994 data files will no longer be updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
- There is a document available at the bottom of this page, the HCRIS FAQ, which answers some questions about HCRIS, the data files, and the cost reporting process.
Technical Assistance
- Free assistance to academic, government and non-profit researchers interested in using HCRIS data is available at : ResDAC, the Research Data Assistance Center.
Freedom of Information Act
- Individual cost reports may be requested from the Medicare Administrative contractors via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). For more information on this process, visit the FOIApage. Organization of data files: For the Hospital Form 2552-1996, Hospital Form 2552-2010 , SNF Form 2540-1996, SNF Form 2540-2010, HHA Form 1728-1994 and HHA Form 1728-2020 cost reports…