CMS Selects Palmetto GBA to Continue Administering Medicare Training Program

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded a new contract to Palmetto GBA for the continued production of training and educational materials for Medicare contractors and providers nationwide.

The "Train the Trainer" contract is for five years and is valued at about $8.3 million. Palmetto GBA, one of the nation's largest Medicare contractors, has held the Train the Trainer contract since 2002. The comprehensive educational and training materials developed by Palmetto GBA under the contract are designed to ensure Medicare contractors and health care providers have a consistent understanding of the Medicare program and how it works, including coverage, payment systems, procedures for filing claims, and program changes due to new legislation or policy initiatives. Medicare contractors and health care providers access the materials through the CMS Web site.

"The award of this contract is public recognition by CMS of Palmetto GBA's extensive Medicare expertise and continued success in producing quality and timely products," Palmetto GBA President Bruce Hughes said. "The performance of our Train the Trainer team and subject-matter experts has demonstrated excellence and made us a national leader in health care provider education."

Based in Columbia, S.C., Palmetto GBA is a wholly owned subsidiary of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. Palmetto GBA's principal business is providing administrative services for the Medicare health benefit program. Palmetto GBA and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.