CMS is working with Congress, health care providers and the beneficiary community to avoid disruption in the delivery of healthcare services and payment of claims for physicians, non-physician practitioners and other providers of services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). As you are aware, the Temporary Extension Act of 2010, enacted March 2, 2010, extended the zero percent update to the 2010 MPFS through March 31, 2010.
CMS believes Congress is working to avert the negative update that will take effect April 1. Consequently, CMS has instructed its contractors to hold claims containing services paid under the MPFS (including anesthesia services) for the first 10 business days of April. This hold will only affect claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2010. In addition, the hold should have minimum impact on provider cash flow because, under the current law, clean electronic claims are not paid any sooner than 14 calendar days (29 for paper claims) after the date of receipt. Providers should be on the alert for more information about the 2010 MPFS update.
(CMS Learn Resource 201003-46, dated March 26, 2010, and Joint Signature Memorandum (JSM) 10201, dated March 25, 2010)
