The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Request for Information to gather public input on the potential consolidation of 4 Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) jurisdictions into 2, and the extension of MAC contracts to 10 years. MACs are private insurers responsible for processing Medicare Part A and B claims.

The proposal suggests combining A/B MACs J5 and J6 into a new “Jurisdiction G,” and J8 and J15 into “Jurisdiction Q.” This consolidation may affect claims processing across several states, prompting CMS to revisit a 26% prime contract award limitation designed to manage risk and foster competition.

CMS began exploring this consolidation in 2023 and is now seeking industry feedback on the proposed changes.