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Date: Tuesday, April 1, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: HCFA Press Office(202) 690-6145

The Health Care Financing Administration today announced that IASD Health Services Corporation will replace Independence Blue Cross (BC) as the Medicare Part A regional home health and hospice intermediary in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

HCFA Administrator Bruce C. Vladeck noted that IASD has a proven performance record as the Medicare Part A intermediary in Iowa and South Dakota, and as a regional home health and hospice intermediary servicing Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. "HCFA staff will work with both the incoming and outgoing intermediaries to make the transition smooth for both Medicare beneficiaries and home health agencies and hospices."

IASD plans to open an office in Philadelphia to focus on audit, provider relations, and fraud investigation, while maintaining other functions in Des Moines, Iowa. There will be employment opportunities for Independence BC Medicare staff with IASD's planned Philadelphia office. Transition to IASD will be completed before Independence BC's current Medicare Part A contract expires on Sept. 30, 1997.

Independence BC also administers the Medicare Part A program in the eastern Pennsylvania counties of Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware. HCFA will announce a replacement intermediary for these jurisdictions shortly.