Section 450.237 - Overpayments: DeterminationThe existence and amount of overpayment may be determined in an action to recover the overpayment in any court having jurisdiction. The MassHealth agency may also determine the existence and amount of overpayments. The procedures described in 130 CMR 450.236 and 450.237 do not apply to overpayments resulting from rate adjustments, which are governed by methods described in 130 CMR 450.259.
(A)Overpayment Notice. When the MassHealth agency believes that an overpayment has been made, it notifies the provider in writing of the facts upon which the MassHealth agency bases its belief, identifying the amount believed to have been overpaid and the reasons for concluding that such amount constitutes an overpayment. When the overpayment amount is based on a determination by a federal or state agency (other than the MassHealth agency), the MassHealth agency will so inform the provider. The MassHealth agency may notify the provider by letter, draft audit report, computer printout, or other format.(B)Timely Reply. To preserve its right to an adjudicatory hearing and judicial review, the provider must reply in writing to the MassHealth agency and such reply must be received by the MassHealth agency within 30 calendar days of the date on the overpayment notice. The reply must specifically identify and address all allegations in the overpayment notice with which the provider disagrees. With the reply, the provider may submit additional data and argument to support its claim for payment and must include any documentary evidence it wants the MassHealth agency to consider. If the MassHealth agency states in the overpayment notice that the overpayment amount is based on a determination by a federal or state agency (other than the MassHealth agency), a provider may contest only the factual assertion that the federal or state agency made such a determination. The provider may not contest in any proceeding before or against the MassHealth agency the amount or basis for such determination.(C)Overpayment Determination. The MassHealth agency considers and reviews only information submitted with a timely reply. If, after reviewing the provider's reply, the MassHealth agency determines that the provider has been overpaid, the MassHealth agency will so notify the provider in writing of its final determination, which will state the amount of overpayment that the MassHealth agency will recover from the provider.(D)Adjudicatory Hearing. If the provider submits a timely reply, the provider may file a claim for an adjudicatory hearing to appeal the MassHealth agency's final determination, in accordance with 130 CMR 450.241 and 450.243.(E)Consequences of Failure to Submit a Timely Reply. The provider has no right to an adjudicatory hearing or judical review if it fails to submit a timely reply. The MassHealth agency will take appropriate action to recover the overpayment.Amended by Mass Register Issue S1277, eff. 1/2/2015.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1334, eff. 3/10/2017.Amended by Mass Register Issue 1341, eff. 6/16/2017.