A Medical Device Daily

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that Wisconsin Physicians Service Health Insurance (WPSHI; Madison, Wisconsin) has been awarded a five-year contract for the combined administration of Part A and Part B Medicare claims payment in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

WPSHI is the third new Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) to be named by CMS as required by the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). By 2011, a total of 15 new Medicare contractors will cover every state and the District of Columbia. The first two contractors are processing Medicare claims in a total of 10 western states.

WPSHI will serve as the first point of contact for the processing and payment of fee-for-service claims from hospitals, nursing facilities, physicians and practitioners in the four states. The MAC was selected in open competition under federal procurement rules.

"The contract award for WPSHI is a major step toward improving service to beneficiaries and providers, as well as providing greater administrative efficiency and effectiveness for the original fee-for-service Medicare program," Deputy CMS Administrator Herb Kuhn said. "WPS was awarded the contract because it offered the best overall value to the government, from both a cost and technical perspective."

The new contractor will take claims payment work now performed by four fiscal intermediaries and three carriers in the four states. The MAC contract, which has a value of $225 million for more than five years, will fulfill the requirements of the MMA's contracting reform provisions.

Under the current system, fiscal intermediaries process claims for Medicare Part A providers, such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and other institutional providers. Carriers process claims for physicians, laboratories and other practitioners under Medicare Part B.

The contract for WPSHI includes a base period and four one-year options and will provide WPS with an opportunity to earn award fees based on its ability to meet or exceed the performance requirements set by CMS. These requirements are rooted in CMS' key objectives for the MACs, including enhanced provider customer service, increased payment accuracy, improved provider education and training leading to correct claims submissions, and realized cost savings resulting from efficiencies and innovation. In accordance with the MMA, MAC contracts are to be open for bidding at least every five years.

As the MAC contractor, WPSHI will immediately begin implementation activities and will assume full responsibility for the claims processing work in its four-state jurisdiction no later than Sept. 9, 2008.

When contracting reform is fully implemented, all the fiscal intermediaries and carriers will be replaced by MACs that will be responsible for both Part A and Part B claims. For beneficiaries and providers, the new structure will mean that they each have a single point of contact with the Medicare program. When it becomes operational, the MAC for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska will be the contact for all Medicare providers and physicians in the four states, while beneficiaries will pose their claims-related questions to a Beneficiary Contact Center.

CMS awarded the first MAC contract in July 2006 to Noridian Administrative Services, (Fargo, North Dakota). The second contract was awarded on Aug. 3, 2007, to TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, (Richardson, Texas).

Amicas (Boston) reported that it has signed three contracts for its modern Vision Series Financials product. In addition, Amicas said it will display the full breadth of its automation solutions for radiology and billing practices at the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) Fall Educational Conference from September 16 to 18 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Amicas is a developer of radiology and medical image and information management solutions.