COLUMBIA, S.C., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Palmetto GBA has appointed Dr. Stacey V. Brennan medical director for Medicare's Region C Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier (DMERC) contract, which covers 14 states and 40 percent of all Medicare beneficiaries.
Brennan will be largely responsible for the development of new medical policies and the review and revision of existent medical policies as they relate to medical necessity of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS). She will also provide clinical input to procedural guidelines, direct the editing of documents, coordinate policy decisions with other regions, and advise medical reviewers on complex issues. She will interpret the medical application of regulations, laws, and program memoranda through research, investigation and contact with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
"Palmetto GBA is certain that Dr. Stacey Brennan will maintain a sound and effective working relationship with CMS, the Office of Inspector General, various national and state professional organizations, the DMEPOS supplier community and the other DMERC regional staffs," said Neal Burkhead, Palmetto GBA vice president for Medicare integrity. "We are pleased to have someone of her caliber at Palmetto GBA."
Previously, Brennan served in various positions over six years at BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina including medical director for HMO Blue, associate medical director for the Federal Employee Program and South Carolina State Employees Health Plan, and medical advisor for the disease management and pharmacy benefits programs.
Brennan graduated from The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of South Carolina.
Palmetto GBA, a subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, is the nation's largest Medicare administrative services contractor. Medicare administrative services contractors, called fiscal intermediaries and carriers, pay medical claims, provide customer service, educate medical care providers and detect and deter fraud, abuse and over utilization in the Medicare program.
Palmetto GBA administers Medicare Part B benefits, covering services from doctors and other medical suppliers, in South Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia. Palmetto GBA administers Medicare Part A benefits, covering services from hospitals and other medical institutions, in South Carolina and North Carolina.
In addition, Palmetto GBA is one of four regional contractors that administer medical equipment benefits in 14 states as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The company also is one of four regional contractors that administer home health and hospice benefits in 16 states, and it administers Part B benefits for railroad Medicare beneficiaries nationally.
In 2003, Palmetto GBA processed approximately 105 million Medicare claims, and paid over $22 billion in benefits on behalf of 8.1 million beneficiaries. Palmetto GBA has 2,700 employees in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio.
Palmetto GBACONTACT: Elizabeth Hammond for Palmetto GBA, +1-803-264-4626, orElizabeth.Hammond@bcbssc.com