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RAC News & Updates

Lori Bracato

Lori Brocato is currently HealthPort's RCM and RACPro Product Manager and serves as our resident expert on the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program. In 2009 Lori served as a monthly co-contributor in Advance Magazine for Health Information Professionals' e-newsletter, RAC ready column, that served as a "monthly RAC survival guide."

With posts to the RAC blog, HealthPort helps hospitals plan for, track and deal with RAC audits. We are committed to your success under Medicare's RAC program. Check this page often for the latest news, education and free Webinars about RAC.

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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

They're Here! Medical Necessity Review

Last week, CGI issued a list of 18 inpatient hospital claims medical necessity reviews to state hospital associations in RAC Region B states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin).  Click on the link below to access the list:

http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2010/pdf/100813-new-issue-racb.pdf

As the audits commence in Region B states, all providers can soon expect the same announcement from their own RACs.  Hospitals in the other three RAC regions are encouraged to monitor their RAC's website for information on the new audits. Contact information for the four regional RACs can be found at www.aha.org/aha/issues/RAC/contractors.html.

Particularly of importance is that all of these MS-DRGs include both the DRG Validation and Medical Necessity review and half of them were previously approved as DRG Validation only.   Insight into what patterns RACs may be seeing when reviewing medical records for other issues?  Stay tuned!

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Monday, July 19, 2010

Nine New RAC Issues Were Recently Posted by Connolly Healthcare

For outpatient / physician claims:

  • Zoledronic acid (Reclast), 1 mg – dose vs. units billed – overpayment.
  • Adenosine – dose vs. units billed (6 mg).
  • Pamidronate disodium – dose vs. units billed.
  • Tenectplase – dose vs. units billed.
  • Paclitaxel protein-bound particles – dose vs. units billed.
  • Cetuximab – dose vs. units billed. 
  • Paclitaxel – dose vs. units billed.

For DRG validation claims:

  • Endocrine, nutritional & metabolic disorders.
  • Disorders of pancreas except malignancy without CC/MCC: MS-DRG 440.

For more detailed information go to Connolly's website. You can also access additional updates from other RACs by clicking the links below:

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Launch of HealthPort AudaPro

Last week we announced the launch of HealthPort AudaPro, our powerful Web-based audit management tool that includes our #1 selling RAC management solution, HealthPort RACPro. Designed to mitigate the stress related to managing the many audits that negatively affect the revenue of healthcare facilities, HealthPort AudaPro streamlines the entire audit process.

Click here to access the press release about the launch.

Click here to learn more about AudaPro.

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Monday, May 17, 2010

The RAC program makes 2010 a tough and busy year for health care providers

CMS has extended the RAC program to all 50 states by no later than 2010. Are you worried about the extra resources and finances that it will take to cope with impending RAC program audits? You must consider the impact that RAC will have on your HIM department. Click here to read an insightful article recently featured in Advance for Health Information Professionals online newsletter. Co-authored by Jonathan Arkin, Vice President of Business Development, the article, “The RAC Burden on Your HIM Department” outlines the steps involved in the RAC process and the impact it will have on hospital HIM departments.

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Friday, April 9, 2010

Audit Advice Column: The Expansion of Recovery Audits

Recovery audits are the new reality for healthcare providers. This month's Audit Advice Column, featured in Advance for Health Information Professionals online newsletter and authored by HealthPort's resident RAC expert, Lori Brocato, takes a look at three important recovery audit programs: Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs), Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and Medicare Advantage Plan audits.

Click here to read the full article.

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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

AHA RAC Update: CMS Announces Nationwide RAC 101 Calls

Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a series of Nationwide RAC 101 Calls. See below for dates and times. We encourage you to participate in the calls and use the opportunity to ask any questions you have regarding the permanent RAC program.

