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Comprehensive error rate testing contact information
Last Modified: 2/11/2024
Location: FL, PR, USVI
Business: Part A, Part B
CMS established the comprehensive error rate testing (CERT) program to calculate a national paid claims error rate for the Medicare fee-for-service program. The CERT program calculates the error rates for all Medicare contractors.
Empower AI, Inc., (formerly NCI) the CERT review contractor, selects random samples of claims from each Medicare claims processing contractor for medical review. For each claim selected, the CERT review contractor requests medical records from the provider or supplier that submitted the claim (several follow-up requests may be made by letter/fax/phone depending on the response/non-response).
Additional documentation requests (ADRs) are also made to the referring provider who ordered the item or service. Using the medical record documentation received, CERT evaluates a statistically valid random sample of claims to determine if they were paid properly under Medicare coverage, coding, and billing rules. Claims that are billed, paid, or processed incorrectly are categorized as errors.
Records can be submitted to the CERT documentation center by postal mail, via fax, via electronic submission, via CD or via email.
The CERT review contractor has assigned a unique 7-digit identifier to each claim. The CID (claim identification number) is found throughout the CERT request letter. Please insert the CID number when responding to CERT.
Via fax to 804-261-8100:
Use the barcoded cover sheet as the only coversheet.
Do not add your own cover sheet—this slows down the receipt and identification process.
Send a separate fax transmission for each individual claim.
Attn: CID #######
Via postal mail:
CERT Documentation Center
Attn CID #: ####### (write the control identification [CID] number indicated in your CERT contractor letter)
8701 Park Central Drive, Suite 400-A
Richmond, VA 23227
Via electronic submission of medical documentation (esMD):
Include a CID# or Claim number and the barcoded cover sheet in your file transmission.
Via CD:
The images should be encrypted per HIPAA security rules.
If encrypted, the password and CID# must be provided via email to
certprovider@empower.ai or via fax to 804-261-8100.
Must contain only images in TIF or PDF format.
Attn: CID #######
Via email attachment:
The email attachment(s) should be encrypted per HIPAA security rules.
If encrypted, the password and CID# must be provided via phone to 888-779-7477 or via fax to 804-261-8100.
Must contain only attachments in TIF or PDF format.
Attn: CID #######
Questions regarding CERT record requests can be directed to the CERT Documentation Center at 1-888-779-7477.
To prevent misdirected medical record requests from the CERT review contractor, a website (
https://c3hub.certrc.cms.gov/ ) was created for providers to verify their contact information such as address, phone, fax, and point of contact (POC).
Note: Contact information that you provide via this website is specific to requests for medical records for the CERT Program only and does not impact the Medicare correspondence that you receive from the MAC.
Have questions? Reach out to the CERT contractor at
certprovider@empower.ai. They can assist with questions related to medical records requests, review status, and more.
Your MAC’s CERT support team is also able to assist with questions you may have regarding the CERT process. Locate their contact information on your MAC’s website.
First Coast Service Options (First Coast) strives to ensure that the information available on our provider website is accurate, detailed, and current. Therefore, this is a dynamic site and its content changes daily. It is best to access the site to ensure you have the most current information rather than printing articles or forms that may become obsolete without notice.