Medicare Immediate Recoupment

Whether the provider, Novitas Solutions, or another entity identifies an overpayment, the overpaid funds must be reimbursed to Novitas Solutions in one of the following ways:

A.  Immediate Recoupment as a Means to Repay Medicare Debt - Part A and Part B

The immediate recoupment process is for providers who have received an overpayment demand letter and are actively billing Medicare.  Immediate recoupment is not an alternative for sending a voluntary refund to Medicare.

You may elect to have your overpayment(s) repaid through the immediate recoupment process and avoid paying by check or waiting for the standard recoupment that begins automatically on day 41 from the date of the initial demand letter.  A request for immediate recoupment must be received by Medicare in writing no later than 16 days from the date of the overpayment demand letter. You must specify whether you are submitting: 

1. A one-time request for all invoices included in the current overpayment demand letter and all future overpayments

2. A request for all invoices included in only the current overpayment demand letter received

The immediate recoupment process is optional and for your convenience.   You may find savings in check printing and postage since you are requesting to have your Medicare overpayment(s) withheld from your future Medicare claim payments.
    
Any principal balance remaining after the initial immediate recoupment attempt will continue to accrue interest and continue in the recoupment process and other collection activities until the overpayment is satisfied.   You may fax your immediate recoupment request directly to the following fax numbers:
  

Part A fax line: (412) 802-1836 

 

Part B PA/NJ/MD/DC/DE providers may fax to: (717)-728-8722 

 

Part B AR/CO/LA/MS/NM/OK/TX providers may fax to: (717)-728-8728 

 

As stated above, there are two immediate recoupment request options available: 

3. A one-time request for all invoices included in the current overpayment demand letter and all future overpayments

 

4. A request for all invoices included in only the current overpayment demand letter received

Note:

If you select option 1 above, for future overpayments the immediate recoupment process will automatically begin on day 16 from the demand letter dates (assuming the provider has paying claims).  The 16 day timeframe allows for the 15 day rebuttal period. 

 

If you select option 1 above, you can later fax or mail a written request to Medicare to discontinue participation in the immediate recoupment process at anytime.  Allow Novitas Solutions, Inc. 10 business days from receipt to stop the immediate recoupment process. 

 

If you select option 2 above, please note that the immediate recoupment process will occur at the demand letter level through our  current process which will not allow offset to begin until day 16 from the demand letter date (assuming the provider has paying claims).  The 16 day timeframe allows for the 15 day rebuttal period. 

 

A request for immediate recoupment must be in writing and may be submitted by fax or regular mail.  We do not currently offer the option for you to email us your request.  Novitas Solutions, Inc. preferred method is to recommend utilization of the fax process to insure efficiency, timeliness, and to decrease costs.  Please refer to the fax numbers listed above including separate fax numbers for Medicare Part A versus Medicare Part B.   Your request for immediate recoupment must include the following when submitting your request:

Your name and contact phone number (include area code)

Your Provider Transaction Account Number (PTAN)

Your National Provider Identification (NPI)

Your Provider signature or CFO’s signature authorizing the request

The Overpayment Demand Letter number located on the 1st page, at the right top of page

Identify which option you are requesting. 

Your request must specifically state you understand you are waiving potential payment of interest pursuant to Section 1893(f)(2) for overpayments.   Such interest may be payable for certain overpayments reversed at the Administrative Law Judge level or subsequent levels of appeal (935 Overpayments).