  • April 28, 2010 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call: 1-877-251-0301
  • May 4, 2010 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for Home Health and Hospice Providers: 1-877-251-0301
  • May 5, 2010 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for DMEPOS: 1-877-251-0301
  • May 12, 2010 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for Physicians: 1-877-251-0301

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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

CMS expands fiscal year 2010 RAC ADR limits to all institutional providers

Announced in December, the 2010 fiscal year documentation limits applied only to requests for DRG validation purposes.  Recently announced on January 29, 2010 via the CMS Website, these limits have been expanded to include the same methodology for reviews of all institutional claim types.  CMS indicates that more changes are to come at a later date.  Click on the link below to review the additional documentation limits for fiscal year 2010.

RAC ADR limits expanded to all institutional providers

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

RAC News & Updates January 2010

RAC welcomes 2010 with important news for Region C and Region D providers

Health Data Insights (HDI) and Connolly recently posted new approved issues for review on their respective websites. The announcements are further indication that 2010 will be a busy year for providers; particularly for complex reviews involving MS-DRG coding and DRG validations. Medical necessity reviews are specifically excluded from review at this time.

The recovery audit contractor for Region D, HDI posted 66 new approved issues on January 6th, 2010. Issues represent both medical and surgical cases and cover 530 MS-DRGs, over 70 percent of all DRGs. Likewise Connolly, the Region C contractor, informed providers in the Southeast that several new issues had been approved for a total of 59 DRG validation issues now listed on their website.

HealthPort recommends that providers in all regions keep a close watch on RAC websites and get fully prepared for complex reviews. In fact, several Region C states have reported receipt of medical record and additional documentation request letters. Here are a few simple measures to help you prepare and reduce your RAC risk in 2010:

  • Review all approved issues for your region.
  • Conduct internal audits for coding and DRG validation based on the approved issues list.
  • Physician documentation remains key to successful appeals - conduct documentation audits and physician education as necessary based on internal review and audit findings.

Welcome to 2010 and stay tuned as HealthPort covers all the important recovery audit news.

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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Introducing RACPro 2.5, a unique combination of enhanced functionality and AHA RACTrac compatibility

Coupled with the RACTrac compatibility designation, the new RACPro 2.5 enhances the recovery audit contractor (RAC) management process and further expands communication capabilities so that healthcare facilities can respond to RAC requests effectively and in a timely manner.  Some of the new features include:

  • Billing and Coding-Enables a side by side comparison of what was billed versus what the RAC is reporting to help facilities easily find and review discrepancies.
  • Extension Requests-Allows accurate management of extension request and associated timetables.

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Region C, Connolly Healthcare, Posts CMS-Approved Audit Issues

Connolly Healthcare recently posted twenty-four, CMS-approved audit issues. Providers in Region C should check the Connolly website for more information, ensure your contact information is correct with Connolly (who should receive request letters), and review Connolly instructions and timelines.  Many of the issues are the same as those reviewed during the demonstration project and came as no surprise to HealthPort experts.

Click here for more detailed information.

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

CMS Announces Record Limits for Providers

On December 2, 2009, CMS made an important announcement for providers regarding the number of records that can be requested every 45 days by recovery audit contractors (RACs). The new limits are based on a percentage of Medicare claims and campus units. Most importantly for healthcare providers, the new limits may result in more documentation requests to fill and more appeals to process.

According to CMS, a campus unit may consist of one or more separate facilities/practices operating under a single Tax ID Number (TIN), but be physically located within zip codes displaying the same first 3 digits. Locations outside of the same first 3 zip code digits represent a second "campus unit", regardless of TIN.

To identify the maximum number of records that RACs can request every 45 days, providers should calculate 1% of all claims (inpatient and outpatient) submitted to Medicare per campus unit for the prior fiscal year; and divide this number by eight. This number represents the maximum records the RAC can request from each campus unit every 45 days. There is a cap of 200 requests through April 1, 2010 per campus unit and 300 requests per campus unit from April 1 until October 1, 2010; although RACs can request permission from CMS to exceed the cap after the first six months of the fiscal year.

