The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to a broader group of Medicare Part A providers and Part B suppliers in an effort to provide financial relief and to increase cash flow to providers of services and suppliers impacted by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To be eligible to participate in the Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program, providers and suppliers must meet the following criteria: Have billed Medicare for claims within 180 days immediately prior to the date of signature on the provider’s/supplier’s request form; Not be in bankruptcy; Not be under active medical review or program integrity investigation; and Not have any outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments. Qualified providers and supplies will be asked to request a specific amount using an Accelerated or Advance Payment Request form provided on each MAC’s website. Generally, most providers and suppliers will be able to request up to 100% of the Medicare payment amount for a three-month period.  Payment is typically processed in about seven (7) days.  Ambulance providers and suppliers can utilize these accelerated or advanced payments to ease cash flow disruptions during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  To access these payments, select...

CMS announced at the end of last week that it is expanding its Accelerated Payment Program.  The goal of the program is to address cash flow problems arising from the public health emergency.  The program functions as a short-term loan with no interest. To qualify for advance/accelerated payments the provider/supplier must: (1) Have billed Medicare for claims within 180 days immediately prior to the date of signature on the provider’s/supplier’s request form; (2) Not be in bankruptcy; (3) Not be under active medical review or program integrity investigation; and (4) Not have any outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments. Qualified providers/suppliers will be asked to request a specific amount using an Accelerated or Advance Payment Request form provided on each MAC’s website. Most providers and suppliers will be able to request up to 100% of the Medicare payment amount for a three-month period. All non-hospital Part A providers and Part B suppliers will have 210 days from the date of the accelerated or advance payment was made to repay the balance. The provider/supplier can continue to submit claims as usual after the issuance of the accelerated or advance payment; however, recoupment will not begin for 120 days. Providers/ suppliers will receive full payments for...