In a memo set for release today, CMS is proposing to reintroduce pre-payment review (with a twist) for Home Health claims. The memo version is here: HHA Pre Payment Recall, CMS first introduced pre-payment review in August 2016, starting in Illinois. The process required agencies to submit claim-related data BEFORE receiving final payment or face an adjustment in their payment of minus 25%. This reduction could not be appealed. Providers could resubmit additional data to achieve full affirmation of their claim PRIOR to submitting final billing for the claim. After a certain threshold of claims was reviewed and determined proper, the pre-payment process would sunset for the agency.
The initial trial that began in Illinois was such a debacle for agencies and the industry due to the time delays and criterion laxity, slowing cash flow and increasing administrative burden that Congress finally stepped in and put the program on hiatus. The Illinois experiment was so initially bad that further expansion to other states (Florida was next), never occurred.
In this new proposal which will open for comment (60 days) after publication in the Federal Register, CMS is keeping the program design constant with a couple of twists.
- Providers/Agencies in the demonstration states of Illinois, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, and Texas will be able to choose whether to submit data to the MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractor) for review on a pre-claim or post-claim/payment basis.
- Providers/Agencies may opt-out of the payment review (pre or post) by accepting payments at a discounted rate – minus 25%.
As with the former program, providers/agencies will need to meet an acceptable level of affirmed claim submissions (pre or post) to move to an episodic review standard. In effect, after the agency has been subject to sufficient claim reviews and found to be compliant with required documentation and billing standards, the agency transitions to an “every so often” sampling of claims. As before, providers that fail to submit data or elect pre or post payment reviews will see claim payments automatically discounted by 25%.
The rationale from CMS to return to this review process is the same as before; assurance of claim accuracy and fraud reduction. CMS continues to believe that HHAs are sloppy and negligent enough in their claims process that improper payments are too high (as a percent of all claims) and or fraud, still prevalent enough to warrant a program of systematic review. Of course, as of now, CMS can offer no assurance that the next incarnation of claim reviews will go smoother than the 2016 experience. The belief is that lessons were learned and steps put in-place by the MAC to smooth out reviews and not harm agency financial status or create undue additional burden. Frankly, I hold no such expectation or belief that the process will be markedly better.