Click here for more detailed information.

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Monday, October 12, 2009

RACPro 2.3 Release is RACTrac Compatible through the AHA

With the release of 2.3, HealthPort RACPro now holds the distinction, through the American Hospital Association (AHA), of being RACTrac Compatible, an indicator of the ability to gather the entire data of a hospital’s RAC experience in a way that is compatible with AHA’s RACTrac survey questions.

RACTrac compatibility gives hospitals the ability to report to the AHA, on a quarterly basis, their RAC experience. This RAC report captures critical information to support the AHA’s efforts to improve the RAC program giving RACPro an opportunity to assist with shaping the future of the RAC process.

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Introducing RACPro 2.3

Introducing RACPro 2.3...added functionality to reduce the stress of RAC management.

Some Benefits:

  • Enhanced customer fields
  • Customer e-mail triggers
  • Auto populate features
  • Coder & Physician lists...and more

Each new feature was designed to help manage requests, streamline communication and reduce the instances of errors and missed deadlines.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

HealthPort Achieves Executive Health Resources Integration Certification

We are excited to announce our recent certification as an approved Executive Health Resources (EHR) Integrated vendor. EHR developed EHR Integrated as a certification program established to help their hospital clients easily identify vendors, like HealthPort, whose RAC Management Products transmit and receive data and images to facilitate the appeals process. EHR integration certification validates that HealthPort RACPro provides seamless inbound and outbound data exchange to reduce clients’ appeals data processing time, maintain data integrity and allow them timely access to appeals process status.

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Monday, August 17, 2009

HealthDataInsights, Inc, the RAC for Region D, has initiated automated audits.

HealthDataInsights, Inc, the RAC for Region D, has initiated automated audits.  Issues approved by CMS are as follows:
  • Newborn Pediatric CPT Codes Billed for Patients Exceeding Age Limit. Description: Certain service codes are specific to patients of a specific age and should not be applied/billed for patients which exceed the age limit defined by the CPT Code.
  • Once in a Lifetime. Description: Certain procedures are only performed once in a person’s lifetime.
  • Excessive Units-Untimed Codes. Description: When reporting services units for untimed codes (excluding Modifiers –KX, and -59) where the procedure is not defined by a specific timeframe, the provider should enter a 1 in the units bill column per date of service.
  • Excessive Units-Blood Transfusion.  Description: Blood Transfusions should be billed with a maximum of (1) unit per patient per date of service.
  • Excessive Units.  Description:  Bronchoscopy services should be billed with a maximum number of units (1) per patient per date of service
  • Excessive Units – IV Hydration.  Description: IV Hydration should be billed with a maximum number of units (1) per patient per date of service.
  • Neulasta. Description: Neulasta (HCPCS Code J2505) Claims submitted with the total number milligrams instead 1 unit per 6 mg.  Claims for J2505 should be submitted so that the units billed represent the number of multiples of 6mg administered, not the total number of mgs.

Click Here for more detailed information.

Not sure what region you are in?
Click here to view the map

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Thursday, August 6, 2009

Connolly Healthcare Posted the First Set of Issues Eligible for RAC Review

Connolly Healthcare, the RAC for Region C, has posted the first set of issues eligible for RAC Review on its Website.

  • Blood transfusions. Description: CPT codes 36430, 36440, 36450, and 36455 (excluding claims with any modifiers) as one per session, regardless of the number of units transfused on that date of service.
  • Untimed codes. Description: CPT codes, excluding modifiers -KX and -59, where the procedure is not defined by a specific time frame (i.e., untimed codes). The provider should enter a one(1) in the units billed column per date of service.
  • IV hydration therapy. Description: Based on the definition CPT code 90760, the maximum number of units should be one per patient per date of service (excluding claims with modifier -59).
    Note: Beginning January 1, 2009, code 96360 replaced code 90760.
  • Bronchoscopy services. Description: CPT codes 31625, 31628, and 31629 should be billed with a maximum number of units of one per patient per date of service (excluding claims with modifier -59).
  • Once-in-a-lifetime procedures. Description: By virtue of the description of the CPT code, providers may only perform these codes once per patient lifetime.
  • Pediatric codes exceeding age parameters. Description: Newborn and pediatric CPT codes billed or applied to patients who exceed the age limit defined by the CPT code.
  • J2505 (Injection, Pegfilgrastim, 6 mg). Description: By definition, HCPCS code J2505 represents 6 mg per unit. Providers should bill the code at one unit per patient per date of service.

