On Oct. 3, the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding consolidation of certain Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs).
The comments come in response to a Sept. 4 request for information (RFI) from CMS to obtain public feedback for consideration to consolidate MAC jurisdictions and consideration to award future MAC contracts with 10-year award periods of performance. Specifically, the proposed plan would consolidate A/B J5 and A/B HH+H J6 into “Jurisdiction G” and the A/B J8 and A/B HH+H J15 MACs into “Jurisdiction Q.”
MACs make local coverage determinations to establish coverage or noncoverage within their jurisdictions. MACs also play a role in the gap-filling process for selected new CPT codes, and reported payment rates from MACs help CMS to calculate a median Medicare payment rate for the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule.
“Consolidation of MACs will create less granularity in the gap-filling process, and the gap-fill rate may not accurately reflect the diverse needs within a broadly consolidated MAC Jurisdiction,” AMP wrote in the letter.
AMP urged CMS to consider that a multiple-MAC system is more receptive to local constituencies’ needs, breeds less competition, and ensures varied input is considered when making key decisions. Finally, AMP questioned the rationale for further MAC consolidation and requested a public statement listing the reasons for doing so.
Source:
https://sam.gov/opp/b551fa990aed4abea0d0cbce1e7eadc4/view#general
