New Problem with MediCare billing: should be worked out soon.

Just to let you know, we have become aware of a problem with MediCare which should be ironed out soon.

If you have recently been told that I do not have a contract with MediCare this is not true.

Long story:
MediCare is a Federal program that sub-contracts its billing to big companies.

It has also recently made requirements that doctors accept automated deposits of MediCare payments to their bank accounts, and also that doctors must bill under newly issued unique identifiers (NPI's) which must be flawlessly and seamlessly linked to doctor names, tax ID numbers and legacy MediCare numbers.

These last two requirements became enforceable just in the last month or so.

At the same time, NHIC (the big billing company that has been doing MediCare billing for California, Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada for years) lost the contract to Palmetto GBA (a different big company that has been doing MediCare billing in the Atlantic seaboard states for years), effective now.

So, basically a perfect storm of conditions, changes in business structure and entities and agencies auditing the process and performing due diligence has resulted in 75% of the doctors in these states suddenly not receiving MediCare payments and their patients being told that their doctors are not MediCare contracted doctors.

Short story:
MediCare screwed up again.

Solution:
We and our local billing company (Data Management Services, or DMSCO) are working with MediCare to clearly link my name and practice with all necessary unique identifiers in accordance with instructions from MediCare, and should have this straightened out ASAP.

In other words, sit tight, don't worry, it'll get worked out.