RESEARCH PATIENT CARE COSTS – NIH(RC)-11

(a)	Research patient care costs are the costs of routine and ancillary services provided to patients participating in research programs described in this contract.

(b)	Patient care costs shall be computed in a manner consistent with the principles and procedures used by the Medicare Program for determining the part of Medicare reimbursement based on reasonable costs. The Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) prospective reimbursement method used to determine the remaining portion of Medicare reimbursement shall not be used to determine patient care costs. Patient care rates or amounts shall be established by the Secretary of HHS or his duly authorized representative.

(c)	Prior to submitting an invoice for patient care costs under this contract, the contractor must make every reasonable effort to obtain third party payment, where third party payors (including Government agencies) are authorized or are under a legal obligation to pay all or a portion of the charges incurred under this contract for patient care.

(d)	The contractor must maintain adequate procedures to identify those research patients participating in this contract who are eligible for third party reimbursement.

(e)	Only those charges not recoverable from third party payors or patients and which are consistent with the terms and conditions of the contract are chargeable to this contract.