What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement outlining the flexibilities it is offering to providers impacted by the Change Healthcare data breach.
What else to know: CHA is closely following this issue and will provide updates on additional steps CMS is taking as they become available.
In recognition of the cash flow problems resulting from the breach, impacted facilities may submit accelerated payment requests to their respective servicing Medicare administrative contractors (MACs) for consideration. CMS anticipates providing additional information to the MACs about the specific information a provider’s request should contain.
CMS has also:
- Instructed MACs to expedite the process for changing clearinghouses and move all provider and facility requests into production quickly so that hospitals can resume billing
- Indicated that it will issue guidance to Medicare Advantage organizations encouraging them to remove or relax prior authorization and timely filing requirements during these system outages
- Encouraged Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program managed care plans to remove prior authorization requirements and offer advance funding to providers to the extent permitted by the state
- Contacted MACs to ensure they are prepared to accept paper claims from providers
Note: CHA is sending an email survey to your finance teams to better understand the scope of the problem in California. Please be on the lookout for it and complete it by COB on Monday, March 11. This information will help us to advocate for relief at the state and federal levels.
