The Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Medical Services is providing the following information for planning purposes only.
Providers should not interpret this information as a guarantee of payment on the dates listed below. The Department of Human Services and the Bureau for Medical Services are not responsible for any delays between the Check Mailing Date/EFT Transfer Date and the availability of funds. If you receive payment by EFT, be sure to contact your banking institution for availability of funds.
Payment Process Date - The Bureau for Medical Services processes payments on Friday of each week. This is the date on which the Bureau authorizes payment of selected claims.
Check Dates - The payment files are submitted to the Department of Administration, State Auditors Office and the Treasurer's Office for check issuance. This date payment or EFT may vary based upon State and Federal holidays and other processing activities within the Department of Administration, State Auditor's Office and the Treasurer's Office. Checks are usually mailed by Thursday of the next week.
Direct Deposit or Electronic Funds Transfer Date - The EFT process is similar for check processing as stated above, except payment is forwarded directly to the provider's bank.
Provider Payment Narrative - The Provider Payment Narrative is for informational purposes only. Providers should not interpret this information as a weekly guarantee of payment.
The Bureau for Medical Services processes provider payments once per week. Approved claims are posted to waitpay formerly known as accounts payable, adjudication is completed. Approved claims are held in waitpay until sufficient funds are available for payment. A list of these claims are available on the Molina web portal with your electronic admittance advice.
The provider payment cycle begins each Friday. The weekly steps are as follows:
1. Friday
A. Bureau for Medical Services and Office of Grants Management staff verify the amount of funds (State and Federal) available for provider payments.Bureau staff review Friday's waitpay balances and prepare payment distribution worksheets based on the following criteria.
B. Weekly Payments - All provider claims (except those listed below) are processed weekly on a "First-In First-Out" basis. The oldest claims ( based on the data of receipt) are processed until all available funds are disbursed.
C. Monthly Payments - Payments for the following provider types are processed monthly based on the following schedule and criteria:
- Long-Term Care providers are paid SIXTY (60) days in arrears the first payment cycle of each month.
- Medicare Part A and B premiums are paid to the Social Security Administration the first payment cycle of each month, or within twenty-one (21) days of receipt.
- Managed Care payments are processed the first or second payment cycle of each month to ensure that Medicaid Managed Care Services are paid within 30 days.
- Medicaid Waiver providers are paid the second & third payment cycles of each month to comply with State and Federal Court orders.
2. Monday
A. The fiscal agent prepares a payment file and transmits to the State data center.
B. The office of Grants Management reconciles the payment file and requests the Federal matching funds
3. Wednesday
A. The Federal Reserve Bank transfers the requested funds to the State Treasury.
B. The Office of Accounting submits the payment request to the Department of Administration, State Auditor, and State Treasure for State warrant preparation and approval (issuance of check or direct deposit).
4. Thursday
Checks are processed for mailing and EFTs are released through the banking network
NOTE: The above timelines are provided for information purposes only and may vary without prior notice. Claims may remain in accounts payable for an extended period of time when tax collections are low or when the Bureau receives a higher than normal volume of claims.
Notification to Provider When Submitting a Check to Medicaid for Overpayments, Reversals, etc.
Beginning in March 2009, when a check is provided as payment to Medicaid, this will constitute authorization to use the information from the check to be used as a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as an image transaction. For inquiries, please call 1-866-243-9010. When information is used from your check to make an electronic funds transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day payment is made. and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution.