In a June 17 press release, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it is preparing to close the Optum Care Switching/Payment Break (CHOPD) Accelerated and Early Payment Program (AAP) on July 12, 2024.
The CHOPD program was launched in early March to alleviate cash flow disruptions experienced by Medicare providers and suppliers, including hospitals, pharmacies and physicians, following the Change Healthcare ransomware attack in February.
According to the news release, “CHOPD accelerated payments have been issued to more than 4,200 Part A providers, such as hospitals, totaling more than $2.55 billion. “CMS also issued 4,722 CHOPD advance payments, totaling more than $717.18 million, to Part B providers, including physicians, non-physician practitioners, and durable medical equipment suppliers.”
“In the face of one of the most widespread cyberattacks on the U.S. healthcare industry, CMS quickly took action so providers and suppliers had access to the funds they needed to continue providing life-saving care to patients,” the company said. CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure in a statement. “Our efforts helped minimize the disruptive consequences of this incident and we will remain vigilant so we are prepared to address future events.”
CMS stated that it had already recovered more than 96 percent of CHOPD payments. Currently, providers are successfully billing Medicare again.