Click Here for more detailed information.

Not sure what region you are in?
Click here to view the map

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Friday, July 17, 2009

HealthPort Webinar, "Mitigate RAC Financial Risk," is Now Available Online

Presented by:
Lori Brocato, Product Manager, HealthPort
Donna Didier, Auditing & Education Consultant


RACs are Here!
Mitigate your financial risks by understanding what they're looking for.

Do you have a plan in place for optimal response, tracking, storage and management of these requests? What about the Appeals Process – do you know what to expect and what you should do? There is a lot to learn, and being prepared is key.

Register now to view the webinar and gain valuable insight and direction on the RAC review process.

Click here to view the previously-recorded webinar.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

CMS Provides New Details About the Phase-in Strategy

Earliest possible dates for reviews
in Yellow/Green states

Earliest possible dates for reviews
in Blue states

Description
Dates
Description
Dates
Automated Review – Black & White Issues June 2009 Automated Review – Black & White Issues June 2009
DRG Validation – Complex Review Aug/Sept 2009 DRG Validation – Complex Review Oct/Nov 2009
Complex Review for coding errors Aug/Sept 2009 Complex Review for coding errors Oct/Nov 2009
DME Medical Necessity Reviews – Complex Review Fiscal Year 2010 DME Medical Necessity Reviews – Complex Review Fiscal Year 2010
Medical Necessity Reviews – Complex Reviews Calendar Year 2010 Medical Necessity Reviews – Complex Reviews Calendar Year 2010


Not sure what color your state is?

Click here to view the map

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

HealthPort's Lori Brocato Featured on Healthcare IT News

Video: HealthPort on Recovery Audit Contractors

 Lori Bracato being interviewed  

Lori Brocato, RCM Product Manager at HealthPort, discusses how revenue cycle management can prepare an organization for a visit from recovery audit contractors.

Click to view video

 

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Monday, June 1, 2009

CMS anticipates automatic review to start in late June or July.

Complex reviews for medical necessity – early 2010

In a recent meeting between AHA and CMS, several updates were provided on the Recovery Audit Contractors.  To read the complete report, click here.

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Friday, April 10, 2009

HealthPort Webinar, "Get Ready for RAC," is Now Available Online

"Get Ready for RAC," presented by Lori Brocato, is an informative presentation that will help you better understand and manage the recovery audit contractor (RAC) permanent program in your facility.  
 
During this taped webinar you will learn:
  • What RACs are focused on
  • What you need to prepare for the RAC process
  • Appeals process guidelines
  • Technology and tools you will need to streamline the RAC process

View the previously recorded webinar or download a PDF slideshow of it.

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Sunday, March 1, 2009

RAC Preparedness: It Takes a Team!

By Nancy Hirschl, CCS, and Lori Brocato

The 2nd installment of the RAC Ready column for Advance Magazine is available online. Click here to read the article.

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Friday, February 6, 2009

The RAC Program is Back on Track!

As Quoted from the CMS website

Protest Resolved: On February 4, 2009 the parties involved in the protest of the award of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) contracts settled the protests.  The settlement means that the stop work order has been lifted and CMS will now continue with the implementation of the RAC program. 

