Medicare Regulation 42 CFR §405.378 provides for the assessment of interest at the higher of the private consumer rate (PCR) or the current value of funds rate (5 percent) for calendar year 2001. The Secretary of the Treasury has notified the Department of Health and Human Services that the PCR has been revised to 13.75 percent. The notice of the PCR was published in the Federal Register (see Vol. 66, No. 81 dated 04/26/01).

Therefore, the PCR will remain in effect until a new rate change is published. In addition, this reaffirms interest rates for prior periods.

INTEREST RATE TABLE

Period	Interest Rate
October 24, 1996 - January 22, 1997	13.375%
January 23, 1997 - April 23, 1997	13.625%
April 24, 1997 - July 24, 1997	13.50%
July 25, 1997 - October 23, 1997	13.75%
October 24, 1997 - January 27, 1998	13.875%
January 28, 1998 - May 12, 1998	14.50%
May 13, 1998 - July 30. 1998	14.00 %
July 31, 1998 - October 22, 1998	13.75%
October 23, 1998 - January 31, 1999	13.50%
February 01, 1999 - May 04. 1999	13.75%
May 05, 1999 - August 03, 1999	13.375%
August 04, 1999 - October 27,1999	13.25%
October 28, 1999 - February 1, 2000	13.375%
February 2, 2000 - May 2, 2000	13.5%
May 3, 2000 - July 31, 2000	13.75%
August 1, 2000 - October 23, 2000	13.875%
October 24, 2000 - February 6, 2001	13.875%
February 7, 2001 - April 25, 2001	14.125%
April 26, 2001	13.75%

The effective and implementation date for this bulletin is April 26, 2001.

Questions regarding this bulletin should be directed to the provider relations department at 1-866-488-0545.