The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has appointed Novitas Solutions Inc. as the new Medicare administrative contractor (MAC) for handling both Medicare Part A and B fee-for-service claims in the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico, also known as jurisdiction H (JH).

Novitas will process Medicare fee-for-service claims and other administrative services for physicians and health care practitioners, as wells as hospitals and other institutional providers in these states. Novitas has announced that dermatology practices enrolled in electronic funds transfer (EFT) with Pinnacle Business Solutions Inc. (PBSI), which applies to those in Louisiana and Arkansas, should expect a letter from Novitas Solutions Inc. requesting a new CMS-588 EFT authorization agreement.  

Failure to complete and submit a new agreement may result in a delay or interruption of your Medicare payments.

Novitas recommends that you read this letter carefully for instructions about how to complete and return the agreement to them. In conjunction with this transition, Novitas is required to obtain a new EFT agreement to continue issuing EFT payments past the transition start dates.  

You are not required to complete a new CMS-855 enrollment form as part of this process. However, failure to complete and submit a new agreement may result in a delay or interruption of your Medicare payments. 

 Start dates for the transition from PBSI to MAC JH (Novitas) are: 

• Arkansas/Louisiana Part B: Aug. 13, 2012 
• Arkansas/Louisiana/Mississippi: Aug. 20, 2012 

For further information and assistance with completion of the CMS-588 (EFT) authorization agreement, please visit the Novitas site or call (877) 235-8073. Be sure to identify yourself as a JH provider to expedite the handling of your call.