MARC Coalition Applauds Agency's Alert Regarding Delay in Data Exchange Deadline

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC) today applauds the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services CMS, for their decision to defer the reporting deadline for Section 111 MMSEA Mandatory Insurer Reporting.

"The industry has been working diligently to build in infrastructure to supply data to CMS, investing millions of dollars to ensure compliance with the data share regulation." said Roy Franco, co-chairperson of MARC and director of risk management services for Safeway Inc.  "Unfortunately, there have been unforeseen difficulties and unanswered questions regarding the reporting process, and everyone's ability to get the job done by April 1."  

The Alert posted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allows testing to continue thru December 31, 2010, and only begins live reporting on January 1, 2011. "This expansion of an additional nine months will allow time for both the Agency and the industry to navigate system roadblocks and clarify open policy issues," states Katie Fox, co-chairperson of MARC and MSP Compliance & Resolution Manager for MedInsights, Inc. "MARC is committed to working with the Agency to ensure the reporting process is effective and to minimize the delay of benefit to the Medicare beneficiaries."

"The claims community will continue to exchange data with Medicare in a collaborative effort to improve the data reporting systems." says Marcia Nigro, Assistant Vice President and Complex Claim Consultant for Sedgwick CMS. "The certification and testing for the claim detail data exchange will continue thru 2010, which will benefit everyone involved."  The MARC Coalition had written to CMS in January seeking changes to the April 1, 2010 reporting deadline, and had been working with CMS and a wide variety of stakeholders to ensure that reporting was not required until the appropriate systems were functional and in place, and until important policy guidance, including a new  "User Guide," was issued.  MARC applauded the CMS announcement that CMS will issue this important new guidance the week of February 22.  

The Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition (MARC) advocates for the improvement of the Medicare Secondary Payer program. The coalition has been collaborating and developing strategic alliances with Congressional leaders and government agencies to focus on broader Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) reform. MARC member organizations are comprised of entities representing virtually every sector of interested stakeholders, including attorneys, brokers, insureds, insurers, insurance and trade associations, self-insureds and third-party administrators. For more information, please visit www.marccoalition.com.

SOURCE The Medicare Advocacy Recovery Coalition