WIIP: Wage Index Improvement Program
WIIP is designed to achieve a single objective—to increase the hospital's reported average hourly wage and, in turn, its area wage index. This is accomplished through a systematic process which begins by making providers aware of the importance of their reported data and culminates with following through with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) when necessary. We have found that without the full process approach maximization is difficult to achieve.

Our process:

• Makes providers aware of the importance of the data they report;
• Instructs on ways to improve their data;
• Provides ideas for improvement;
• Creates interactive discussions on how to identify and/or quantify ideas;
• Assists in working with fiscal intermediaries;
• Follows through with CMS if necessary.

Most lecture-based programs focus on the first three of these items, although not completely. We are not aware of any other program that focuses on the last three. Ironically, it is through these last elements, which include site visits to larger providers, that the success of the program is achieved. In short, our process gives discipline to providers to assure that data are quantified and submitted properly.

Background
Medicare is required to update the area wage index annually in October. Because the area wage index is developed using Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSA’s) and rural areas, all hospitals in such groups have a vested interest in assuring that the group's average hourly wage is maximized.

Performance of WIIP
Our firm has worked with a wide variety of geographic areas including entire states. WIIP has been effective in increasing reported wage data for CBSA’s and areas with preliminary indications of increasing wage indexes as well as for areas with decreasing wage indexes. Accordingly, the program can be of benefit to all hospitals.

For More Information on WIIP
Please contact us at (800) 862-5368.