Sources policy

Sources we use

• Primary first. CMS transmittals and MLN Matters articles, MLN Connects, the Federal Register, the HHS Office of Inspector General, CDC, Medicare Administrative Contractor bulletins (Palmetto GBA, CGS and Wellpoint Federal) and Illinois agencies.
• Two independent sources. We confirm each story with at least two independent sources. An agency restating itself, such as a CMS article and the CMS transmittal behind it, counts as one.
• We read the document. We link the exact document we read and say what it leaves out, such as a missing MLN Matters article or a blank change request number.
• Jurisdiction tags. Each item says which Medicare contractor and which states it touches. See our Medicare jurisdictions tracker.
• AI use. AI tools help us find and draft; a named person reviews every story, and each story ends with a note on how AI was used. See how we use AI.

Each item says so on the page. When a licensed clinician reviews an item, the page will name them and say so. - Our items explain what CMS, Medicare contractors and state agencies published. They are general information, not clinical, billing or legal advice.

Corrections

If CMS or a contractor revises a document we wrote about, we update the story and note the revision. See our corrections policy.

General information, not medical advice. See our medical disclaimer.