How long does it take to develop an ARU program?
• New DPU’s can only be opened on the first day of your Medicare cost reporting year IF you wish to be exempt from acute PPS reimbursement and eligible for IRF-PPS reimbursement. Regulatory hurdles, construction issues, CON requirements, and staffing needs are just a few of the variables that affect the amount of times it takes to develop a program. Two of the most critical time elements are CON and construction related. While Signet has successfully worked with hospitals to open programs in extremely short time-frames, in general the process should begin 6 to 9 months prior to the projected opening date. If a CON or major construction is required, the timeline for program development could be even longer. We would be happy to analyze your specific circumstances and promptly provide you with an estimate of the time necessary to develop a program.
