Shadow Billing (hospitals)

“Shadow billing”, synonymous with “no pay” or “information only” claims, is an unofficial term that refers to the process wherein hospitals submit claims to their Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for inpatient services provided to Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. These claims are submitted, as per instructions from CMS through a series Transmittals, for the purpose of requesting supplemental Indirect Medicare Education (IME), Graduate Medical Education (GME), and Nursing Allied Health Education (NAHE) payments, and for the proper reporting of Medicare beneficiary days to be counted in the Medicare fraction of the Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) calculation. (Definition courtesy of IMA Consulting.)