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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has established a system to charge healthcare facilities fees for follow-up inspections this year, according to a final rule published Thursday. Nursing homes have opposed such a system.

Under the rule, healthcare providers, including nursing homes, can request a reconsideration of the so-called revisit user fee in cases where they believe an error has been made. CMS extended the deadline for requesting reconsideration of a revisit user fee to 14 days from seven.

The agency also plans to issue a credit toward future revisit surveys if a reconsideration is found in a provider’s favor. If CMS judges that a significant amount of time has elapsed before a credit is used, the agency said it will refund the assessed revisit user fee amount. CMS will collect fees for the remainder of fiscal year 2007.