RAC Reminder
by Catherine M. Weaver, CASC, CMPE, CHFA
The RACs are actively running automated reviews on the CMS approved issues, and demand letters are being sent to providers. We want to take this time to encourage you to visit your Regional RAC website and update your contact information with them so that demand letters and other correspondence are directed to the correct person within your organization. Updating contact information can be done on-line.
As well, it is advised to keep an eye on the approved issues in all of the Regions. Each RAC has to seek approval on any issue they wish to pursue (even if approval is already granted to another region, they have to prove a reason to pursue the issue in their Region). So reviewing all of the approved issues keeps you abreast of the issues that could be coming to your Region. As well, any CERT or OIG or other agency or program issues that come out, could very likely be followed by a RAC requesting the issue approval for review. So keep your eyes on these programs as well so that you are aware.
Finally, if you have not already addressed how you will react to a request for medical records, you should address this now. Timeliness, accuracy and control over what is sent to the RAC is essential. In addition, if a medical record is requested that has previously undergone review by another audit program (like CERT), you need to advise the RAC on this issue and they will remove the record from the request. They are not to review a record if the issue being investigated has already undergone review. This leads me to my next question….do you have a system of tracking medical records that have been reviewed/audited, and the reason for the review?
For more information, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/RAC/
Link to Region A issues http://www.dcsrac.com/issues.html
Link to Region B issues http://racb.cgi.com/Issues.aspx
Link to Region C issues http://www.connollyhealthcare.com/RAC/pages/approved_issues.aspx
Link to Region D issues https://racinfo.healthdatainsights.com/Public1/NewIssues.aspx
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