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CLIENT ALERT: Medicare Trust Fund to Run Out of Funding Beginning in 2026, Likely to See an Increase in Audits, Overpayment Demands and Extrapolations

Client Alert

Pursuant to a Medicare Trustee Report released on June 5, 2018, the Medicare trust fund will run out of funding beginning in 2026, which is three years earlier than previously expected.  Although the Trustee’s report requests that Congress and the President act with urgency to remedy this problem, in the short term, we expect to see an increase in government payer audits, overpayment demands, and extrapolations.

 

If implemented in full strength, these overpayment demands and extrapolations can result in payers recovering millions of dollars from providers, which may be returned to the trust fund.  In the alternative, payers and their contractors may allege overpayments so that providers agree to a settlement requesting the provider to accept pennies on the dollar for the true amount owed to the provider.

 

Either way, it is now more crucial than ever before that providers take action when government payers and their contractors seek to conduct pre- and post-payment audits and otherwise seek the refund of overpayments.

 

BMD’s Healthcare Department can meet with you to discuss your options if your practice is facing pre- and/or post-payment audits and denials.  If you are subjected to an overpayment, including an extrapolation, our experienced team can strategize your appeal and arguments for success in challenging the overpayment allegations.

 

If you have any questions concerning payer audits, appeals, overpayments, and extrapolations, or the administrative appeal process in general, please contact  Amanda L. Waesch, Esq. (alwaesch@bmdllc.com) or Bryan E. Meek, Esq. (bmeek@bmdllc.com), attorneys in Brennan, Manna & Diamond’s Provider Relations, Audits, Appeals, and Negotiations Unit, a division of BMD’s Healthcare Department.

 


I Went to Bed and the Rules Changed: the Corporate Transparency Act is Back on Hold

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ordered on December 26, 2024 that in an effort to “preserve the constitutional status quo” while it considered the Federal Government’s appeal, it vacated the prior order for a stay of the nationwide injunction pending appeal entered on December 23, 2024, and reinstated the preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of the CTA and its corresponding Reporting Rule.

Telemedicine Flexibilities Extended to March 31, 2025

The American Relief Act of 2025 extends key telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025, originally enacted during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). These flexibilities remove geographic and originating site restrictions for Medicare patients, expand the list of qualified practitioners, and allow for audio-only services and telehealth mental health care without in-person requirements. Although this extension is temporary, it provides continued access to essential healthcare services. Congress will need to pass permanent legislation to solidify these changes beyond March 2025.

Corporate Transparency Act Is Back in Effect: Are You Ready?

On December 23, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the filing requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), overturning a prior injunction. Businesses now have updated deadlines to file initial beneficial ownership information reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), based on their registration date. Affected companies must comply with these new deadlines, which vary depending on when the company was created or registered.

Checklist of Legal Considerations for a Med Spa

Checklist of key legal considerations for a med spa providing a broad overview of certain state and federal legal requirements.

Understanding Ohio House Bill 660: A Game-Changer for Student-Athletes

Ohio House Bill 660 is set to reshape Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements for student-athletes by allowing direct compensation from universities and providing greater financial opportunities while preserving amateur status. The bill simplifies the regulatory framework, introduces safeguards, and creates challenges and ethical considerations for stakeholders.