BALTIMORE--DMERC Region B Medical Director Dr. Adrian Oleck is relocating to Region C in March, a CMS spokeswoman has confirmed.

The announcement comes as CMS prepares to transition from Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carriers into a new DME Medicare Adminstrative Contractor (MAC) system.

Instead of a single contractor handling all claims processing for a region, the functions of each of the four DME regions will be split under the new system: Program safeguard contractors (PSCs) will be responsible for benefit integrity, medical review and medical policy, and affiliated contractors (ACs) will be responsible for claims processing.

The model is similar to one already used in DMERC Region A, which splits its workload between two contractors--PSC HealthNow New York and AC Tricenturion. The MMA mandated that CMS put all fee-for-service claims processing business up for bid.

TrustSolutions won the bid to become Region C's PSC in November, and according to CMS, intends to hire Oleck as its new medical director beginning March 1. Oleck could not be reached for comment.

Last month, Dr. Mark Pilley was named medical director of Region D, with PSC duties for that region to be handled by EDS and subcontractor IntegriGuard. TriCenturion will be the PSC for regions A and B, with Dr. Paul Hughes to serve as medical director over both regions.

CMS is expected to award AC contracts by the end of the month. The new DME MAC transition is expected to be completed by July 1.

For more information on MACs, visit www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/contractingreform.