Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) A/B Task Force Introduction

A nation united with a shared goal. All MACs join forces.

Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) announce the formation of the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) A/B Contractor Task Force, a new partnership of all Part A and Part B MACs to educate on national issues of concern regarding improper payment errors. Here is information about the task force's mission and the first national teleconference on August 20, 2013.

A nation united with a shared goal. All MACs join forces.

Part A/B MACs share a common goal to reduce the Medicare national payment error rate as measured by the CERT program. Recently, the MACs joined forces to educate on issues of mutual concern regarding claim errors. The partnership led to creation of the CERT A/B Contractor Task Force with the full support of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

This new partnership affords providers the benefit of a collaborative, consistent voice to reduce costly claim denials as well as the CERT error rate.

The CERT A/B Contractor Task Force will serve to enhance, not replace, the ongoing educational activities by CMS, the Medicare Learning Network (MLN), and the MACs within their jurisdictions. Providers can identify educational efforts of the CERT A/B Contractor Task Force by the clear identity of its logo, which represents the task force's united vision:

Educational Strategy

The A/B CERT Contractor Task Force will select one to four national CERT "hot topics" each year. The topics may focus on multiple provider types, or focus on certain specialties or facility types. The group will then periodically publish scenario-driven articles with tips focused on avoiding specific errors. Each contractor will also highlight the scenarios in any of their individual educational activities.

Each contractor will host a dedicated page on their website for the CERT A/B Contractor Task Force and its communications. Providers will be able to access all communications for the task force on this page.

Stay Tuned

Over the next few months, the CERT A/B Contractor Task Force will conduct a campaign to inform hospitals, home health, hospice, physician billing and compliance staff, and practitioners within all jurisdictions on this new initiative.

The campaign kicks off with the first national CERT A/B Contractor Task Force Open Door Teleconference on August 20, 2013, at 2:00-3:00 PM EST. Providers will learn more about the task force's goals and future education plans, as well as offer their recommendations. Click here to register. The presentation can be downloaded from each contractor's website page for the task force starting August 16.

The CERT A/B Contractor Task Force looks forward to collaborating for error-free Medicare claims and documentation with providers, associations and societies across the nation.

Sincerely,

Cahaba Government Benefit Administrators, LLC/J10

CGS Administrators, LLC/J15

First Coast Service Options, Inc./J9

National Government Services, Inc./J6 & JK

NHIC, Corp./J14

Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC/JF

Novitas Solutions, Inc./JL & JH

Palmetto GBA/J1 & J11

Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation/J5, J8, & T18