Program Safeguard Contractors - Overview / Introduction

Article Overview

This article introduces Medicare program integrity contractor structures and the role of CMS in using private entities to help address fraud and abuse in the Medicare program. It explains the historical shift from Program Safeguard Contractors to Zone Program Integrity Contractors and places that change in the broader context of Medicare auditing and contractor oversight. The piece is relevant to coders, compliance staff, auditors, and anyone tracking Medicare administration and program integrity changes.