CMS Reverses Course on Medicare Claims Hold
CMS has issued an updated clarification regarding Medicare claims processing in light of the continuing federal government shutdown and the expiration of key legislative payment provisions. Chiropractic physicians and their teams should be aware of the latest details to guide billing and operations.
As the ICS previously notified members, CMS published a notice on Wednesday, October 15, that it was holding Medicare claims. CMS has now provided an additional update, changing the information it issued on Wednesday and clarifying what providers should expect moving forward.
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What Did CMS Change?
CMS’s latest release indicates they “will continue to process and pay held claims in a timely manner with the exception of select claims for services impacted by the expired provisions.” The referenced expired provisions (most telehealth services, ground ambulance transport claims, and Federally Qualified Health Center claims) will not impact most chiropractic physicians.
CMS additionally clarified that:
- Held claims are being processed and paid in a timely manner.
- To date, no payments have actually been delayed, as federal statute already requires all Medicare claims to be held for a minimum of 14 days. The current hold is consistent with this standard.
Chiropractic physicians should continue to submit Medicare claims as usual and anticipate the typical Medicare payment timing.
The Illinois Chiropractic Society will continue to monitor developments and notify members of any additional changes.
