CMS Extends Date of Final Rule for Appeals Process

CMS posted its
second extension of the timeline for publication of the
Medicare claims appeal procedures final rule until March 1, 2010,
in Friday’s Federal Register. The agency said it was not
able to meet the timeline for publication of the final rule because
President Obama’s new staff needed an opportunity to further review
the policies that will be set out in the rule. In February 2008,
CMS announced a one-year extension because it could not meet the
three-year timeline that had been scheduled for publication of the
final rule. According to the agency, the rule requires
collaboration among other HHS agencies, including the Office of
Medicare Hearings and Appeals and the Departmental Appeals Board,
as well as the Office of the General Counsel. An interim final rule
now in effect includes changes to appeals procedures required by
the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and
Protection Act of 2000 and the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.
CMS said the IFR will remain in effect through March 1, 2010. Read
the full
notice.