The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on Oct. 6 that it has awarded contracts to four permanent recovery audit contractors (RACs). The new RACs, selected under a full and open competition, are CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc., of Fairfax, Va.; Connolly Consulting Associates, Inc., of Wilton, Conn.; Diversified Collection Services, Inc., of Livermore, Calif.; and HealthDataInsights, Inc., of Las Vegas.
The RACs identify improper overpayments or underpayments made on claims of healthcare services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. Healthcare providers that might be reviewed include hospitals, physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers, and any other provider or supplier that bills Medicare Parts A and B. The new RACs will be paid on a contingency fee basis on both the overpayments and underpayments they find.
Additional states will be added to each RAC region in 2009. Before work begins, the RACs will hold town hall-type meetings in each state with healthcare providers and CMS staff and RAC representatives in October and November. Healthcare providers can get more information about these meetings and the date the program will begin in their states by checking the CMS RAC web site. Read the fact sheet.
