Shalala

OVERVIEW

Skagit County Public Hospital d/b/a Island Hospital (Island) appeals the district court’s dismissal of its action challenging the Health Care Finance Administration’s (HCFA’s) procedure for correcting wage data which, in turn, resulted in a denial of Island’s application for geographical reclassification. The district court found that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction because a Medicare statute expressly precludes judicial review of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services’ i’eclassification decisions. The district court remanded part of the action to the Provider Reimbursement Review Board to examine its jurisdiction over a potential wage index claim, which was distinct *381 from the reclassification claim. We vacate the remand order and affirm the district court’s dismissal of Island’s claim challenging the wage correction process for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

MEDICARE BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Medicare provides health insurance for the elderly and disabled. Under the Medicare Prospective Payment System, hospitals are reimbursed for inpatient operating costs primarily on the basis of diagnostic related groups. For each diagnostic…