CMS Central Office Alert is described as which of the following?

• A. A Memorandum Describing Minor Procedural Updates
• B. A Public Health Advisory
• C. A National Policy Directive
• D. One of the Five Fraud Alerts; Prepared by ZPIC If a Scheme Is About To Be Publicized On A National Level, The Case Involves Patient Abuse Or A Large Dollar Amount, Or The Issue Involves Politically Sensitive Testimony

Answer: (D)

Central Office Alerts from CMS are immediate notices used to warn about significant Medicare/Medicaid fraud concerns. When such an alert is described as being prepared by a Zone Program Integrity Contractor and calls out circumstances like a scheme that’s about to be publicized on a national level, or cases involving patient abuse, large dollar amounts, or politically sensitive testimony, it fits the fraud alert category. Fraud alerts are specifically intended to flag major fraud risks and coordinate responses across investigators and providers, rather than merely issuing minor procedural updates, public health guidance, or broad policy directives.