Cigna Ramps Up for Jurisdiction C MAC Duties

Nashville, Tenn.

Cigna Government Services is pushing to add more than 200 positions in preparation for taking over as the Jurisdiction C DME Medicare Administrative Contractor, officials said last month.

Cigna, which will take on an additional 13 million Medicare providers, suppliers and beneficiaries in 15 southern states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, expects to assume the MAC duties from Palmetto GBA June 1.

“We’re looking to add 200 people to the operation,” said Gloria Barone, public relations director for Cigna. “We’ll be holding job fairs beginning in March.”

Barone said it is expected that Cigna will require new positions in claims, quality and technical areas, as well as management and supervisory positions.

A final ruling in January by the Government Accountability Office allowed Cigna to hang on to the $144 million DME claims processing contract. The contract had been in question since January 2006, when CMS awarded it to Palmetto, which has been the contractor for the region since 1993.

Cigna, which had also bid on the contract, filed a protest, and the GAO ruled in its favor in late September. Palmetto then filed a protest, which once again placed the contract in limbo until the GAO made its final ruling.

The MAC contract includes a base year and four one-year options.

Palmetto will continue to operate the National Supplier Clearinghouse and as the Statistical Analysis Durable Medical Equipment Regional Contractor until CMS settles those contracts.

Palmetto also has been selected to help CMS administer its DME competitive bidding program as it rolls out in 10 cities this year.

As a DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor, Palmetto will prepare the request for bids, perform bid evaluations, select qualified suppliers and set payment rates for all competitive bidding areas.