Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board

The Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board ("MGCRB" or "Board") makes determinations on geographic reclassification requests of hospitals that are receiving payment under the inpatient prospective payment system ("IPPS") but wish to reclassify to a higher wage area for purposes of receiving a higher payment rate. See 42 U.S.C. § 1395ww(d)(10) and 42 C.F.R. § 412, Subpart L.

Electronic Filing Required

The MGCRB requires applications, supporting documents, and subsequent correspondence to be filed electronically through the Office of Hearings Case and Document Management System (“OH CDMS”). Reference MGCRB Electronic Filing for registration instructions and the system user manual. For any system or access questions, please contact the OH CDMS Help Desk at 1-833-783-8255 or Helpdesk_OHCDMS@cms.hhs.gov.

MCGRB Application Period

• A complete MGCRB application or a request for reinstatement must be received no later than the first day of the 13-month period preceding the federal fiscal year (“FFY”) for which geographic redesignation is requested (usually September 1). The filing date of an application is the date the application is received by the MGCRB. 42 C.F.R. § 412.256(a).
• A request for withdrawal or termination of an approved geographic redesignation must be received by the MGCRB within 45 days of the date of filing for public inspection of the proposed rule at the website of the Office of the Federal Register, or within 7 calendar days of receiving a decision of the Administrator, whichever is later. 42. C.F.R. § 412.273.
• If the specified deadline is a Saturday, a Sunday, a Federal legal holiday (as enumerated in Rule 6(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure), or a day on which the MGCRB is unable to conduct business in the usual manner due to extraordinary circumstances beyond its control (such as natural or other catastrophe, weather conditions, fire, or furlough), the deadline becomes the next day that is not one of the aforementioned days.

Correspondence

General questions about the MGCRB may be sent by email to MGCRB@cms.hhs.gov. However, case specific submissions and inquiries will not be accepted through this email box; Such correspondence must be submitted within OH CDMS on the impacted case.