CMS Preparing to Close Change Healthcare Cyberattack Financial Relief Program
In a June 17 press release, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that payments under the Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program for the Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) will stop accepting new applications on July 12, 2024. The program, which began in March, was created to offset cash flow interruptions to Medicare providers and suppliers as a result of the Change Healthcare Cyberattack in February of this year.
According to CMS, CHOPD has provided accelerated and advanced payments totaling more than $2.55 billion to 4,200 Part A providers; and more than $717.18 million to 4,722 Part B providers and suppliers. To date, CMS said it has recovered over 96% of the CHOPD payments as a result of providers and suppliers effectively billing and receiving Medicare payments. Providers and suppliers are encouraged to contact Change Healthcare and/or their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for all billing and reimbursement issues they still may be experiencing.
“In the face of one of the most widespread cyberattacks on the U.S. health care industry, CMS promptly took action to get providers and suppliers access to the funds they needed to continue providing patients with vital care,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Our efforts helped minimize the disruptive fallout from this incident, and we will remain vigilant to be ready to address future events.”
