June 26, 2024

CMS Preparing to Close Program that Addressed Medicare Funding Issues

On June 17, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that payments under the Accelerated and Advance Payments (AAP) Program for the Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) will conclude on July 12, 2024.

• CHOPD accelerated payments have been issued to over 4,200 Part A providers, such as hospitals, totaling more than $2.555 billion.
• CMS also issued 4,722 CHOPD advance payments, totaling more that $717.18 million, to Part B suppliers, including doctors, non-physician practitioners, and durable medical equipment suppliers.
• Providers of services and suppliers are now successfully billing Medicare
  • to date, CMS has already recovered over 96% of the CHOPD payments.
• After July 12, 2024, CMS will no longer accept new applications for CHOPD accelerated or advance payments.
  • If you are having difficulty billing or receiving payment:
    • Contact Change Healthcare, owned by UnitedHealth Group, by visiting https://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/ns/changehealthcare.htmland/or their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).
  • To find your MACs contact information, please visit https://www.cms.gov/mac-info.
    • All new CHOPD program applications must be submitted from eligible providers and suppliers prior to that date.

CMS will continue to monitor for other effects of the cyberattack on Medicare providers of services and suppliers and will continue to engage industry partners to address any remaining issues or concerns.

CMS encourages all providers of services and suppliers, technology vendors, and other members of the health care ecosystem to double down on cybersecurity, with urgency.

Please visit the HPH Cyber Performance Goals website at https://hphcyber.hhs.gov/performance-goals.html for more details on steps to stay protected.