by Pamela D. Tyner, Amy Lerman, and Lesley R. Yeung
The Recovery Audit Contractor (“RAC”) program is a national program aimed at identifying Medicare program overpayments and underpayments through a review of individual Medicare claims by contractors paid on a contingency fee basis. Over the next year, the RAC program will expand its reach beyond the current focus on fee-for-service payments under Medicare Parts A and B to include Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part D (Prescription Drug Benefit) as well as state Medicaid programs. As Medicaid RAC programs get underway in the states, and private insurers offering coverage under Medicare Part C and D prepare for new, yet still undefined, RAC efforts, it is more important than ever for providers to make sure that their processes for documentation, billing, and coding are accurate and comprehensive.