The IDR Process
Eight steps from verifying eligibility to the refund of the IDRE fee, with the timelines the Departments require.
Steps for the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (FIDR) Process
- 01
Verify Eligibility
Confirm that your dispute qualifies for the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) Process under the guidelines established by the No Surprises Act.
- 02
Initiate the FIDR Process
Begin the Federal IDR process within 4 business days after the conclusion of the 30-business-day open negotiation period.
Submit the Notice of IDR Initiation to both the Departments and the non-initiating party via the CMS portal.
- 03
Select an IDRE
Designate your Independent Dispute Resolution Entity (IDRE). While Stratus is not yet certified, we are preparing to serve in this capacity upon approval.
- 04
Notify the Departments
Notify the Departments of your IDRE selection within 1 business day after the 3-business-day period allowed for IDRE selection.
- 05
Notice of Eligibility
The chosen IDRE will send a notice of eligibility to the involved parties, detailing next steps and instructions for submitting Admin and IDRE fees.
- 06
Submission of Offer Information
Each party must submit offer information and payments to the IDRE within 10 business days after receiving the eligibility notice.
CMS will provide instructions on offer submission via email federalidrquestions@cms.hhs.gov.
- 07
Decision Issuance
The IDRE will decide which of the two offers to accept within 30 business days after being selected to arbitrate the dispute.
- 08
Refund of IDRE Fee
A refund of the IDRE fee will be issued to the prevailing party following the decision
Note: Stratus is actively pursuing certification to become an approved IDRE. This process overview represents our commitment to preparing for effective case management and compliance.