ZPIC Audit

CBRs for Spinal Orthoses (CBR201803): What Do You Need to Know?

(April 12, 2018): The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) utilizes a variety of private contractors to process Medicare claims and conduct both administrative and program integrity audits of claims submitted by healthcare providers and suppliers.  At the present time, CMS has contracted with eGlobalTech (eGT) to analyze data and prepare “Comparative Billing Reports” […]

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Revocation of Your Medicare Billing Privileges

(December 14, 2017): The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has engaged various types of outside contracting entities to perform program integrity functions on behalf of the Medicare program. At the present time, Uniform Program Integrity Contractors (UPICs) and Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs) are very aggressive when it comes to referring evidence of

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CMS Awards Zone 6 ZPIC Contract to SafeGuard Services

(August 15, 2015): The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded the contract for Zone Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) services for Zone 6 to SafeGuard Services, LLC. Zone 6 encompasses Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. SafeGuard is the current program

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Recovery Audit Contractor Changes will be Major in 2014

(May 7, 2013): The Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program is slated to undergo significant changes in 2014. As discussed below, non-hospital health care providers and suppliers are likely to find the Medicare appeals process more complex than ever as RACs enter into the process in an effort to defend their denial decisions. I. Background of

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Home Health Prepayment Reviews are Increasing. Is Your Documentation Compliant?

(January 30, 2013): Are the home health services you are currently providing compliant with applicable coverage, documentation and medical necessity requirements? Have you carefully reviewed your current caseload to ensure that each patient does, in fact, qualify as “homebound.” Do you have an effective Compliance Plan in place to assist you with your efforts? Now,

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Medicare Dental Audits are Being Conducted by ZPICs. Is Your Specialty Dental Practice Ready?

(January 18, 2013): Specialty dental practices around the country are receiving audit letters from “Zone Program Integrity Contractors” (ZPICs), contractors working for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This latest audit focus by ZPICs is rather surprising in light of the fact that very few dental procedures qualify for Medicare coverage and payment.

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ZPIC Home Health Audits are Slated for the Future

(November 19, 2012): Zone Program Integrity Contractors, better known also as “ZPICs,” are continuing to focus on home health agencies (HHAs), hospice providers, and DME companies as the subject of their Medicare audits. Based on input from both the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), ZPIC audits

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Choosing the Right ZPIC Audit Appeals Attorney: Who is Best for You?

(July 19, 2012): Choosing the right ZPIC audit appeals attorney to represent your practice is possibly the most important step you can take to protecting your rights during the ZPIC audit and appeals process. Indeed, who your representative is in ZPIC cases can make all the difference in the world. It is not enough to

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Healthcare Data Mining Audits: Impact on Medicare Providers and Suppliers

(June 27, 2012): Healthcare data mining has become quite routine. For instance, in a recent case involving a Missouri psychologist, the provider was indicted and arrested on two counts of healthcare fraud and forgery. At the heart of this case was the fact that the psychologist allegedly submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid that were

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OMHA Changes ALJ Hearing Case System

(March 2, 2012): Likely recognizing the enormous disparity in Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing workloads for its various Field Offices, the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) recently switched to a Central Docketing System for all pending and new appeals. Under this new system, all ALJ hearing requests will be sent to OMHA’s Central

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