CMS Changes Documentation Request Burden on Healthcare Providers

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced two changes to regulations covering the additional documentation request (ADR) process for Medicare providers (except suppliers and physicians) under the CMS Recovery Audit Program.

Beginning April 15, CMS Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) may request up to 20 records per 45 days from providers whose calculated limit is 19 additional documentation requests or less. Currently contractors may request up to 35 records.

Also, RACs will still be allowed to request additional documentation on up to 2 percent of claims, but of that 2 percent only three-quarters can come from any particular claim type, among them:

• Acute hospital inpatient (IPPS) claims
• Hospital outpatient (OPPS) claims
• Skilled nursing facility (SNF) claims
• Inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) claims
• Inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) claims
• Ambulatory surgery center (ASC) claims
• Physician claims

The current regulations allows RAC auditors to make 100 percent of its ADR from any one claim type.

The number of ADRs is based on a provider’s Medicare claim volume from the previous year. The 2012 numbers that set the ADR levels beginning April 15 will be released on that date.

The chart below lists what processes have changed and what will change on April 15: