The Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) is an audit program developed and conducted by the federal government to comply with law. The program examines eligibility decisions and payments to providers for Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid Program) and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) for accuracy.
The Review Year (RY) 2023 PERM cycle will audit payments to providers between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
Why is PERM required?
- PERM helps the Department identify areas for improvement and helps cut down on fraud, waste and abuse.
- PERM is required by the federal law, the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019, which is a consolidation of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA, Public Law 107-300) which was amended by the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (IPERA, Public Law 111-204) and further amended by the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act of 2012 (IPERIA, PUB. L. 112-248).
- Improper payment error rates and estimates of improper amounts must be reported.
- Actions to reduce erroneous expenditures must be reported.
- States are required to return the federal share of overpayments. The Department will pursue recoveries as part of the corrective actions according to law and regulation.
Eligibility Review
What is the purpose of the eligibility determination review?
- The purpose of the eligibility review is to verify the eligibility of sampled cases using state and federal eligibility criteria in effect at the time of the decision under review.
What do eligibility sites need to do?
- Eligibility sites, if asked by Department staff, will need to answer questions or submit missing case file documentation.
What happens if there is an error finding in the eligibility determination review?
- Eligibility sites may or may not be contacted about eligibility errors. Should an eligibility site receive an error, Department staff will provide instructions.
Payment Review
Why are providers required to participate in PERM?
- Providers are required by section 1902(a)(27) of the Social Security Act and 10 C.C.R. 2505-10, Sec. 8.130.2.A to:
- Retain records necessary to disclose the nature and extent of services provided to recipients.
- Maintain records which fully substantiate or verify claims submitted for payment.
- Submit records to federal and state government upon request.
How will providers know if any of their claims have been selected?
- Claims are randomly selected. If claims from your office are selected, you will be contacted by the Federal Review Contractor, Empower AI (Empower), for copies of your medical records to support the medical review.
- Note that NCI Information Systems, Inc, or NCI, recently changed its name to Empower. Medical records request letters may still refer to NCI Information Systems, Inc. Email domain names may still reference NCI Information Systems, Inc.
Who will send the medical record request?
- Empower will mail request letters and call providers. If necessary, Empower will mail follow-up letters and make follow-up calls. You can find a blank copy of Empower's letter by clicking on this link: Medical Records Request Letter
What do providers need to do?
- Providers need to submit all requested medical records and supported documents within 75 calendar days of the request date, either electronically or hard copies to Empower. If additional medical records are requested by Empower, providers will have 14 days to submit them.
- Providers can contact Empower at 800-393-3068 or by email at PERMRC_ProviderInquiries@nciinc.com with questions or concerns regarding the medical records request. Providers can also check to see if Empower has received the submitted medical records. Do not send medical records, protected health information (PHI) or personally identifiable information (PII) to this email address.
What about patient privacy?
- The collection and review of protected health information for review purposes is permissible by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and implementing regulations at 45 Code of Federal Regulations, parts 160 and 164.
What happens if the provider does not cooperate?
- The Department may recover payments if supporting medical records have not been submitted to Empower.
What happens if there is an error found in medical reviews?
- Empower will notify the Department about the error, and the Department has the option to agree or disagree with its findings.
What happens if the Department disagrees?
- The Department can file a request for a Difference Resolution and providers may be contacted to assist in the Difference Resolution process.
What if an error is confirmed?
- States are required to return the federal share of overpayments. The Department will pursue recoveries as part of the corrective actions according to law and regulation.
Where can I get more information?
- Providers can watch and listen to a CMS webinar on understanding providers’ role in PERM by visiting the CMS PERM providers’ website.
- Providers can visit the CMS PERM website to learn more about PERM
- Providers can email the federal PERM auditors at PERMRC_Providerinquiries@nciinc.com.
- You may contact the Department's PERM Program Manager, Matt Ivy, at Matt.Ivy@state.co.us or 303-866-2706.