Under the program, the four RACs will contract with subcontractors to supplement their efforts.  PRG-Schultz, Inc. will serve as a subcontractor to HDI, DCS and CGI in regions A, B and D.  Viant Payment Systems, Inc. will serve as a subcontractor to Connolly Consulting in region C.  Each subcontractor has negotiated different responsibilities in each region, including some claim review.   

The RAC in each jurisdiction is as follows:

Region A:  Diversified Collection Services (DCS)
Region B:  CGI
Region C:  Connolly Consulting, Inc.
Region D:  HealthDataInsights, Inc.

All correspondence, websites and call centers will be in the name of the RACs above.

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Thursday, January 29, 2009

HealthPort's Lori Brocato and Nancy Hirschl Start a New RAC Column for Advance magazine

In each column, Lori and Nancy will share their knowledge with you, the health information professional. The column will serve as a monthly survival guide for Medicare's recovery audit contractor (RAC) program. The goal is to help hospitals prepare for, manage and cope with RAC throughout the coming year. As a RAC consultant in the state of California and a leading release-of-information service provider, both companies have been heavily involved with RAC since the first record request was received and the first audit was conducted nearly 4 years ago. A lot has changed and a lot of lessons have been learned.

With RAC, the burden falls on each facility to protect reimbursement dollars and stay ahead. Our column can help. Over the next 12 months, we'll explore important RAC topics such as:

    *       The Three Steps to RAC Preparedness
    *       Managing RAC Demands: Human and Technological
    *       Improving Clinical Documentation for RAC
    *       Compliance and Winning Physician Cooperation
    *       The Who, What and When of Appeals
    *       Deciding if an Appeal is Worth the Work

Click here to read the first article: Are You Ready to RAC?

We invite you to visit our column every month and uncover the know-how, skills and techniques you need to help your organization thrive under RAC. We will link to the articles in this blog when they come available so check back often!

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Monday, January 5, 2009

Updated Medicare RAC Demonstration Report

CMS recently released the January 2009 update to the Medicare RAC Demonstration Report.

The update document outlines current Medicare appeals statistics and claim
RAC’s through August 2008 and lists statistics with respect to provider appeals of RAC initiated overpayments.  CMS also reports that changes in appeals reporting are being implemented for appeals tracking in the permanent RAC program.

Additionally in the update, CMS indicates that it is unable to determine the amount of appeals ending at the first level of appeals; however, the majority of first level appeals should have been filed by July 1, 2008.  As a result, CMS plans on updating the above appeals statistics until all appeals have completed the Medicare appeals system.  

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Monday, December 15, 2008

"RAC in the Real World" Panel Discussion Video Now Available

In October, during AHIMA’s Product World meeting in Seattle, HealthPort brought together an expert panel to discuss “RAC in the Real World,” real-world advice on RAC Preparedness.

In partnership with Nancy Hirschl, RHIT, CCS-P, President, Hirschl and Associates, the panel shared experiences from the demonstration project with an emphasis on how organizations can prepare for auditors, mitigate their risk for revenue reduction, and manage the administrative burden of RAC. Panel members include Ms. Carol Richardson, MA, RHIA, Director of Health Information Management and Corporate Policy official from Adventist Health in California; Mr. Lane Edenburn, Executive Vice President and General Council of Health Data Insights (HDI); and Mr. Stanley Padfield, RHIA, HIM Director for Lee Memorial Hospital. HDI is one of the four original RACs that participated within the pilot program and was chosen to be part of the permanent RAC expansion.

A podcast and a complete video of HealthPort's Product World session are now available. Click here to listen to the podcast or click here to watch the video of the valuable information offered to AHIMA’s Product World attendees.

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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

CMS Releases Transcripts of recent Open Door Forums on RAC Contractors

In an effort to introduce providers to the new RAC contractors and offer more information about the Medicare RAC program, CMS recently held two Open Door Forums.  During the forums, several participants requested documentation reflecting the Medicare appeals process associated with a RAC improper payment determination.  As a result, CMS supplied the requesters with an appeals process chart.

