Advocacy & Practice Updates — Advocacy & Practice
Government Funding Resolution Includes Modifications to Medicare Accelerated and Advanced Payments
Late last week, the House passed—and the Senate is expected to pass shortly—a short-term spending bill to avert a government shutdown through December 11, 2020. The bill also includes some modifications to the Medicare Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program, which CMS had immediately scaled up to provide relief to physicians and practices at the outset of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Under the existing program, Medicare is scheduled to begin recouping advanced payments 120 days after the initial disbursement and recipients would have 210 days to pay back the amount. Any amount not repaid after that time would be subject to a 10% interest rate. Congress’ modifications passed this week would extend the time before recoupments begins to 1 year, reduce the amount recouped on each claim, extend the recoupment period to 29 months, and lower the interest rate to 4%. The President is expected to sign the legislation shortly.
(Published 9.30.20)