Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Even though the nation is still in the throes of a pandemic, the feds are still forging ahead with recoupment of Accelerated and Advance Payments for Part B providers.

Then: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Accelerated and Advanced Payment (AAP) program started distributing COVID-19 relief funds to struggling Part B providers in April.

Now: In a recent alert, Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) NGS Medicare gently reminded providers that CMS has started recoupment proceedings for those funds — and practices should be ready.

“The AAP recoupment process at this time has not changed and is expected to begin on, or about, 7/27/2020, which represents 121 days from the date AAP payments were first issued and will continue for 90 days,” NGS explains. “After those 90 days a demand letter will be sent for any remaining balance. The recoupment date is unique to each provider and is calculated based on the date the AAP was issued.”

The Part B MAC adds, “If a provider cannot pay the balance by the end of the 90 day repayment period they may request an ERS once the demand letter is issued. Since the ERS would then occur beyond the repayment period, interest would be applied at that point.”

Tip: You may want to check in with your specific MAC for recoupment guidance and assistance. All of the MACs offer COVID-19 online help, including webinars, chat opportunities, and more related to repayment of the AAP program funds.