[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 42, Volume 4]

[Revised as of October 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 42CFR447.30]



[Page 309-310]

 

                         TITLE 42--PUBLIC HEALTH

 

  CHAPTER IV--CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 

                  HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (CONTINUED)

 

PART 447_PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES--Table of Contents

 

                 Subpart A_Payments: General Provisions

 

Sec.  447.30  Withholding the Federal share of payments to Medicaid 



providers to recover Medicare overpayments.



    (a) Basis and purpose. This section implements section 1914 of the 

Act, which provides for withholding the Federal share of Medicaid 

payments to a provider if the provider has not arranged to repay 

Medicare overpayments or has failed to provide information to determine 

the amount of the overpayments. The intent of the statute and 

regulations is to facilitate the recovery of Medicare overpayments. The 

provision enables recovery of overpayments when institutions have 

reduced participation in Medicare or when physicians and suppliers have 

submitted few or no claims under Medicare, thus not receiving enough in 

Medicare reimbursement to permit offset of the overpayment.

    (b) When withholding occurs. The Federal share of Medicaid payments 

may be withheld from any provider specified in paragraph (c) of this 

section to recover Medicare overpayments that CMS has been unable to 

collect if the provider participates in Medicaid and--

    (1) The provider has not made arrangements satisfactory to CMS to 

repay the Medicare overpayment; or

    (2) CMS has been unable to collect information from the provider to 

determine the existence or amount of Medicare overpayment.

    (c) The Federal share of Medicaid payments may be withheld with 

respect to the following providers:

    (1) An institutional provider that has or previously had in effect a 

Medicare provider agreement under section 1866 of the Act; and

    (2) A Medicaid provider who has previously accepted Medicare payment 

on the basis of an assignment under section 1842(b)(3)(B)(ii) of the 

Act; and during the 12 month period preceding the quarter in which the 

Federal share is to be withheld for a Medicare overpayment, submitted no 

claims under Medicare or submitted claims which total less than the 

amount of overpayment.

    (d) Order to reduce State payment. (1) CMS may, at its discretion, 

issue an order to the Medicaid agency of any State that is using the 

provider's services, to reduce its payment to the provider by the amount 

specified in paragraph (f) of this section.

    (2) The order to reduce payment to the provider will remain in 

effect until--

    (i) The Medicaid agency determines that the overpayment has been 

completely recovered; or

    (ii) CMS terminates the order.

    (3) CMS may withhold FFP from any State that does not comply with 

the order specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section to reduce 

payment to the provider and claims FFP for the expenditure on its 

quarterly expenditure report.

    (e) Notice of withholding. (1) Before the Federal share of payments 

may be withheld under this section, CMS will notify the provider and the 

Medicaid agency of each State that CMS believes may use the overpaid 

provider's services under Medicaid.

    (2) The notice will include the instruction to reduce State 

payments, as provided under paragraph (d) of this section.

    (3) CMS will send the notice referred to in paragraph (e)(1) by 

certified mail, return receipt requested.

    (4) Each Medicaid agency must identify the amount of payment due the 

provider under Medicaid and give that information to CMS in the next 

quarterly expenditure report.

    (5) The Medicaid agency may appeal any disallowance of FFP resulting 

from the withholding decision to the



[[Page 310]]



Grant Appeals Board, in accordance with 45 CFR part 16.

    (f) Amount to be withheld. CMS may require the Medicaid agency to 

reduce the Federal share of its payment to the provider by the lesser of 

the following amounts.

    (1) The Federal matching share of payments to the provider, or

    (2) The total Medicare overpayment to the provider.

    (g) Effective date of withholding. Withholding of payment will 

become effective no less than 60 days after the day on which the agency 

receives notice of withholding.

    (h) Duration of withholding. No Federal funds are available in 

expenditures for services that are furnished by a provider specified in 

paragraph (c) of this section from the date on which the withholding 

becomes effective until the termination of withholding under paragraph 

(i) of this section.

    (i) Termination of withholding. (1) CMS will terminate the order to 

reduce State payment if it determines that any of the following has 

occurred:

    (i) The Medicare overpayment is completely recovered:

    (ii) The institution or person makes an agreement satisfactory to 

CMS to repay the overpayment; or

    (iii) CMS determines that there is no overpayment based on newly 

acquired evidence or a subsequent audit.

    (2) CMS will notify each State that previously received a notice 

ordering the withholding that the withholding has been terminated.

    (j) Procedures for restoring excess withholding. If an amount 

ultimately determined to be in excess of the Medicare overpayment is 

withheld, CMS will restore any excess funds withheld.

    (k) Recovery of funds from Medicaid agency. A provider is not 

entitled to recover from the Medicaid agency the amount of payment 

withheld by the agency in accordance with a CMS order issued under 

paragraph (d) of this section.



[50 FR 19688, May 10, 1985; 50 FR 23307, June 3, 1985]