CMS Updates

CMS announced amended terms for payments issued under the Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program as required by recent action by President Trump and Congress. This Medicare loan program allows CMS to make advance payments to providers, which are typically used in emergency situations. Under the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, repayment will now begin one year from the issuance date of each provider or supplier’s accelerated or advance payment. CMS issued $106 billion in payments to providers and suppliers in order to alleviate the financial burden health care providers faced while experiencing cash flow issues in the early stages of combating the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency.

CGS's Medical Review staff will be conducting a complex post-pay service-specific medical review of HCPCS Codes L1902; L1906; L1971; L4396; L4397 (Ankle-Foot Orthosis). This review will be conducted because data analysis revealed that Jurisdiction B's allowed dollars for HCPCS Codes L1902; L1906; L1971; L4396; and L4397 were significantly above expected amounts. Additionally, the Orthotics policy group ranked #1 in total CERT errors.

Medicare has released updated articles to reflect the annual ICD-10 update. These updates are effective on October 1 and change the coding and documentation requirement for many services we provide.

CMS launched Care Compare, a streamlined redesign of eight existing CMS health care compare tools available on Medicare.gov. Medicare has just announced that it will expand the requirements for prior authorization for ambulance transport for “Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport.”