New Timeframe for Response to Additional Documentation Requests
This MLN Matters Article is intended for physician, providers and suppliers submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), including Durable Medical Equipment (DME) MACs, for services to Medicare beneficiaries.
What You Need to Know
This article is based on Change Request (CR) 8583, which instructs MACs and Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs) to produce pre-payment review Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs) that state that providers and suppliers have 45 days to respond to an ADR issued by a MAC or a ZPIC. Failure to respond within 45 days of pre-payment review ADR will result in denial of the claim(s) related to the ADR. Make sure your billing staffs are aware of these changes.
Background
In certain circumstance, CMS review contractors (MACs, ZPICs, Recovery Auditors, the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing contractor and the Supplemental Medical Review Contractor) may not be able to make a determination on a claim they have chosen for review based upon the information on the claim, its attachments or the billing history found in claims processing system (if applicable) or Medicare’s Common Working File (CWF).
In those instances, the CMS review contractor will solicit documentation from the provider or supplier by issuing as ADR. The requirements for additional documentation are as follows:
The Social Security Act, Section 1833 (e) – Medicare contractors are authorized to collect medical documentation. The Act states that no payment shall be made to any provider or other person for services unless they have furnished such information as may be necessary in order to determine the amounts due to such provider or other person for the period with respect to which the amounts are being paid or for any prior period.
According to the “Medicare Program Integrity Manual” Chapter 3, Section 3.2.3.2, (Verifying Potential Errors and Tracking Corrective Actions), when requesting documentation for pre-payment review, the MAC and ZPIC shall notify providers that the requested documentation is to be submitted within 45 calendar days of the request. Reviewers shall deny claims for which the requested documentation was not received by day 46.
Note: This article was revised on November 18, 2014, to make corrections in the article, especially to clarify ADR requirements related to pre-payment review.
This MLN Matters Article is intended for physician, providers and suppliers submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), including Durable Medical Equipment (DME) MACs, for services to Medicare beneficiaries.
What You Need to Know
This article is based on Change Request (CR) 8583, which instructs MACs and Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs) to produce pre-payment review Additional Documentation Requests (ADRs) that state that providers and suppliers have 45 days to respond to an ADR issued by a MAC or a ZPIC. Failure to respond within 45 days of pre-payment review ADR will result in denial of the claim(s) related to the ADR. Make sure your billing staffs are aware of these changes.
Background
In certain circumstance, CMS review contractors (MACs, ZPICs, Recovery Auditors, the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing contractor and the Supplemental Medical Review Contractor) may not be able to make a determination on a claim they have chosen for review based upon the information on the claim, its attachments or the billing history found in claims processing system (if applicable) or Medicare’s Common Working File (CWF).
In those instances, the CMS review contractor will solicit documentation from the provider or supplier by issuing as ADR. The requirements for additional documentation are as follows:
The Social Security Act, Section 1833 (e) – Medicare contractors are authorized to collect medical documentation. The Act states that no payment shall be made to any provider or other person for services unless they have furnished such information as may be necessary in order to determine the amounts due to such provider or other person for the period with respect to which the amounts are being paid or for any prior period.
According to the “Medicare Program Integrity Manual” Chapter 3, Section 3.2.3.2, (Verifying Potential Errors and Tracking Corrective Actions), when requesting documentation for pre-payment review, the MAC and ZPIC shall notify providers that the requested documentation is to be submitted within 45 calendar days of the request. Reviewers shall deny claims for which the requested documentation was not received by day 46.
Note: This article was revised on November 18, 2014, to make corrections in the article, especially to clarify ADR requirements related to pre-payment review.