IA, MO, KS & NE Medicare Part B J5 MAC Multi-Carrier System (MCS) Merge Effective August 1, 2009

Date:   07/30/2009

Original Posting Date: 06/04/09

Wisconsin Physicans Services (WPS) has announced Multi-Carrier System (MCS) merge for Medicare Part B in Iowa, Eastern Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska & Western Missouri. Normal claims processing will be temporarily interrupted for providers in these states. This may cause payer report and payment delays.

CMS has approved a "Dark Day" on Friday, July 31, 2009. to perform the merge. The “Dark Day” will affect all Part B J5 MAC providers.

“Dark Day” is defined as a day in which Medicare online systems would not be available for either external or internal use.

During the Dark Day, none of the following information is returned by the payer:

• Prepass Reports
• Electronic Remittance Reports (ERA)
• 276/277 Responses

Once the Merge is completed on August 1, 2009, WPS expects to resume normal operations. This includes the release of reports, ERA and 277 claim status responses by end of business day on August 3, 2009.

Provider Action:

As always, you may continue to submit WPS Medicare Part B claims to Infinedi. For additional details, you may access complete impact statement and instruction from WPS from the link provided.

http://www.wpsic.com/edi/pdf/J5B_MergeEDI.pdf