Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

The interest rate for Medicare overpayments and underpayments went up August 11, rising from 11.625 percent to 12.125 percent, according to a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services program memorandum (AB-03-122; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/AB03122.pdf). The rate was 12.625 percent at this time last year. In other recent program memoranda, CMS: updates rates for ambulatory surgical center payments (AB-03-116; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/AB03116.pdf); outlines procedures for handling overpayments valued at less than $10 (B-03-062; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/B03062.pdf); issues Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-related instructions to durable medical equipment regional suppliers (B-03-061; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/B03061.pdf); updates the 2003 Medicare physician fee schedule database (AB-03-119; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/AB03119.pdf); addresses home health dual-eligible payment policies (A-03-070; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/A03070.pdf); issues October outpatient code editor specs (A-03-069; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/A03069.pdf); issues new Medicare single drug pricer policies (B-03-059; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/B03059.pdf); updates coordination of benefits procedures (AB-03-118; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/AB03118.pdf); and outlines contractor Medicare secondary payer procedures (AB-03-120; http://cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/AB03120.pdf).