Medicare Program Integrity Manual (Pub. 100-08), Ch. 1 § 1.3
Medicare Improper Payment Reduction Efforts – Provider
1.3 – Medicare Improper Payment Reduction Efforts – Provider
Compliance
(Rev. 508; Issued: 03-07-14, Effective: 04-08-14, Implementation: 04-08-14)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the Federal agency that
operates the Medicare program. Addressing improper payments in the Medicare fee-for-
service (FFS) program and promoting compliance with Medicare coverage and coding
rules is a top priority for the CMS. Preventing Medicare improper payments requires the
active involvement of every component of CMS and effective coordination with its
partners including various Medicare contractors and providers. The CMS contracts with
various types of contractors in its effort to fight improper payments and promote provider
compliance in the Medicare FFS program:
• CERT contractors;
• MACs;
• Recovery auditors; and
• SMRC.