How does CMS define a complaint?

• A. A statement, oral or written, alleging that a provider, supplier, or beneficiary received a Medicare benefit of monetary value, to which he or she is not entitled.
• B. A request for clarification about benefit eligibility.
• C. A correction notice from the beneficiary about a bill.
• D. A scheduled provider audit.

Answer: (C)

CMS views a complaint as an expression of dissatisfaction that triggers a response and investigation. A correction notice from the beneficiary about a bill fits this because it explicitly challenges the amount billed and requests a change. It moves beyond a simple question or clarification and becomes a formal grievance about billing that CMS would address through its complaint handling process. The other scenarios describe actions that are not complaints in this context: a request for benefit-eligibility clarification isn’t a dispute; a statement alleging unentitled benefits is better seen as a potential issue of fraud or improper payment; and a scheduled provider audit is an audit, not a complaint.