Following the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking decisive action to support healthcare providers and suppliers. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure convened a roundtable with senior Administration leaders and healthcare providers to understand the challenges arising from this disruption and to advocate for robust support from health insurers. This proactive approach underscores the commitment of CMS to ensuring the stability of healthcare services during this critical period.
Recognizing the widespread impact, particularly on Medicaid providers, CMS is preparing to issue guidance to states. This forthcoming guidance will offer states the flexibility needed to bolster Medicaid providers and suppliers, especially those operating within fee-for-service systems. Understanding that many Medicaid providers are significantly affected by the cyberattack, CMS is actively collaborating with states and urging Medicaid managed care plans to implement prospective payments to providers in need. It’s important to note that Medicaid managed care plans possess the autonomy to authorize these prospective payments without requiring explicit CMS approval, and they are strongly encouraged to expedite this process to provide swift financial relief.
Building upon these measures, CMS is also expanding support within Medicare. As announced previously, Medicare Part A providers can apply for accelerated payments. Furthermore, CMS is extending similar financial assistance to Medicare Part B practitioners and suppliers, who can now apply for advance payments. These accelerated and advance payment mechanisms are designed to provide crucial financial lifelines to Medicare providers and Part B practitioners and suppliers, helping them navigate the financial strain caused by the cyberattack. Providers and suppliers seeking this assistance should submit their requests for individual consideration to their respective Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs).
CMS is actively exploring additional avenues to further assist the healthcare provider and supplier community throughout this challenging situation. A key component of this strategy involves encouraging all affected providers and suppliers to proactively engage with health plans and other payers to seek assistance in mitigating the disruption. This includes Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, which CMS has urged to offer advance funding to providers impacted by the cyberattack. While the regulations governing CMS payments to MA organizations and Part D sponsors remain unchanged, these organizations are being called upon to support their contracted providers and suppliers during this crisis.
For detailed information on the Accelerated and Advance Payment Programs for Medicare Part A providers and Part B suppliers, please refer to the Fact Sheet available at: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/change-healthcare/optum-payment-disruption-chopd-accelerated-payments-part-providers-and-advance.
Further insights into the Biden-Harris Administration’s convening with the health care community regarding the Change Healthcare cyberattack can be found in the HHS readout: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/03/12/readout-biden-harris-administration-convening-health-care-community-concerning-cyberattack-change-healthcare.html.
