Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) PPS Expanded Modified MedPAR

The Medicare Provider Analysis and Review (MEDPAR) file contains records for 100% of Medicare beneficiaries who received hospital inpatient services at a LTCH as defined in Sections 1886(d)(1)(B)(iv) and 1861(ccc) of the Social Security Act. The file contains same data elements found in the National Hospital MEDPAR Limited Data Set (LDS), including the billed Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG), the current DRG and the proposed/final DRG. The records are stripped of most data elements that will permit identification of beneficiaries. The six position Medicare billing number identifies the LTCH. The file is available to persons qualifying under the terms of the Routine Use Act as outlined in the December 24, 1984, "Federal Register" and amended by the July 2, 1985, Notice. This file consists of between  approximately 140,000 and 160,000 records.

Data Alert 2024: The LDS MedPAR layout has been revised for the FY2024 Update. See the ‘FY2024_MedPAR_Version_L3K_Layout’ in the ‘Downloads’ section for detailed information. Specifically, the method for indicating ‘LTCH Standard Pay Case’ has been revised and remains appended to the end of the MEDPAR LDS – LTCH File. The field for ‘Previous ICU Days’ has been removed.

Data Alert 2022: The LDS MedPAR layout has been revised for the FY2022 Update. See the ‘FY2022_MedPAR_Version_L3K_Layout’ in the ‘Downloads’ section for detailed information. The fields for ‘LTCH Standard Pay Case’ and ‘Previous ICU Days’ have been appended to the MEDPAR LDS – LTCH File.

Data Alert 2021: The LDS MedPAR layout has been revised for the FY2021 Update. See the ‘FY2021_MedPAR_Version_L3K_Layout’ in the ‘Downloads’ section for detailed information. The fields for ‘LTCH Standard Pay Case’ and ‘Previous ICU Days’ have been appended to the MEDPAR LDS – LTCH File.

Data Alert 2020: As discussed in section II.A. of the preamble of the FY 2022 IPPS/LTCH proposed rule, CMS proposed to use the FY 2019 data for the FY 2022 IPPS and LTCH PPS ratesetting for circumstances where the FY 2020 data is significantly impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.  In addition, CMS considered an alternative approach of using the data we would ordinarily use in the FY 2022 IPPS and LTCH PPS rate setting, such as the FY 2020 MedPAR file (which is discussed in section I.O. of Appendix A of the FY 2022 IPPS/LTCH proposed rule). Two files are included, the FY 2020 MedPAR file and the updated FY 2019 MedPAR file used to develop the FY 2022 IPPS/LTCH PPS proposed rule. Both of these files contain the proposed V39 MS-DRG groupings.

Data Alert 2019: The LDS MedPAR layout has been revised for the FY2019 Update. See the ‘FY2019_MedPAR_Version_R2K_Layout’ in the ‘Downloads’ section for detailed information. The fields for ‘Claim Model Reimbursement Amount’, ‘Revenue Center Model Reimbursement Amount’, and ‘Value Code QB OCM+ Payment Adjustment Amount’ have been added to the file. The fields for ‘LTCH Standard Pay Case’ and ‘Previous ICU Days’ have been appended to the MEDPAR LDS – Hospital File.

Data Alert 2018: The LDS MedPAR layout has been revised for the FY2018 Update. See the ‘FY2018_MedPAR_Version_R2K_Layout’ in the ‘Downloads’ section for detailed information. The fields for ‘LTCH Standard Pay Case’ and ‘Previous ICU Days’ have been appended to the MEDPAR LDS – Hospital File.

Data Alert 2017: The LDS MedPAR layout has been revised for the FY2017 Update. See the ‘FY2017_MedPAR_Version_R2K_Layout’ in the ‘Downloads’ section for detailed information. The fields for ‘LTCH Standard Pay Case’ and ‘Previous ICU Days’ have been appended to the MedPAR LDS - LTCH File.

Data Alert 2016: The LDS MedPAR layout has been revised for the FY2016 Update. See the ‘FY2016_MedPAR_Version_R2K_Layout’ in the ‘Downloads’ section for detailed information. The fields for ‘Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Identification Number’, ‘Revenue Center Allogeneic Stem Cell Acquisition/Donor Services’, and ‘Islet Add-On Payment Amount’ have been added to the file. The fields for ‘LTCH Standard Pay Case’ and ‘Previous ICU Days’ have been appended to the MedPAR LDS - LTCH File.

1.  The Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), which contains the proposed annual LTC-DRG update, is published in the "Federal Register" usually available in April.  This file is derived from the MEDPAR file with a cutoff of three months after the end of the fiscal year (December file).

2.  The Final Rule, which contains the annual LTC-DRG update, is published in the "Federal Register" usually by the first week of August. This file is derived from the MEDPAR file with a cutoff of six months after the end of the fiscal year (March file).

For file cost and availability, please see the LDS Worksheet (ZIP).

To browse the record layout, see the Downloads section below.

Please follow the instructions on the DUA - Limited Data Sets page.