ASCs Eligible for Financial Relief Under CMS Accelerated and Advance Payment Program

Updated: March 28, 2020

This afternoon, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an expansion of its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program for Medicare participating healthcare providers and suppliers, including ASCs, due to financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Accelerated and advance Medicare payments provide emergency funding and addresses cash flow issues based on historical payments when there is disruption in claims submission and/or claims processing. To qualify for accelerated or advance payments, the provider or supplier must

Have billed Medicare for claims within 180 days of the date on the provider’s/supplier’s request form;
Not be in bankruptcy;
Not be under active medical review or program integrity investigation; and
Not have any outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments.

Medicare will start accepting and processing requests immediately. Forms are available through the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). CMS anticipates that the payments will be issued within seven days of the provider’s request.

An informational fact sheet on the accelerated/advance payment process and how to submit a request can be found on CMS' website.

Please contact Kara Newbury with any questions.