The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has activated a critical financial relief measure to assist healthcare providers and suppliers affected by Hurricane Helene. Following the President’s major disaster declarations and the public health emergency declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CMS will provide accelerated and advance payments to Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) providers and suppliers located in FEMA-designated disaster zones.
Hurricane Helene’s significant disruption to healthcare facilities in the affected areas has led to unprecedented cash flow challenges, preventing these providers from submitting claims or receiving Medicare payments on time. As of October 2, 2024, CMS is offering a streamlined financial relief program to ensure that healthcare operations can continue amid these difficult circumstances.
Accelerated and Advance Payments Overview
Eligible Medicare Part A providers and Medicare Part B suppliers can request accelerated or advance payments from CMS. These payments are designed to mitigate cash flow shortages by providing amounts equal to a percentage of claims payments made over the preceding 90 days. Providers and suppliers will have up to 90 days after receiving the payments to repay the amount through automatic recoupment of Medicare claims.
If the accelerated or advance payment has not been fully recouped after the 90-day period, CMS will issue a demand for the remaining balance on day 91. This allows for critical financial relief, ensuring healthcare providers can continue their operations and services during the post-hurricane recovery.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for accelerated or advance payments, Medicare providers and suppliers must meet the following criteria:
– They must have billed Medicare for claims in the 90 days preceding the hurricane.
– They must be enrolled in the Medicare program and in good standing, without any deactivations or exclusions from CMS or the HHS Office of the Inspector General.
– They must not have delinquent debt or unresolved accelerated/advance payments older than 90 days.
– They must not be subject to payment holds or ongoing investigations related to fraud or abuse.
Providers receiving periodic interim payments are not eligible for these accelerated payments, and each provider must apply separately for their unique National Provider Identifier (NPI) and Medicare ID (PTAN).
Flexibility in Repayment Schedules
For those providers and suppliers already repaying debts under an Extended Repayment Schedule (ERS), CMS is offering flexibility in repayment terms. Providers can restructure their payment schedules for two consecutive months without extending beyond the 60-month maximum repayment period. This allows temporary relief while maintaining compliance with the repayment schedule.
Disruptions in Debt Communications
Providers facing disruptions in mail delivery due to Hurricane Helene can request CMS to rescind and reissue overpayment demand letters once the postal service is fully restored. This ensures that providers will have adequate time to respond to and manage overpayment demands without the risk of penalties or additional interest accrual.
Contact Information for Medicare Providers
Medicare providers and suppliers in need of assistance should reach out to their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for more details. A list of MACs is available on the CMS website at [CMS.gov](https://www.cms.gov/mac-info).
At LifeWallet, we are committed to keeping healthcare providers informed of essential policy updates during times of crisis. This CMS initiative offers vital support to healthcare professionals facing the ongoing challenges presented by Hurricane Helene, ensuring they have the resources to continue serving patients during the recovery process.
For further updates on health-related disaster relief efforts, stay connected with LifeWallet.
