The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has extended its implementation schedule for new Medicare Secondary Payer reporting requirements under the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007.
The requirements are intended to ensure that the Medicare program does not pay for a beneficiary's care when another insurer has primary responsibility.
According to the American Hospital Association, hospitals are subject to the MSP requirements if they self-insure their liability or certain other coverage and, in certain circumstances, if they retain responsibility for a deductible on an insured plan.
Under the extended implementation schedule, organizations subject to the provisions can register for reporting through Sept. 30 and pre-test their electronic reporting from July 1, 2009 through March 30, 2010.
Beginning April 1, 2010, they must report any claims paid to a Medicare beneficiary.
The AHA said it is preparing a member advisory with details on the new requirements and implications for hospitals.