A US Court of Appeals ruling earlier this month that invalidates a provision of Medicare's 2014 Recovery Audit Program contracts is the latest setback for federal officials who administer the program.

The 2014 contracts were slated to be awarded last year, but a series of challenges from Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) has delayed the rollout of the new contracts. In the meantime, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has temporarily extended the original round of RAC contracts awarded in 2008.