PURPOSE

The purpose of this notice is to inform providers of the DRAFT Intermediary Manual instructions and specifications for the Medicare Part A Standard Paper Remittance Advice recently received from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the related implementation dates for the standard paper format.

TEXT

Attached are the advance DRAFT Intermediary Manual instructions and specifications received recently from CMS for the Medicare Part A Standard Paper Remittance Advice.

• Attachment 1 is the Highlights
• Attachment 2 is the Hard Copy Format - Part A
• Attachment 3 is the Hard Copy Format - Summary
• Attachment 4 is the Hard Copy Example - Part A
• Attachment 5 is the Hard Copy Example - Summary
• Attachment 6 is the Cross Reference Of Hard Copy Data Elements To CMS Flat File Data Elements
• Attachment 7 is the Data Dictionary

CMS has mandated that Highmark Medicare Services be capable of generating the Standard Part A Remittance Advice according to the attached instructions and specifications by 10/2/95 and to eliminate the current paper remittance advice by 3/1/96. The only paper remittance advice format that Highmark Medicare Services  will generate effective 3/1/96 will be the new standard paper remittance advice attached.

The current Medicare Monthly Remittance Advice Summary will continue to be generated to providers in its current format to be used for reconciling and/or cost reporting purposes. Also, the new Medicare Lab/P&O Breakout Report will continue to be generated monthly to those Providers that have applicable data for the reporting period.

EXPECTED IMPACT

Providers will be aware of the hardcopy specifications attached for the Medicare Part A Standard Paper Remittance Advice and that effective 10/2/95, Highmark Medicare Services will have the capability to issue the new standard paper remittance advice. Also, providers will be aware that effective 3/1/96, the only paper format supported by Highmark Medicare Services  will be the standard format. In a future Provider Notice, Highmark Medicare Services will provide a description of how the new standard remittance differs from the current local paper remittance.