COVID-19 CARES Act Includes Medicare Advance Payments

CMS has expanded its Accelerated and Advance Payment Program for the duration of the public health emergency, authorizing Medicare contractors the ability to provide accelerated or advance payments. 

Providers must complete an enrollment form to be considered.

To qualify for advance/accelerated payments, the following requirements must be met:

• Have billed Medicare for claims within 180 days immediately before the date of signature on the physician’s request form
• Not be in bankruptcy
• Not be under active medical review or program integrity investigation
• Not have any outstanding delinquent Medicare overpayments

Each Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) will work to review and issue payments within seven calendar days of receiving the request. Some Medicare contractors have made it possible to submit the request on weekends.

NOVITAS instructions can be found here. If you are with a different MAC, please check their website for instructions on how to apply.