The third installment of the HME Audit Key will go live on Oct. 15, and will collect providers’ 3rd Quarter audit data in order to help build the industry’s case for reforming CMS’s audit program.

The result of the survey will be used on Capitol Hill to demonstrate audit program is overly burdensome to HME businesses and can ultimately hurt access. Through collecting providers’ audit statistics, the long-term Audit Key initiative will drive the kind of hard numbers and credible data that will help the industry make a strong argument for reforming CMS’s audits and easing the financial burdens those audits are having on providers.

“This information is critically needed to make our case for meaningful audit reform,” a statement from the American Association for Homecare read. “Please support this effort by participating in and completing the HME Audit Key survey.”

The new data submission period, for the of 2016, will open Oct. 15. To participate, providers should go to hmeauditkey.org to register; participation is free, and all that is required is one of a provider’s NPIs and respective five-digit zip code to register and get started. 

Audit Key does not require providers to submit data on individual claims, but instead seeks cumulative counts of pre- and post-payment audits and appeal claim outcomes under DME MAC, RAC and SMRC reviews.

In addition to helping the industry, providers can use Audit Key as a tool to better understand the impact CMS’s audits are having on their businesses. Providers can access their quarterly survey results, as well as aggregate survey results and key findings so that they can compare their audit volumes and appeal overturn rates against industry benchmarks. Suppliers can use this information to see how they compare to their peers in terms of audit volumes and appeal overturn rates. A company’s individual experiences will never be shared, but will be included in the aggregate data.

Providers needing help registering or entering their information in the Audit Key system can get it via a contact form at hmeauditkey.org/Home/Help; emailing support@hmeauditkey.org, or by calling 1-844-HME A KEY (844-463-2539). Providers who have forgotten their username or password can get them at hmeauditkey.org/Account/Login.