First Coast Service Options wins National Medicare Contract

First Coast Service Options wins National Medicare Contract

POSTED 10/08/2008 - First Coast Service Options (FCSO) announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded the company a new national Medicare contract to serve as a Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC). Under this contract, which will be fully operational by January 2009, FCSO will adjudicate second-level appeals related to services provided by Private Fee for Service (PFFS) plans that participate in CMS' Medicare Advantage program.

The award consists of a 15-month base period contract with two one-year options available to CMS. The contract value, with both option years exercised, is approximately $3.7 million.

"Being awarded this QIC contract speaks well of FCSO's ability to win in an increasingly competitive government contracting environment, said Curtis Lord, FCSO vice chairman. "The award also demonstrates confidence in FCSO's ability to provide high quality, efficient Medicare administrative services.

PFFS plans were originally created in 1997 to give Medicare beneficiaries an additional choice on how to receive their Medicare benefits, particularly in geographic areas that do not have a mature managed care industry. In the last few years, the number of PFFS plans has grown dramatically and they now serve over two million Medicare beneficiaries. The appeals that FCSO will adjudicate under the new contract will examine the accuracy of reimbursement amounts paid by PFFS plans.

FCSO contracts with CMS to provide quality administrative services throughout the United States to Medicare beneficiaries and the health care providers who care for them. Services include claims processing, customer service, appeals adjudication, education and outreach activities and functions that help ensure the integrity of Medicare program payments. FCSO has over 1,100 staff at the company's headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., and in field offices in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Meriden, Conn. and Camarillo, Calif. For more information concerning FCSO, please see its Web site at www.fcso.com.