Introduction
Medicare Contracting Reform is bringing changes to CMS and
the fee-for-service (FFS) program. These changes are intended to improve
Medicare services to beneficiaries and health care providers and bring Medicare
contracting in line with most other Government contracting authority by using
the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
Section 911 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 established Medicare Contracting Reform. This legislation mandates that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) replace Medicare’s current contracting authority with the new Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) authority.
You will see contracting reform being implemented over the next several years. This course will familiarize you with the changes taking place at CMS and the benefits they will provide.