Section 371. Base year standardized operating costs per day

A. For the purpose of calculating the base year standardized operating costs per day, base year claims data for per diem cases shall be used. Base year claims data for DRG cases shall not be used. Separate base year standardized operating costs per day shall be calculated for Type One and Type Two hospitals.

B. Using the data elements identified in subsection E of 12VAC30-70-221, the following methodology shall be used to calculate the base year standardized operating costs per day:

1. The operating costs for each per diem case shall be calculated by multiplying the hospital's total charges for the case by the hospital's operating cost-to-charge ratio, as defined in subsection C of 12VAC30-70-221.

2. The standardized operating costs for each per diem case shall be calculated as follows:

a. The operating costs shall be multiplied by the statewide average labor portion of operating costs, yielding the labor portion of operating costs. Hence, the nonlabor portion of operating costs shall constitute one minus the statewide average labor portion of operating costs times the operating costs.

b. The labor portion of operating costs shall be divided by the hospital's Medicare wage index, yielding the standardized labor portion of operating costs.

c. The standardized labor portion of operating costs shall be added to the nonlabor portion of operating costs, yielding standardized operating costs.

3. The base year standardized operating costs per day for acute care psychiatric cases shall be calculated by summing the standardized operating costs for acute care psychiatric cases and dividing by the total number of acute care psychiatric days. This calculation shall be repeated separately for freestanding psychiatric cases and rehabilitation cases.

C. For general acute care hospitals with psychiatric DPUs, the psychiatric operating cost-to-charge ratio shall be used in the above calculations.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 16, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2000.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia.