MACs join forces to reduce denials

WASHINGTON – The Part A and Part B Medicare Administrative Contractors have formed a task force to educate on national issues of concern regarding improper payment errors, they have announced. The Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) A/B Contractor Task Force will hold its first teleconference Aug. 20. The task force affords providers the benefit of a “collaborative, consistent voice to reduce costly claim denials, as well as the CERT error rate,” according to a bulletin. The task force will enhance, not replace, the ongoing educational activities by CMS, the Medicare Learning Network and the MACs in their jurisdictions. It will select one to four national CERT “hot topics” each year that may focus on provider or facility types, or on certain specialties. It will then publish scenario-driven articles with tips on avoiding specific errors. The task force’s campaign kicks off with the call on Aug. 20 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. To register: https://services.choruscall.com/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirm....