'I'm hoping it's going to be smooth'

PETERSBURG, Va. - Sam Clay had his fingers crossed as Virginia and West Virginia prepared to swap the Region B MAC for the Region C MAC on June 1. "I'm hoping it's going to be smooth," said Clay, president of Clay Home Medical in Petersburg, Va. "We're just trying to save cash flow to prepare in case it isn't smooth." Clay has the right idea, says Kim Brummett, the Region C advisory chair. "June 1 and 4 are going to be dark days," she said. "They process no claims and issue no checks." Brummett has been working closely with MAC administrator Cigna, to help with the transition. "Once a month we've been having conference calls with members of CMS and Palmetto to walk through the transition," she said. Palmetto is currently the Region C administrator but lost the contract to Cigna in January after a protracted battle. Cigna takes over July 1. Richard Stevens, executive director of West Virginia's state association, said he hadn't had any contact with the carrier. "I can't see what difference there would be from Region B," he said. "Medicare regulations are universal regardless of region."