decisionhealth Newsletters, Answer Books - 2006 Issue 3 (March)
Program_Memos / 2001 / AB-01-122
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Article Overview
This Program Memorandum from CMS addresses how Medicare contractors should handle outstanding, stale dated, canceled, and undeliverable Medicare benefit checks, along with the associated reporting and documentation expectations. It is relevant to Medicare contractors, intermediary and carrier operations, and financial reporting staff who manage check status, reconciliation, and reporting under CMS policy and applicable banking rules.
Why This Topic Matters
The article explains contractor responsibilities for tracking Medicare checks and maintaining accurate financial reporting, which affects compliance, reconciliation, and balance reporting. It is useful for organizations that process Medicare payments and need to align procedures with CMS instructions and applicable banking regulations.
Article Sections
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Re-Issuing Medicare Checks
Overview of CMS guidance on handling requests related to Medicare checks and the general contractor process for evaluating those requests. The section also references related banking and state-law considerations.
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Stale Dating of Checks
Discusses how contractors should review outstanding checks, apply stale dating policies, and reflect related amounts in financial reporting. It also covers documentation and notification expectations tied to contractor policies and banking regulations.
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Cancellation of Outstanding Checks
Addresses the treatment of Medicare benefit checks that remain unpaid beyond the applicable period and the contractor’s related responsibilities. This section also notes superseded manual instructions.
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Undeliverable Checks
Covers checks returned as undeliverable and the associated handling instructions tied to updated address information and voiding. The section connects these situations to financial reporting and liability treatment.
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Financial Reporting
Summarizes the reporting forms, reconciliation expectations, and documentation requirements used to account for outstanding and related check balances. It also references Medicare contractor financial systems and reporting periods.
What You Will Learn
- How CMS frames contractor responsibilities for Medicare check status management
- What categories of check handling and reporting the memorandum addresses
- Which reporting forms and contractor systems are referenced for outstanding check reconciliation
- How the guidance is organized across reissue, stale dating, cancellation, undeliverable items, and reporting
Who Should Read This
- Medicare contractors
- Intermediaries and carriers
- CMS financial reporting staff
- Revenue cycle and accounting staff supporting Medicare payments
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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