Aetna will make additional payments for bad debt to facilities eligible for bad debt reimbursement in accordance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines set forth in Chapter #3 of the CMS Provider Reimbursement Manual (Publication 15-1 - CMS Provider Reimbursement Manual - Part 1) ("CMS Guidelines"). In accordance with CMS Guidelines, Aetna will reimburse such eligible facilities a percentage of uncollectible bad debt that results from unpaid Aetna Medicare Open Plan (PFFS) member out-of-pocket costs.

What types of facilities can submit a request for Bad Debt reimbursement to Aetna?
Hospitals may submit a request for "eligible" bad debt reimbursement to Aetna after making reasonable and customary collection efforts. As outlined in CMS Guidelines, facilities will receive 70% of their eligible bad debts, with the exception of Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Health Care clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers will receive 100% of their eligible bad debts.

What is eligible Bad Debt?
"Eligible bad debt" is defined as uncollected cost sharing (i.e., copayments, deductibles or co-insurance) that was applied to covered services rendered by the eligible facility under the Aetna Medicare Open Plan that an Aetna Medicare Open Plan member is directly responsible to pay, and that the eligible facility was unable to collect from the member despite reasonable efforts.

When can Bad Debt be submitted to Aetna?
Eligible facilities may submit a request for eligible bad debt to Aetna no less than 120 days from the date the Aetna Medicare Open Plan member received the first bill for the claim in question.

How is Bad Debt Submitted to Aetna?
Eligible Facilities must completely fill out the Aetna PFFS Bad Debt Report and submit the Bad Debt Report to Aetna either: (1) as an MSExcel Attachment via email to "Aetna PFFS Bad Debt Claims" or (2) fax the completed Bad Debt Report to (860) 754-2171. In the Bad Debt Report, Facilities may only list the amount of cost-sharing charged for covered services under the member's Aetna Medicare Open Plan that could not be collected from the member despite reasonable efforts at collection, net of any partial amount(s) collected by the facility. Charges for services that are not covered under the Aetna Medicare Open Plan may not be listed in the Bad Debt Report.

Bad Debt Reports can not be mailed to an Aetna claim address.

Who do I call with questions on Aetna's Bad Debt program?
Contact the Aetna Provider Service Center at 1-800-624-0756.

Additional Program Guidelines

1. Bad Debt Reports must be submitted by eligible facilities within 365 days of the original date of service.
2. Bad Debt Reports will be processed within (30) days of receipt by Aetna, unless additional information or verification has been requested.
3. If any facility receives a full or partial payment of cost-sharing amounts from an Aetna Medicare Open Plan member after they received bad debt reimbursement from Aetna, such facility must refund the applicable portion of the bad debt reimbursement to Aetna within 30 days of the facility's receipt of the member's cost-sharing payment.
4. Any facility that submits a Bad Debt Report to Aetna under the Aetna Medicare Open Plan agrees to allow Aetna to audit any of the facility's records relating to such Bad Debt Reports. Any facility that submits a Bad Debt Report agrees to provide Aetna, upon request, with documentation of billing and collection efforts necessary for Aetna to process the request for reimbursement of bad debt.

Bad Debt Report   (1 page)

You may not request reimbursement of eligible bad debt until 120 days have passed from the date the Aetna Medicare Open Plan member received the first bill for each claim listed on this Bad Debt Report.

List only the amount of cost-sharing charged for covered services under the member's Aetna Medicare Open Plan that could not be collected from the member despite reasonable efforts at collection, net of any partial amount(s) collected from the member.

Charges for services that are not covered under the Aetna Medicare Open Plan may not be listed in this Bad Debt Report.

Please note that Aetna may request documentation relating to your efforts to bill and collect the bad debt listed on this Bad Debt Report.