Qualified Independent Contractor Program

The Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC) Program is a master Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide independent review and administrative services for various Medicare appeals and claims processing functions. The program delivers specialized third-party review services across multiple Medicare program segments, including Parts A, B, C, and D, as well as Durable Medical Equipment (DME) claims and appeals. These services involve comprehensive independent review of Medicare coverage determinations, payment decisions, and provider dispute resolution, ensuring an objective assessment of Medicare-related administrative and claims processes.

The task orders under this vehicle consistently demonstrate a pattern of firm fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts, typically ranging from approximately $6 million to $100 million in total ceiling value and spanning performance periods of 3-5 years. Two primary prime contractors, Maximus Federal Services, Inc. and C2C Innovative Solutions, Inc., have been awarded the majority of task orders, with Q2 Administrators, LLC (a Maximus subsidiary) also receiving multiple awards. The contracts are consistently awarded without set-aside designations and primarily performed in locations such as Herndon, Virginia, and Jacksonville, Florida. These task orders support different jurisdictional segments of Medicare appeals processing, including Part A East and West, Part B North and South, Part C, Part D, and Durable Medical Equipment claims review, reflecting the comprehensive nature of CMS's quality assurance and appeals management strategy.