MESA asks: Can providers get offset to respond to audits, too?
By HME News Staff
Updated Wed August 6, 2014
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (MESA) has heard back from CMS about why DME providers, unlike hospitals, aren't reimbursed for the costs of providing copies of records to respond to audits. Following a Senate roundtable on audits in July, where it was revealed that the RACs pay hospitals up to $25 per audit, the association recommended the agency change the policy. Acting Director of the Provider Compliance Group Melanie Combs-Dyer told Executive Director Liz Moran in an Aug. 6 letter: “Suppliers under the fee schedule, such as DMEPOS suppliers, generally do not receive additional payments for copy and mailing expenses, as these are included in the indirect costs associated with the fee schedule amount.” MESA was encouraged, however, that Combs-Dyer also stated, “Regarding your recommendations that CMS direct recovery auditors to compensate DMEPOS suppliers for submitting medical records, I have directed my staff to further research this issue and explore the possibility of revising future recovery auditor contracts as you suggest.”
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