The Validation Utility Tool (VUT) is a software utility that can be used to validate LTCH submission files in XML format. The VUT enforces the edits that are mapped to the LTCH items, as published in the LTCH Data Submission Specifications. VUT release v1.2.0 incorporated the LTCH Data Submission Specification version 2.01.0, which became effective 04/01/2017. The v1.2.1 VUT release added support for LTCH Data Specification version 2.02.1, implemented 01/21/2018. ICD-9 and ICD-10 lookup functionality has been discontinued per CMS direction. ICD codes will continue to be checked for format errors only. VUT v1.3.0 continues to support the older LTCH Data Specification versions previously mentioned while adding support for the v3.00 LTCH Data Submission Specifications. VUT v1.3.1 fixes a bug which turned off the O0250 items on 09/30/2018.

Please note that there are a few edits which the VUT cannot support, because they are edits against existing ASAP system data. Since the VUT does not interface with ASAP, it cannot confirm those edits.