MGCRB Decisions

A decision by the MGCRB on a geographic redesignation application will be effective for 3 years beginning with discharges occurring on the first day (October 1) of the second federal fiscal year following the federal fiscal year in which the providers filed a complete application. 42 C.F.R. § 412.274.  Providers may withdraw or terminate an approved 3-year reclassification in accordance with 42 C.F.R. § 412.273.

The Board will issue all decisions within 180 days after the deadline for filing geographic redesignation applications. 42 C.F.R. § 412.276.  The decision of the MGCRB is final and binding upon the parties unless it is reviewed by the Administrator and the decision is changed by the Administrator in accordance with 42 C.F.R. § 412.278.

Filing an Appeal

A hospital or group of hospitals dissatisfied with the MGCRB's decision regarding its geographic designation may request the Administrator review the MGCRB decision or dismissal. The hospital’s request for review must be in writing and sent to the Administrator, in care of the Office of the Attorney Advisor.  The request must be received by the Administrator within 15 days after the date the MGCRB issues its decision. The request for Administrator review should be sent electronically to:

          jacqueline.vaughn@cms.hhs.gov with a cc: to arlene.gassmann@cms.hhs.gov. 

A copy of the request for Administrator review must also be submitted to CMS's Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group via email at:

          Wageindex@cms.hhs.gov

Decision Listings 

The MGCRB decision listings below include the case number, the provider/group information, the status of the reclassification request, and the MSA codes for the home area and requested area.  The listings incorporate Administrator decisions for the given cycle but do not address withdrawal or termination requests made in subsequent years.