On March 28, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), recognizing providers’ need for resources to combat COVID-19, issued a release announcing an expansion of its Accelerated and Advance Payment program for Medicare participating health care providers and suppliers.
On April 3, 2020, the request forms were changed by the MACs and posted to their websites. The old form required the provider to report their cash balance, their anticipated receipts and expenditures for the next 30 days, and the amount of Accelerated Payment request, with the amount of the request being their anticipated Medicare payments for the next three months. Inpatient Acute Care hospitals were 100% for a six month period, while Critical Access Hospitals were 125% over the same time frame. Since the old forms were released, CMS has modified the process as they have calculated the maximum payment amount for each provider. Thus, each provider has two options.
- I want the maximum payment as calculated by CMS.
- I want less than the maximum payment as calculated by CMS. You will then need to specify the amount you are requesting.
Unfortunately, the maximum amount calculated by CMS has not been published. Therefore, if you are requesting an Accelerated and Advance Payment, you are better off requesting the maximum amount.
If you already submitted a request on the old forms, you do not need to resubmit a request on the new forms. The provider should receive payment within 7 to 10 business days.
Below are the links to the forms on Palmetto GBA and CGS Administrators websites.
Palmetto GBA
https://palmettogba.com/palmetto/Mforms.nsf/files/FN-HHH-A-2005.pdf/$File/FN-HHH-A-2005.pdf?Open&
CGS Administrators
https://www.cgsmedicare.com/pdf/covid_accelerated_req_form.pdf
For guidance in applying for an Accelerated and Advance Payment, please do not hesitate to contact Dave Macke at 859-957-1421 or dmacke@vlcpa.com.
