Supplemental Medical Review Contractor (SMRC) - JA DME
Supplemental Medical Review Contractor (SMRC)
Noridian Healthcare Solutions, LLC (Noridian) was selected by CMS to conduct nationwide medical reviews as directed by CMS. Noridian conducts nationwide medical reviews (Part A, Part B, and DME), in accordance with all applicable statutes, laws, regulations, national and local coverage determination policies, and coding guidance, to determine whether Medicare claims have been billed in compliance with coverage, coding, payment, and billing practices. Such reviews are assigned through CMS formal notifications and focus on analysis of national claims data issues identified by Federal agencies, such as the Office of Inspector General (OIG), Government Accountability Office (GAO), CMS internal data analysis, the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program, and professional organizations, and/or analysis reports such as First-Look Analysis Tool for Hospital Outlier Monitoring (FATHOM) report, and Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER).
Access the Noridian SMRC website.
SMRC Reviews Denied for No Documentation
When a claim is denied for no receipt of documentation requested by the SMRC, the next step is to submit the documentation to the DME MAC that issued the demand letter for the overpayment. This must occur within 120 calendar days of the demand letter.
This situation is considered a reopening and the DME MAC will send the submitted documentation to the SMRC for a re-review decision. The SMRC has up to 60 calendar days to make this decision. The SMRC will then mail a letter to the supplier with their findings, either to pay the claim or they will outline the reasons for denial.
The SMRC will next notify the DME MAC of the payment or denial decision. The DME MAC will adjust the claim and a remittance advice with the adjustment results will be generated. The supplier has the right to appeal the SMRC decision, if the claim remains denied.
Based on the timeframes and steps listed above, please call the DME MAC about the status of the SMRC re-review only after at least 140 calendar days have passed from when documentation was sent.
