Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Physicians in three states continue to tap their fingers waiting for payment from Medicare, thanks to a recent UPIN number snafu that one carrier appears to have made.

According to a Nov. 8 L.A. Times article, Medicare hasn't paid some physicians in Hawaii, California, and Nevada for long periods of time -- not since February for some -- and money is getting tight in those practices.

The reason: Physicians in these states were expected to begin using new UPIN numbers last May, but one of the Medicare contractors changed during the UPIN assignment process. Therefore, the carrier never sent out the UPINs and the physicians are unable to collect payment from Medicare without those PIN numbers on file.