CurrentBlue Cross Blue Shield - MarylandPolicy DHMH POLICY 02.02.02

Annual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552) requirements for DHMH facilities

Governs preparation, documentation, submission, and correction of annual Medicare Cost Reports for State of Maryland DHMH facilities that are Certified Medicare Providers; outlines responsibilities of facility directors and the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements.

Policy Summary

PayerBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maryland

PolicyAnnual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552) requirements for DHMH facilities

Policy CodePolicy DHMH POLICY 02.02.02

Change TypeAdministrative updates (name/reference/hyperlink changes)

Effective DateMay 24, 2011

Next Review DateN/A

Key ActionDirectors of Certified Medicare Provider facilities must prepare and submit the annual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552) and maintain adequate supporting documentation.

SourceLink

POLICY UPDATE CHANGES

This version supersedes and replaces the prior DHMH Policy 02.02.02 dated September 14, 1998.

140submission deadline (days)

2011-05-24effective date

July (annually)per diem frequency

Cost Report Submission and Documentation

Cost report submission and documentation criteria

Policy Summary

PayerBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maryland

PolicyAnnual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552) requirements for DHMH facilities

Policy CodePolicy DHMH POLICY 02.02.02

Change TypeAdministrative updates (name/reference/hyperlink changes)

Effective DateMay 24, 2011

Next Review DateN/A

Key ActionDirectors of Certified Medicare Provider facilities must prepare and submit the annual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552) and maintain adequate supporting documentation.

SourceLink

On This Page

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Directors of facilities which are a Certified Medicare Provider must have the annual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552) prepared for their facility and submitted by the date established by the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements; a copy and any other necessary information shall be submitted to the designated outside contractor of the Medicaid program for use in their audit.

Directors must maintain adequate and complete supporting documentation for the costs included in the report and make that documentation available to the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements and the Medicare and Medicaid fiscal intermediary for audit.

If a facility supplies fiscal or other information to a second facility for inclusion in the second facility’s Medicare Cost Report under a shared service agreement or other agreement, the supplying facility remains responsible for maintaining adequate and complete supporting documentation for that information.

Facilities under shared service or other agreements shall establish appropriate lines of communication so necessary information can be exchanged in sufficient time for the reporting facility to meet established deadlines.

Directors must take corrective action on any deficiency cited in the audit review of the Medicare Cost Report; the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements will advise and give guidance on proposed corrective actions and provide technical assistance, consultation, and training as necessary.

The Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements shall calculate appropriate actual or estimated indirect cost figures for the previous fiscal year, prepare professional components and special supplements for each appropriate facility, maintain adequate and complete documentation for costs it calculates, and make supporting documentation available to the Medicare fiscal intermediary upon request.

The Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements shall submit the completed Medicare Cost Report to the fiscal intermediary within 140 days of the close of the Maryland fiscal year.140 days after close of Maryland fiscal year

The Division shall establish maximum per diem rates every July or more often if required, in coordination with appropriate facilities and divisions of the department.

Forms, Deadlines, and Codes

Forms referencedmixed

Federal Form HCFA 2552

Annual Medicare Cost Report form referenced throughout policy

Submission deadline — 140 days after close of Maryland fiscal year

Submission deadlineCompleted Medicare Cost Report must be submitted to the Medicare fiscal intermediary within 140 days of the close of the Maryland fiscal year

Director submission dateDirectors must submit the annual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form HCFA 2552) to the Division by the date established by the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements

Consequence of late/incorrect reportsMedicare may withhold reimbursement, require repayment, or exclude expenditures for inadequate/missing documentation or late/incorrect reports

Responsibilities and Division Support

Documentation Required

Provider must prepare, document, submit, and correct Medicare Cost Report

Directors of facilities that are Certified Medicare Providers must prepare the annual Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552) for their facility and submit it by the date established by the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements; maintain adequate and complete supporting documentation for costs included in the report and make that documentation available for audit; take corrective action on any deficiency cited in the audit review; and, when supplying fiscal information to another facility under a shared service or other agreement, remain responsible for maintaining supporting documentation and establish appropriate lines of communication to meet reporting deadlines.

Prepare and submit Federal Form 2552 by the date established by the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements.
Maintain adequate and complete supporting documentation for costs included in the report and make it available to the Division and fiscal intermediaries for audit.
Take corrective action on any audit deficiencies cited in the Medicare Cost Report review.
If providing fiscal information to another facility, remain responsible for documentation and establish communication to meet deadlines.

Prior Authorization

Division will prepare report components, calculate costs, provide guidance, and submit within 140 days

The Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements will prepare the professional components and special supplements of each facility's Medicare Cost Report, calculate required indirect cost figures, provide technical assistance/training and guidance on audit corrections, maintain documentation for division-calculated costs, and submit the completed Medicare Cost Report to the fiscal intermediary within 140 days of the close of the Maryland fiscal year.

Prepare professional components and special supplements for each facility's Medicare Cost Report.
Calculate appropriate actual or estimated indirect cost figures (e.g., central office overhead, GCL interest) for the prior fiscal year.
Provide technical assistance, consultation, training, and advice on correcting audit deficiencies.
Maintain adequate documentation for costs calculated by the Division and make it available to the Medicare fiscal intermediary upon request.
Submit the completed Medicare Cost Report to the fiscal intermediary within 140 days of the Maryland fiscal year end.

Key Terms

Annual federal form used to report allowable operating costs for Medicare-certified facilities — Medicare Cost Report (Federal Form 2552)

Form nameMedicare Cost Report (Federal Form HCFA 2552 / Federal Form 2552)

PurposeAnnual federal form used to report allowable (reimbursable) operating costs of Medicare‑certified facilities

Who prepares partsPrepared by facility directors and professional components/supplements prepared by the Division of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements

DHMH division responsible for preparing portions of the cost report, calculating indirect costs, providing guidance, and submitting reports to the Medicare fiscal intermediary

Division nameDivision of Cost Accounting and Reimbursements

Key responsibilitiesPrepare professional components and special supplements, calculate indirect cost figures (e.g., central office overhead, GCL interest), maintain documentation, and submit completed reports to the Medicare fiscal intermediary within 140 days of fiscal year end

Support functionsProvide advice, guidance, technical assistance, consultation, and training to facility directors on completing cost reports and correcting audit deficiencies

Liaison roleActs as liaison between DHMH, departmental facilities, and the Medicare fiscal intermediary; Deputy Chief serves as liaison contact