Virginia Law

Except for noncost-reporting general acute care hospitals and freestanding psychiatric facilities licensed as hospitals, all hospitals shall submit cost reports. All cost reports shall be submitted on uniform reporting forms provided by the state agency and by Medicare. Such cost reports shall cover a 12-month period. Any exceptions must be approved by the state agency. The cost reports are due not later than 150 days after the provider's fiscal year end. All fiscal year end changes must be approved 90 days prior to the beginning of a new fiscal year. If a complete cost report is not received within 150 days after the end of the provider's fiscal year, the program shall take action in accordance with its policies to ensure that an overpayment is not being made. When cost reports are delinquent, the provider's interim rate shall be reduced to zero. The reductions shall start on the first day of the following month when the cost report is due. After the delinquent cost report is received, desk reviewed, and a new prospective rate established, the amounts withheld shall be computed and paid. If the provider fails to submit a complete cost report within 180 days after the fiscal year end, a penalty in the amount of 10% of the balance withheld shall be forfeited to the state agency. The cost report will be judged complete when the state agency has all of the following:

1. Completed cost reporting form or forms provided by DMAS, with signed certification or certifications.

2. The provider's trial balance showing adjusting journal entries.

3. The provider's financial statements including, but not limited to, a balance sheet, a statement of income and expenses, a statement of retained earnings (or fund balance), a statement of changes in financial position, and footnotes to the financial statements. Multi-level facilities shall be governed by subdivision 5 of this subsection.

4. Schedules which reconcile financial statements and trial balance to expenses claimed in the cost report.

5. Hospitals which are part of a chain organization must also file:

a. Home office cost report;

b. Audited consolidated financial statements of the chain organization including the auditor's report in which he expresses his opinion or, if circumstances require, disclaims an opinion based on generally accepted auditing standards, the management report, and footnotes to the financial statements;

c. The hospital's financial statements including, but not limited to, a balance sheet, a statement of income and expenses, a statement of retained earnings (or fund balance), and a statement of cash flows;

d. Schedule of restricted cash funds that identify the purpose of each fund and the amount;

e. Schedule of investments by type (stock, bond, etc.), amount, and current market value.

6. Such other analytical information or supporting documents requested by the state agency when the cost reporting forms are sent to the provider.