Emergency Rulemaking Expands AHCCCS’ Exclusion Authority

AHCCCS has broad authority to exclude participating providers from its program.  For example, AHCCCS may terminate a provider’s AHCCCS participation agreement if the provider fails to comply with their provider participation agreement, or with federal and state laws, rules, or regulations.  AHCCCS must also suspend payments pending an investigation of a “credible allegation of fraud”…

Getting Back to Normal: AHCCCS Begins Regular Enrollment Renewals

Concurrent with the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency (“PHE”), the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (“AHCCCS”) modified requirements related to member enrollment and provider revalidation. Following the Consolidated Appropriations Act of December 2022, Medicaid is decreasing specific additional funding made available during the PHE. As a result, AHCCCS has returned to the regular renewal process…

Dental Services Provider Paid $350,000 for Alleged Improper Medicaid Billing

On August 11, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a press release announcing a $350,000 settlement between the federal government, Cornell Scott Hill Health Corporation (“Cornell”), a Federally Qualified Health Center (“FQHC”), and the State of Connecticut to settle Medicaid fraud claims asserted against Cornell. As a FQHC, Medicaid pays Cornell for certain…

CMS Restricts Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program

On April 26, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) suspended Medicare’s Advance Payment Program. CMS’s Accelerated and Advance Payment Program (AAPP) provides accelerated or advanced payments to Medicare providers and suppliers during national or public health emergencies.  These expedited payments help provide funding when circumstances disrupt claim submission and claim processing.  Providers…