Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

For the first time in 20 years, audiologists can expect an update to Medicaid requirements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Effective June 28, the Medicaid and Medicare program's definitions of a qualified audiologist will fall in step without, CMS claims, putting a kink in states' flexibility. According to a final rule published in the May 28 Federal Register, states will have more room to define credentials. If no licensure requirements exist, audiologists will have to meet specific minimum academic and clinical standards before getting approved as a Medicaid provider.

"In conjunction with Medicare's quality standards, states will continue to have great flexibility in setting licensure standards that are appropriate for their own needs," says CMS administrator Mark McClellan. After reviewing research of national audiology use and Medicaid state plans, CMS noted in the April 2, 2003 proposed rule that audiologists enrolled in the Medicaid program would continue to be qualified as a result of the rule's continued flexibility. To read the final rule, go to http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a040528c.html. Lesson Learned: Audiologists can expect more consistency in CMS'qualification requirements.