The AMA has informed the NCMS that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting several conference calls on the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) programs. The first conference call was held on April 28, 2010, but many were unable to participate due to the large number of callers. Thus far, with limited exceptions, the RACs have not conducted any physician audits and continue to focus on hospitals. However, physicians need to be aware that the RACs are approved to conduct physician audits and may do so at any time.

Announced Conference Calls on RAC Programs:

May 4, 2010 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for Home Health and Hospice Providers, 1-877-251-0301

May 5, 2010 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for DMEPOS, 1-877-251-0301

May 12, 2010 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST: Nationwide RAC 101 Call for Physicians, 1-877-251-0301

On March 10, President Obama announced expanded fraud and abuse control initiatives for Medicare, Medicaid and other federal programs, including an Executive Order that directs all federal agencies (not just the health care agencies) to expand and intensify their use of the Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) program, which currently only operates in the Medicare fee-for-service program. He announced that using these audits government-wide will return at least $2 billion to the federal government over the next three years.

For information on the RAC program see www.cms.hhs.gov/rac and www.ama-assn.org/go/regrelief and select “Recovery Audit Contractors.”