Change Healthcare cyberattack: CMS to end relief funding program

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is winding down its financial relief program for providers affected by the Change Healthcare cyberattack.

CMS will no longer accept new applications for accelerated or advance payments after July 12, the agency said Monday. CMS launched the funding program in March following the catastrophic cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare subsidiary in February.

Related: Change cyberattack prompts CMS to extend dispute process

The Change Healthcare outage caused widespread disruptions for healthcare organizations reliant on the company — freezing vital functions related to billing, payments, prior authorization and insurance verification. CMS offered funds to eligible providers and suppliers to alleviate cash flow challenges related to their inability to submit claims and receive payments.

About 4,200 hospitals and other Medicare Part A providers received more than $2.55 billion in accelerated payments, CMS said in a news release. Doctors, durable medical equipment suppliers and other Part B suppliers received more than $717.18 million in advance payments, it said.

The agency said provider and supplier billing practices have returned to normal, and the agency has recouped about 96% of payments from recipients. CMS instructed providers and suppliers to contact Change Healthcare or their Medicare administrative contractor if they have billing and payment issues prior to federal assistance lapsing next month.

In early March, UnitedHealth Group launched a financial assistance program for some providers affected by the cyberattack and has advanced more than $6.5 billion to providers, according to a Change Healthcare status webpage Monday. Also in March, Highmark launched its funding program for some providers unable to submit claims.

Last week, CMS said it is extending independent dispute filing deadlines through at least mid-October to assist providers that could not file in a timely manner during the outage.