SEC. 407. TREATMENT OF MISSING COST REPORTING PERIODS FOR
SOLE COMMUNITY HOSPITALS.
(a) IN GENERAL- Section 1886(b)(3)(I) (42 U.S.C.
1395ww(b)(3)(I)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
`(iii) In no case shall a hospital be denied treatment as a sole community
hospital or payment (on the basis of a target rate as such as a hospital)
because data are unavailable for any cost reporting period due to changes in
ownership, changes in fiscal intermediaries, or other extraordinary
circumstances, so long as data for at least one applicable base cost reporting
period is available.'.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendment made by subsection
(a) shall apply to cost reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2004.
