Bulletin: January 12, 2009
Final Five MACs Announced
CMS has completed the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) assignments by announcing the final five MACs responsible for processing Medicare claims in five remaining jurisdictions.
- Noridian Administrative Services will cover jurisdiction 6, which includes the states of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
- National Government Services will cover jurisdiction 8, which includes the states of Indiana and Michigan.
- Cahaba GBA will cover jurisdiction 10, which includes the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
- Palmetto GBA will cover jurisdiction 11, which includes the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- Highmark Medicare Services will cover jurisdiction 15, which includes the states of Kentucky and Ohio.
Each MAC is expected to be fully responsible for claims processing in its jurisdiction by March of 2010, and, in the meantime, work toward a smooth transition by educating healthcare providers, state medical associations, and beneficiaries of the implementation process and what to expect.
CMS instituted the MACs in order to consolidate the processing of claims by jurisdiction to encourage efficient and correct claim submission and payment. Previously, Medicare claims were processed by many fiscal intermediaries and carriers, which often resulted in incorrect submission and slower payment.
For more details from CMS regarding the MAC transition and implementation, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareContractingReform/.