On March 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) published a proposed rule that amends regulations
under 42 CFR 405, 424, 455 and 457 to require Medicare, Medicaid
and CHIP providers and suppliers to disclose any current or
previous affiliation with a provider or supplier that (i) has
uncollected debt; (ii) has been or is subject to a payment
suspension under a federal health care program; (iii) has been
excluded from Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP; or (iv) has had its
Medicare, Medicaid or CHIP billing privileges denied or
revoked.
The proposed rule allows CMS to deny and revoke provider and
supplier enrollment based on affiliations that pose an undue risk
of waste, fraud and abuse. The rule also increases the Medicare
program re-enrollment ban from three to 10 years. Any attempt to
circumvent a ban can result in the ban being extended for up to 20
years.
Comments on the proposed rule are due by May 2, 2016.
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