Eli's Rehab Report

NEWS BRIEFS:

RACs Get Back on Track

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Recovery Audit Contractor program is ready to go live, according to a notice from CMS. The Government Accountability Office has resolved contract protests lodged last fall, and the RACs are moving forward, CMS reported.

The originally announced RACs will remain the same: Diversified Collection Services Inc. (Region A), CGI Technologies and Solutions Inc. (Region B), Connolly Consulting Associates Inc. (Region C), and HealthDataInsights Inc. (Region D).

But thanks to the protest resolution, providers will have two RAC "subcontractors" to know about: PRGSchultz Inc. will serve as a subcontractor to the RACs in Regions A, B, and D; and Viant Payment Systems Inc. will serve as a subcontractor to the RAC in Region C."Each subcontractor has negotiated different responsibilities in each region, including some claims review," CMS said.

CMS will begin contacting associations and providers for outreach activities in the next few months, it says.Then providers will begin receiving "correspondence"from the RACs. The permanent and national program will be implemented by Jan. 1, 2010.

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