Information to be aware of later this year that we received from our
ambulance association:
One-Time Freeze on Medicare Payments in September
As part of the Deficit Reduction Act, signed into law on February 8,
2006, a freeze is required on Medicare payments to all physicians,
suppliers and providers, including ambulance services. The freeze will
affect only claims for the last nine days of the Federal fiscal year,
September 22-30, 2006 and it is a one-time hold on payments. Claims
held as a result of the policy will be paid on October 2, 2006, with no
interest or late penalty to be paid. The action will take place to move
payments into the next Fiscal Year.
The information about this provision was sent to contractors through CMS
Transmittal 847 on February 10, 2006. This hold on claims applies to
paper as well as electronic claims.
Although the freeze will not take place until September, we hope that
this advance notice will help suppliers plan accordingly.
Donald E. Foley
Commercial Account Executive
Cailor Fleming Insurance
P.O. Box 3989
Youngstown, OH 44513
(330) 782-8068
(330) 782-0458-fax