CMS has made the transcripts of these Open Door Forums available through the following links:

•    November 12, 2008 Special Open Door Forum for Part A providers

•    November 13, 2008 Special Open Door Forum for Part B providers

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

CMS discusses limits on medical record requests by RACs

During an AHA member call today to discuss the nationwide rollout of the permanent Medicare recovery audit contractor program, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services staff announced limits on the number of medical records the RACs will be allowed to request from providers.

For inpatient claims, the maximum number of records RACs may request will vary by the hospital's national provider identifier and will equal 10% of average monthly Medicare claims. The RACs will not be able to request more than 200 records in a 45-day period for both inpatient and outpatient claims combined. Providers with more than one NPI may face a unique record limit per NPI; however, CMS staff said they plan to provide further clarification on this policy.

Earlier this month, CMS announced the names of the permanent RACs and revised plans for the nationwide rollout. Hospitals in the first phase of the rollout may begin to receive requests for medical records or reimbursement of overpayments as early as December. For more on the RAC program, visit
http://www.aha.org/aha/issues/RAC

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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

HealthPort Pulls Together Expert Panel to Discuss RAC

AHIMA National Convention Sets Stage for Real-World Advice on RAC Preparedness

HealthPort will host 2 informative sessions about the RAC program and HealthPort's new RACPro Solution at this year's Association for Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) Convention and Exhibit in Seattle, Washington. In partnership with Nancy Hirschl, RHIT, CCS-P, President, Hirschl and Associates, the panel will share real-world experiences from Medicare's RAC demonstration program with an emphasis on how organizations can prepare for auditors, mitigate their risk for revenue reduction, and manage the administrative burden of RAC. Panel members include Ms. Carol Richardson, MA, RHIA, Director of Health Information Management and Corporate Policy official from Adventist Health in California; Mr. Lane Edenburn, Executive Vice President and General Council of Health Data Insights (HDI); and Mr. Stanley Padfield, RHIA, HIM Director for Lee Memorial Hospital. HDI is one of the four original RACs that participated within the original pilot program. In addition, it was announced yesterday that HDI would be part of the permanent RAC expansion.

Click Here to view our press release

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Monday, October 6, 2008

RAC Permanent Program

On October 6, 2008, CMS announced the names of the new national RACs:

  • Diversified Collection Services, Inc. of Livermore, California, in Region A, initially working in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York. 
  • CGI Technologies and Solutions, Inc. of Fairfax, Virginia, in Region B, initially working in Michigan, Indiana and Minnesota.
  • Connolly Consulting Associates, Inc. of Wilton, Connecticut, in Region C, initially working in South Carolina, Florida, Colorado and New Mexico.
  • HealthDataInsights, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nevada, in Region D, initially working in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Arizona.

Click Here for More Details

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Monday, September 15, 2008

CMS Appeal Update to 3 Year Evaluation

CMS Update: Appeal Update of previously released 3 year RAC Evaluation Report

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Sunday, September 7, 2008

CMS Announces New Timeline for Permanent RACs

At a meeting of regional, state and metropolitan hospital executives in Washington, D.C., Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Financial Management Director Tim Hill announced a revised timeline for the nationwide rollout of the permanent recovery audit contractor program.

Click Here to View the Presentation by Tim Hill

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Friday, July 11, 2008

This just in from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Press Release:  New Report Shows CMS Pilot Program Recovering Nearly $700 Million in Improper Medicare Payments

Report:  The Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program:  An Evaluation of the 3-year Demonstration

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Monday, June 30, 2008

Nancy's RAC Executive Update Presentation

Nancy recently spoke at a HealthPort-sponsored event. View her RAC Executive Summary here.

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Next RAC announcement expected within weeks

Next RAC announcement expected within weeks. Expect news about CMS awarded RACs, start-up and final implementation dates.

