CMS to Hold April Claims for 10 Business Days

CMS is working with Congress, health care providers, and the beneficiary community to avoid disruption in the delivery of services and payment of claims paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The Temporary Extension Act of 2010, enacted on March 2, 2010, extended the 0% update to the 2010 MPFS through March 31, 2010.

CMS believes Congress will take measures to avert the negative update slated to take effect April 1. Consequently, CMS has instructed its contractors to hold claims containing services paid under the MPFS for the first 10 business days of April. This hold will only affect claims with dates of service starting on April 1, 2010, and forward. In addition, The hold should have minimal impact on provider cash flow because, under the current law, clean electronic claims are not paid any sooner than 14 calendar days (29 for paper claims) after the date of receipt.

AANEM will continue to update its members on new information related to the 2010 MPFS extension.