The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering some providers the opportunity to accelerate and advance their Medicare payments. It is outlined in the fact sheet available at https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/change-healthcare/optum-payment-disruption-chopd-accelerated-payments-part-providers-and-advance. Each Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) offers their own process for applying for this program. You can locate your MAC at https://www.cms.gov/mac-info.
After reviewing guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/05/hhs-statement-regarding-the-cyberattack-on-change-healthcare.html), the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) recommends consideration of the following:
- If you are not experiencing a financial hardship with regards to your unpaid Medicare claims, we would not recommend enrolling in this accelerated, payment advancement program. It will affect payments received at a later date.
- Consider transitioning to a different, unaffected clearinghouse supported by your office management system or electronic medical record.
- For Medicare, consult your MAC to determine if they allow for submission of paper claims or direct to MAC claims via their portal or hold your claims until the situation rectifies itself.
- For Medicaid, determine what claims submission options exist directly through the health plan, either via their specific portal or paper claims and if they are modifying their prior authorization processes in any way. This information should be available on their website.
- For commercial health plans, determine what claims submission options exist directly through the health plan, either via their specific portal or paper claims and if they are modifying their timely claims filing limits in any way. This information should be available on their website or in their portal.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to Kim Cavitt at