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Posting Date: 06/16/2020
Changes in Guidance for E/M Telephone Services (99441-99443)
Changes in Guidance for E/M Telephone Services (99441-99443) We are informing providers of a recent revision in interpretation and guidance for use of CPT codes 99441-99443 for telephone E/M services. Since these telephone services have been [...]
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Posting Date: 02/10/2020
Change in Hospice Cap Review Timeline and Letter Changes
Change in Hospice Cap Review Timeline and Letter Changes National Government Services wants all hospice providers to be aware that we are changing the timing of the final hospice cap reviews. The final hospice cap review will [...]
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Posting Date: 04/06/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 4/10/2020 and 4/24/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 4/10/2020 and 4/24/2020 The Provider Contact Center will not be closing for training on 4/10/2020 and 4/24/2020 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. ET. Instead, we will keep our lines open to ensure you can continue [...]
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Posting Date: 03/23/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 3/27/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 3/27/2020 The Provider Contact Center will not be closing for training on 3/27/2020 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. ET. Instead, we will keep our lines open to ensure you can continue to reach [...]
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Posting Date: 06/05/2020
COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition Code
COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition Code CMS revised MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20011 on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to clarify when you must use [...]
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Posting Date: 08/28/2020
CMS-855R Version (1/20) Reassignment of Medicare Benefits
CMS-855R Version (1/20) Reassignment of Medicare Benefits As a reminder, effective 5/1/2020, the CMS-855R Version (1/20) is the only version of the CMS-855R that can be submitted to allow a provider to reassign benefits to an [...]
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Posting Date: 06/22/2020
CERT A/B MAC Task Force
CERT A/B MAC Task Force The CERT A/B MAC Task Force goal is to educate providers on national issues of concern regarding improper payment errors and to reduce the national payment error rate by creating material to help prevent CERT [...]
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Posting Date: 09/02/2020
Benefits of Using Electronic Data Interchange Transactions
Benefits of Using Electronic Data Interchange Transactions There are a number of advantages to enrolling and submitting claims online. Claims and other transactions submitted electronically process considerably faster than paper submission. [...]
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Posting Date: 08/31/2020
Award of MAC Contract for Jurisdiction 6
Award of MAC Contract for Jurisdiction 6 The CMS selected National Government Services to retain the J6 MAC Contract. As a result, there will be no changes to your service or the support we provide you. NGS looks forward to continuing to serve [...]
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Posting Date: 05/18/2020
Hospitals: Physician Time Studies During the COVID-19 PHE
Hospitals: Physician Time Studies During the COVID-19 PHE Hospitals that incur physician compensation costs must allocate those costs based on the percentage of total time spent furnishing: Part A services Part B services [...]
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Posting Date: 03/11/2020
Hospice Claims Adjustments
Hospice Claims Adjustments National Government Services has received reports of two issues that are currently affecting payments of some hospice claims that have been adjusted. Hospice End of Life SIA Payment Hospice claims are being [...]
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Posting Date: 05/11/2020
Home Health Plans of Care: NPs, CNSs and PAs Allowed to Certify
Home Health Plans of Care: Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Physician Assistants Allowed to Certify Section 3708 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L. No. 116-136) amended sections [...]
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Posting Date: 03/12/2020
Hospice Agencies and COVID-19
Hospice Agencies and COVID-19 CMS has issued a memorandum responding to questions related to hospice agencies, the COVID-19 (Corona Virus) outbreak, and minimizing transmission to other individuals. It is suggested that [...]
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Posting Date: 07/24/2020
HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar III Renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration on 7/23/2020
HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar III Renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration on 7/23/2020 As a result of the continued consequences of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, on this date and after consultation with public [...]
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Posting Date: 11/30/2020
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement The CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement is to be submitted for billing providers upon initial enrollment, change in bank information and during [...]
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Posting Date: 08/27/2020
Flu and Pneumonia Shots: Extra Push This Fall and Spring
Flu and Pneumonia Shots: Extra Push This Fall and Spring National Government Services supports the CMS and NIAM recent announcements to make strong recommendations for Medicare patients to get their flu/pneumonia shots and refer Medicare [...]
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Posting Date: 08/26/2020
Flu Season 2020-2021 Has Arrived
Flu Season 2020-2021 Has Arrived The 2020-2021 flu season began on 8/1/2020. The Medicare flu billing codes and fees along with the brand name and manufacturer are located on the CMS Seasonal Influenza Vaccines Pricing web page. Please note: [...]
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Posting Date: 11/30/2020
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement The CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement is to be submitted for billing providers upon initial enrollment, change in bank information and during [...]
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Posting Date: 08/03/2020
Extension for Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey Submission
Extension for Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey Submission CMS collects data every three years on the occupational mix of employees for each short-term, acute care hospital participating in the [...]
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Posting Date: 06/30/2020
Exceptions to the RHC Productivity Standards for RHCs as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Exceptions to the RHC Productivity Standards for RHCs as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Productivity standards are used to help determine the average cost per patient for Medicare reimbursement in RHCs. Physicians, nurse [...]
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