What are the specific steps to request an Extended Repayment Schedule for a Medicare overpayment?

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To request an Extended Repayment Schedule (ERS) for a Medicare overpayment, you must submit a formal written request to your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) before making the initial payment deadline, detailing your financial inability to pay the full amount immediately.

• Review the demand letter: Confirm the overpayment amount is $25 or greater and note the specific interest accrual rules, which typically begin if the balance is not repaid in full within 30 days of the demand letter date.
• Document financial hardship: Prepare a detailed statement explaining your cash flow constraints or inability to pay in full. This documentation is essential to support your ERS request rather than a simple installment plan.
• Submit the written request: Send a formal letter to your MAC’s accounts payable or overpayment recovery department. Include your provider number, the specific claim numbers in question, and a clear statement that you are requesting an ERS as opposed to immediate recoupment.
• Avoid automatic recoupment: Ensure your request is filed before your MAC initiates automatic recoupment from future payments. If you have already started recoupment, you may need to submit a new request to stop it and negotiate the schedule.
• Consider alternative options: If the overpayment involves suspected self-referral violations, consult the Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol mentioned in CMS fact sheets, as ERS may not apply to certain fraud-related debts.
• Appeal rights: If you believe the overpayment was calculated in error, you have the right to rebut or appeal the demand letter rather than just negotiating the payment schedule.

Warning sign: If you fail to respond to the demand letter or request an ERS within the specified timeframe, your MAC will initiate immediate recoupment, potentially withholding future Medicare payments to satisfy the debt and accruing additional interest on the outstanding balance.

admin · 2026-10-20 01:27:02