Shared System Testing Requirements for Shared System Maintainers,

40.3 - Shared System Testing Requirements for Shared System Maintainers, Single Testing Contractor (STC)/Beta Testers, and Medicare A/B, Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Administrative Contractors (Rev. 97, Issued: 01-15-16, Effective: 09-21-15, Implementation: 09-21-15) Medicare requires implementation of a limited number of shared systems that must be used by all MACs for the administrative responsibilities of Traditional Medicare (Part A, B and DME claims). This eliminates the need for each A/B, DME MAC to repeat development of the base system as part of the complete system development life cycle (SDLC). CMS requires that the shared system quarterly release be subjected to the complete testing life cycle prior to production release. The goal is to ensure that all changes function as intended and that the implementation of changes does not degrade or otherwise unintentionally affect existing system capability and function prior to implementation. This requires that the shared system be subjected to all levels and types of testing including unit testing, integration testing, systems testing, functional testing, interface testing, performance testing, regression testing, and operational testing. Definitions are provided in subsection 40.3.9. The Shared System Maintainer and the Medicare A/B, DME MACs each have specific roles in testing the shared system quarterly release. Additionally, CMS contracts with a CMS Single Testing Contractor (STC) to act as a Beta tester for the FISS, MCS, VMS, and CWF shared systems respectively. The CMS Single Testing Contractor (STC) assumes primary responsibility for testing the Medicare Shared Systems. The STC will be fully responsible for meeting the requirements of the Beta tester as outlined in Chapter 7, Section 40.3, including all subsections. STC interface testing with HIGLAS will be initiated as a shadow test on Part A. The STC shall also initiate Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) testing. Three Medicare Contractor numbers have been established to accommodate STC testing. They are 00888 for MCS systems testing, 00388 for FISS systems testing, and 44410 for DMEMAC systems testing. This section identifies the testing responsibilities for each organization to ensure that each shared system quarterly release satisfies all CMS requirements. All organizations shall have processes in place to meet these requirements. Testing activities will generally begin 3 to 4 months in advance of the release date, particularly for shared system maintainers.