As technology advances, more things about Medicare cost reports have become electronic. There are now three things which are electronic about a Medicare cost report:
- Electronic Files,
- Electronic Signature, and
- Electronic Filing Option
To begin with, the files you will submit are referred to as “electronic files“. This is also known as the ECR and PI files. Once you have finished entering all of your cost report information into CMS-approved software and checked your edits, you are ready to create the electronic files. The electronic files will be created by most software packages on your computer, not sent automatically to your MAC.
After your electronic files have been created, you will need to sign the signature page. You now have the option to sign the signature page with an “electronic signature“. This means that the signature no longer needs to be hand-signed. If you check the electronic signature checkbox on the signature page, you may type your signature into the software (in some software packages, such as PPS’s Med-Calc software, this can be done during the electronic file creation process). You may also sign the signature page by hand and then scan it back into the software. Remember to check the checkbox if choosing this option!
Once your files have been created and you have an electronically signed signature page file on your computer, you may choose the “electronic filing option” to submit your cost report online. This is done by uploading the files you created, the signature page you signed electronically, and any supporting documentation to the MCReF (Medicare Cost Report eFiling) Portal.
Remember: There is no software package that can submit the files to your MAC for you. After you have created the electronic files and signed them with an electronic signature, you will need to upload them yourself if you wish for them to be filed electronically.
Disclaimer: This blog does not contain legal advice. What it does contain are our best
explanations, advice, and suggestions to help facilities and cost report preparers to understand the cost report forms and reporting process and offer suggestions for their preparation. Progressive Provider Services assumes no legal responsibility for the content of this blog, nor for cost reports or other reports prepared based on the content herein.
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