The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has reduced to 12 months the deadline by which hospitals may submit Medicare fee-for-service claims, in line with a mandate in the new healthcare reform law.
Currently, Part A and Part B Medicare claims must be submitted to CMS by the end of the calendar year that follows the fiscal year in which the service was furnished. According to the announcement in CMS publication MLN Matters, the new claims filing deadline (for services rendered after Jan. 1, 2010) will be one year after the date of service, with some exceptions to account for the transition to the new deadline.
The change will eliminate the re-billing option for claims denied by a Recovery Audit Contractor for services provided prior to the new 12-month timely filing window. RACs are able to review and deny Medicare claims that are up to three years old, for services on or after Oct. 1, 2007.