Palmetto GBA will be taking over this month as Medicare’s Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) contractor.

The official transition from Noridian Healthcare Solutions LLC to Palmetto happens Jan. 15.

According to a notice from Noridian, the PDAC will have a “dark day” on Monday, Jan. 14, as the transition takes place. The PDAC contact center will be closed on that day, and the center will reopen on Jan. 15.

Noridian said via its Web site that it will continue to accept e-mail inquiries and applications through 4 p.m. Central time on Fri., Jan. 11.

Relevant to complex rehab technology and durable medical equipment, the PDAC “advises manufacturers and suppliers on the appropriate Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) for billing DMEPOS items” and “receives, evaluates and processes coding verification applications for DMEPOS,” according to Palmetto’s Web site.

The PDAC also “receives, evaluates and updates all coding verification decisions on the Product Classification List housed within DMECS (Durable Medical Equipment Coding System).”

Doran Edwards, M.D., is Medical Director for the new PDAC. Edwards was Medical Director of the SADMERC, predecessor to the PDAC, from January 2003 through August 2008.

He has also served as Associate Medical Director for CGS Medicare, starting in August 2012.

The current www.DMEPDAC.com Web site will be transitioned to Palmetto as of Jan. 15, and the current PDAC helpline phone number (877-735-1326) will remain the same, even after the transition.