AHCA, NCAL urge federal intervention to meet cyberattack challenges

The recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare has led to major problems for long-term care providers, especially nursing homes and particularly with claims processing and billing.

Because of the major stress on the industry, the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living are urging federal action.

The two organizations sent a letter to the US Department of Health and Human Services Thursday, requesting specific action, including enabling access for advanced payments and facilitating better communication from Change Healthcare on the situation.

“Timely payments are essential for facilities to maintain daily operations and to keep their doors open for residents and patients,” AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson wrote in the letter, “and we request your support for providers to access accelerated payments.”

Currently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services allows for advanced payment eligibility under “highly exceptional situations,” the letter notes.

Other recommendations in the letter include:

• Providing addition assessments about the cyberattack’s impacts on the industry
• Advising state health departments about the challenges skilled nursing facilities now face
• Encouraging Medicare Advantage plans to provide some form of advanced payment option

Overall, the cyberattack resulted in many Change Healthcare systems shutting down, in turn affecting other interconnected healthcare platforms.

Many skilled nursing facilities have reported financial concerns. One provider, RiverSpring Living in New York, relies on 90% of its home care and skilled nursing claims being processed by Change Healthcare and is now looking at a huge increase in billing hours and has already missed one cycle of claims submissions, the company told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News last week.

It’s expected to take at least another month before Change Healthcare systems come back online. McKnight’s Senior Living