Oleck Named New Region C Medical Director

BALTIMORE–DMERC Region B Medical Director Dr. Adrian Oleck is
relocating to Region C in March, a CMS spokeswoman has
confirmed.

The announcement comes as CMS prepares to transition from
Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carriers into a new DME Medicare
Adminstrative Contractor (MAC) system.

Instead of a single contractor handling all claims processing
for a region, the functions of each of the four DME regions will be
split under the new system: Program safeguard contractors (PSCs)
will be responsible for benefit integrity, medical review and
medical policy, and affiliated contractors (ACs) will be
responsible for claims processing.

The model is similar to one already used in DMERC Region A,
which splits its workload between two contractors–PSC HealthNow
New York and AC Tricenturion. The MMA mandated that CMS put all
fee-for-service claims processing business up for bid.

TrustSolutions won the bid to become Region C’s PSC in November,
and according to CMS, intends to hire Oleck as its new medical
director beginning March 1. Oleck could not be reached for
comment.

Last month, Dr. Mark Pilley was named medical director of Region
D, with PSC duties for that region to be handled by EDS and
subcontractor IntegriGuard. TriCenturion will be the PSC for
regions A and B, with Dr. Paul Hughes to serve as medical director
over both regions.

CMS is expected to award AC contracts by the end of the month.
The new DME MAC transition is expected to be completed by July
1.

For more information on MACs, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/contractingreform.