In anticipation of the April 2017 Release, the CWF Hosts will not process claims beginning Friday, March 31, 2017 through Sunday, April 2, 2017. During this period, which is commonly referred to as “dark days,” the CWF Hosts will install the April 2017 Release, complete weekly/monthly/quarterly processing activities, and perform scheduled data center maintenance. This means Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will not have access to the Health Insurance Master Record (HIMR) and Beneficiary Data Streamlining (BDS) transactions. Eligibility information in HIQA and HIQH will also not be available to providers.
The dark days will not affect your ability to access beneficiary eligibility information through Palmetto GBA’s eServices. In addition, the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) will be available. Palmetto GBA’s PCC will not have access to CWF and cannot assist providers with CWF information, such as beneficiary eligibility and beneficiary verification for claim detail, etc.
Below is a list of scheduled events for the release:
• The CWF Host will implement the Out of Service Area (OSA) drop for March 27, 2017 through March 31, 2017
• The CWF Host will not perform any cross reference files (XREF) March 27, 2017 through March 31, 2017
• The CWF Host will not perform any Health Insurance Correction Record (HICR) transactions from March 27, 2017 through March 31, 2017
• The CWF Host will process normal cycles on March 30, 2017 EXCEPT for the Fraud Prevention System (FPS) – FPS files will be held by the CWF Host and combined/converted (if needed) on April 2, 2017 after the April 2017 Release has been installed
• The CWF Host will execute the final pre-release cycles on Thursday, March 30, 2017. All entities will be receiving CWF response files from the CWF Host Thursday night /Friday morning, March 31, 2017. These final response files must be taken into your final pre-April 2017 release A/B/DME cycles for processing to avoid any release related response file change issues.
• The CWF Host will hold the claims received from MACs on Thursday, March 30, 2017, and Friday, March 31, 2017
• Friday, March 31, 2017, thru Sunday, April 2, 2017, will be ‘Dark’ days for The CWF Host with no onlines available. There will be no access to the HIMR inquiry or BDS transactions
• The CWF Host will start the installation of the CWF April 2017 release on Friday, March 31, 2017, and complete the installation on Sunday, April 2, 2017
• On Sunday, April 2, 2017, the CWF Host will convert (if needed) and combine the SSM satellite claim files held on March 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017 and will send the files to the FPS under the new release for processing
• On Monday, April 3, 2017, the onlines will be available for The CWF Host under the April release. The CWF Host will receive responses from the FPS by the afternoon of April 3, 2017. The FPS response files will be loaded for CWF ISA processing on the night of April 3, 2017. Response files from March 30, 2017 and March 31, 2017 (that are held) will be sent to contractors in the new version for the MAC’s Tuesday, April 4, 2017, night’s processing*.