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BALTIMORE — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure participated in a roundtable with senior Administration leaders to hear from health care providers about the challenges they are experiencing following the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s subsidiary Change Healthcare, and to urge health insurers to do more to support affected providers and suppliers.
At the roundtable, CMS announced that guidance to states is forthcoming that will provide needed flexibilities to allow states to support Medicaid providers and suppliers during this time, particularly those operating in fee-for-service delivery systems. CMS recognizes that many Medicaid providers are deeply affected by the cyberattack. We are continuing to work closely with states and are urging Medicaid managed care plans to make prospective payments to impacted providers. Medicaid managed care plans do not need CMS authority make prospective payments to providers and suppliers who need them; we are encouraging Medicaid managed care plans to make prospective payments as soon as possible.
This announcement follows Saturday’s statement that, in addition to considering applications for accelerated payments for Medicare Part A providers, we will also be considering applications for advance payments for Part B practitioners and suppliers. Medicare Part A providers and Part B practitioners and suppliers may submit accelerated or advance payment requests to their respective Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for individual consideration.
CMS continues to look for ways to further support the provider and supplier community during this difficult situation. All affected providers and suppliers should reach out to health plans and other payers for assistance with the disruption. CMS has encouraged other payers including Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to offer advance funding to providers affected by this cyberattack. The rules governing CMS’s payments to MA organizations and Part D sponsors remain unchanged. Please note that nothing in this statement speaks to the arrangements between MA organizations or Part D sponsors and their contracted providers and suppliers or facilities.