Medicare expects to make their next announcement about RAC audits in June 2008. Based on recent activity and national feedback, we expect to hear final word regarding CMS RAC awarded contracts, implementation dates, and any final rules and regs related to RAC operations. If you are attending HFMA's ANI conference in Las Vegas, join me for an executive update on Monday, June 23rd.

Providers in the RAC Pilot program have identified extensive financial and administrative issues regarding the internal needs faced in meeting RAC demands including:

  • Incorrect coding;
  • Insufficient physician documentation;
  • Unsupported medical necessity;
  • Inappropriate patient status designation;
  • Clerical support staffing (medical record location and photocopying);
  • RAC process and outcomes tracking;
  • Internal coding, case management, and billing auditing; and
  • Rebuttal and Appeals processing.
Which of these issues have been the most difficult to manage for your organization?

RAC audits come with hefty back-office, record management and staffing price tags.

We've heard feedback from many providers in early RAC states that the administrative burden associated with keeping track of RAC audit activity is costing thousands of dollars a month. Responding to inquiries, finding and photocopying medical records, and tracking communication with the RAC takes time and money. There are overwhelming manpower costs to comply with auditor demands. Some organizations have assigned a RAC Manager to the task. Technology to track all the records is minimal with most organizations relying on Excel spreadsheets. What is your organization doing to manage the administrative burden associated with RAC audits?

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08.24.10 - They're Here! Medical Necessity Review

07.19.10 - Nine New RAC Issues Were Recently Posted by Connolly Healthcare

06.22.10 - Launch of HealthPort AudaPro

05.17.10 - The RAC program makes 2010 a tough and busy year for health care providers

04.09.10 - Audit Advice Column: The Expansion of Recovery Audits

04.07.10 - AHA RAC Update: CMS Announces Nationwide RAC 101 Calls

02.10.10 - CMS expands fiscal year 2010 RAC ADR limits to all institutional providers

01.26.10 - RAC News & Updates January 2010

12.16.09 - Introducing RACPro 2.5, a unique combination of enhanced functionality and AHA RACTrac compatibility

12.08.09 - Region C, Connolly Healthcare, Posts CMS-Approved Audit Issues

12.08.09 - CMS Announces Record Limits for Providers

10.12.09 - RACPro 2.3 Release is RACTrac Compatible through the AHA

10.06.09 - Introducing RACPro 2.3

08.25.09 - HealthPort Achieves Executive Health Resources Integration Certification

08.17.09 - HealthDataInsights, Inc, the RAC for Region D, has initiated automated audits.

08.06.09 - Connolly Healthcare Posted the First Set of Issues Eligible for RAC Review

07.17.09 - HealthPort Webinar, "Mitigate RAC Financial Risk," is Now Available Online

06.24.09 - CMS Provides New Details About the Phase-in Strategy

06.17.09 - HealthPort's Lori Brocato Featured on Healthcare IT News

06.01.09 - CMS anticipates automatic review to start in late June or July.

04.10.09 - HealthPort Webinar, "Get Ready for RAC," is Now Available Online

03.01.09 - RAC Preparedness: It Takes a Team!

02.06.09 - The RAC Program is Back on Track!

01.29.09 - HealthPort's Lori Brocato and Nancy Hirschl Start a New RAC Column for Advance magazine

01.05.09 - Updated Medicare RAC Demonstration Report

12.15.08 - "RAC in the Real World" Panel Discussion Video Now Available

12.03.08 - CMS Releases Transcripts of recent Open Door Forums on RAC Contractors

10.22.08 - CMS discusses limits on medical record requests by RACs

10.07.08 - HealthPort Pulls Together Expert Panel to Discuss RAC

10.06.08 - RAC Permanent Program

09.15.08 - CMS Appeal Update to 3 Year Evaluation

09.07.08 - CMS Announces New Timeline for Permanent RACs

07.11.08 - This just in from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

06.30.08 - Nancy's RAC Executive Update Presentation

06.11.08 - Next RAC announcement expected within weeks

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