The following information is provided by Novitas Solutions.

System Alert
Issued 07/23/2014 at 1:15 PM

JH Part B AR, LA and MS Providers – HIGLAS Notice

The purpose of this notice is to advise you that Novitas Solutions will be undergoing a HIGLAS transition involving the JH MAC Part B workloads (AR, LA, MS) and explain the impact this will have on your organization’s Medicare payments.

We ask that you please take the time to carefully read this information and that you share it with the appropriate staff in your organization.

Effective July 25, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be consolidating financial data that is maintained within the Healthcare Integrated General Ledger Accounting System (HIGLAS). This transition involves only our financial accounting system. We will continue to use MCS for all claims processing activities and there are no impacts to that system by this transition.

HIGLAS Transition Timeline

• July 24, 2014: Last MCS cycle where payments are generated, which will include the 1-day pay forward 
• July 25, 2014: HIGLAS transition begins 
• July 25-28, 2014: Providers may experience a reduction in payments due to the early claim payments issued prior to the transition. Providers need to monitor and manage their cash flows during this time period. 

Temporary Reduction of the Claims Processing Payment Floor

CMS has directed Novitas Solutions to reduce the payment floor for both paper and EDI claims. On July 24, 2014 the payment floor will be reduced by 1-day for both EDI and paper claims, and payments will be released for claims that have already been approved for payment.

This temporary 1-day reduction of the payment floor will result in payments being issued early (checks and Electronic Funds Transfers (EFTs)). This may give the appearance that your cash revenues have increased when in fact payments for some of your claims have simply been made earlier than normal.

Additionally, as part of this transition, starting on July 25, 2014, the HIGLAS system will not be available for approximately 1 to 2 business days. Please be aware of this impact for any financial related inquiries.

For further information, please visit our website at www.novitas-solutions.com. If you have questions regarding the information contained in this publication, please contact our Customer Service Call Contact center toll free at: 1-855-252-8782.