CMS Winds Down Accelerated Payment Program for Payees Affected by Change Healthcare Cyberattacks

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that its Accelerated and Advance Payment (AAP) Program for the Change Healthcare/Optum Payment Disruption (CHOPD) will end on July 12, 2024. The CHOPD program was launched in March 2024 with opportunities for expedited payment to reduce the financial burden of cash flow disruptions experienced by medical facilities and practices following the cyberattack on Change Healthcare in February 2024 and subsequent shutdown of Change’s systems.

After the July 12 cutoff date, CMS will no longer accept new applications for CHOPD accelerated or advance payments. CMS recommended that any providers that are experiencing ongoing payment issues associated with Change Healthcare visit UnitedHealth Group’s Change Healthcare cyber response web page and/or contact their Medicare Administrative Contractor.

ASA continues to monitor for lingering effects on payment from the Change Healthcare cyberattack. Please contact the ASA Department of Quality and Regulatory Affairs at [email protected] with any questions.

Click here to read CMS’ press release on the end of the AAP program.