AHA RAC Advocacy Resources

Advisories

Member Advisory: Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs): Permanent Program Basics, 04/20/09 
This advisory aims to provide an overview of the permanent RAC program. It describes the guidelines RACs must follow, the requirements for hospitals and the timeline for the national rollout of the program.

Regulatory Advisory: The Medicare Appeals Process, 03/27/09 
The attached advisory reviews the Medicare appeals process, including recent changes, and the distinct protocols for appealing payments denied by RACs.

Regulatory Advisory: Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs): Coding & Documentation Strategies, 07/16/08 
This advisory highlights the types of coding issues targeted during the RAC demonstration and
strategies your organization can implement to reduce the impact of RAC audits.

Member Advisory: Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs): Preparing for RAC Audits, 03/03/08   
This advisory highlights the types of inpatient claims that were targeted during the RAC demonstration and some strategies and tools your organization can implement to minimize the impact of future RAC audits.

AHA News Now Articles

Region C RAC begins medical necessity reviews, 08/30/10

Region D RAC begins medical necessity reviews, 08/25/10

RAC issues list of medical necessity reviews, 08/12/10

RACs to begin medical necessity reviews, 08/10/10

...Read more AHA News Now articles on RACs. Enter in the keyword RAC in the Search.          

Comment Letters

Sample Letter Supporting the Medicare RAC Moratorium Act of 2007 (H.R. 4105),  02/22/08 
This letter to Members of Congress expresses support for HR 4105 and asks for congressional co-sponsors.

RAC Report & Updates

RAC UPDATE: Information regarding the commencement of medical necessity reviews in RAC Region B, 08/13/10

RAC UPDATE: CMS to Host National Call on Section 935 Limitation on Recoupment on Wednesday, May 26th, 04/28/10

RAC UPDATE: News on the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program, 03/01/10

RAC UPDATE: RAC Reverses Inappropriate Medical Records Request, 01/28/10

RAC UPDATE: News on the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program, 1/11/10  

RAC Report: Recovery Audit Contractor Program Update, 10/05/09

RAC Report: Recovery Audit Contractor Program Update, 05/28/09 

Special Bulletins

Special Bulletin: Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program – Back on Track, 02/11/09 
CMS is taking steps to resume its rollout of the permanent RAC program.  This bulletin describes CMS’s next steps in implementing the permanent RAC program.

Testimony

Testimony: Improving the Paperwork Reduction Act for Small Businesses,  02/28/08 
This testimony was presented by Linda Brady, M.D., president and CEO of Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY about how laws and regulations, combined with the very complex health care payment system,  is  making the already difficult task of operating on the front lines of American health care more challenging than it should be.