Emergency Department

Emergency Department When a consultant has seen a patient in the ED and billed an ED code, how are subsequent services billed when the patient is then admitted to inpatient status? Answer: The ED consult (billed with an ED code [...]

Behavioral/Mental Health Services

Behavioral/Mental Health Services Please explain the parameters for mental health services delivered via telehealth to a beneficiary who is at home. Answer: As of 1/1/2025, CMS has permanently extended permission for behavioral and mental [...]

Consultations

Consultations Does CMS permit payment for consultative E/M services? Answer: CMS permits payment for medically necessary consultative E/M services. The specific E/M codes previously used to represent consultative services were [...]

PC-ACE: Is there a resource I can use to assist me with Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) claims when using PC-ACE?

DDE: Is there some place on FISS/DDE that shows how many physical therapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT) visits the beneficiary has had?

DDE: I tried to access my claim through the FISS/DDE system and it will not let me pull it up. What is the problem?

CLAIMS: I received a denial stating that the documentation submitted did not support the medical necessity of laboratory services. Can you tell me what I can submit to support these services?

DDE: I have a claim which was fully denied and I am attempting to use the automated denial adjustment process, but the FISS/DDE system is not allowing me to adjust my claim. Why am I not able to bring up my claim and submit the adjustment?

DDE: My name changed and I need to change the name associated to my log on ID. How do I do that?

Revised and Updated Educational Frequently Asked Questions

Revised and Updated Educational Frequently Asked Questions Our educational FAQs have been updated. Please visit the Help and FAQs page under the Education section of our website to explore topics such as: ASCA Appeals CAR T-cell Therapy [...]

Teaching Environment E/M Services

Teaching Environment E/M Services Please define levels of care for E/M services that can be performed by residents in a hospital outpatient setting under the PCE rules. Answer: CMS PCE guidelines for the hospital outpatient setting permit [...]

Observation Services

Observation Services Please define guidelines for providers billing observation services. Answer: Observation services are ordered, performed and billed by the practitioner (or group), who is responsible for the patient’s care during the [...]

Split/Shared and Incident To Services

Split/Shared and Incident To Services Please define the substantive portion of a split (or shared) visit. Answer: The following factors apply in determining the substantive portion of a split (or shared) visit:   Total time [...]

Global Period Services

Global Period Services Is it permissible for providers (physicians or NPPs) other than the primary surgeon to bill for preoperative or postoperative care within a global period? Answer: The global surgery fee is paid to the primary [...]

Understanding Medicare Fraud and Abuse

Learn about fraud and abuse affecting providers and your Medicare patients to increase your awareness of integrity issues and prevent potential fraudulent and abusive practices against the Medicare Program.

How to Avoid Duplicate Claims

Duplicate denials continue to be one of the top billing errors. Unnecessary duplicate filing of Medicare claims cost the provider's office valuable time and resources, as well as Medicare's time and money to process them. Please join us for [...]

The Annual Wellness Visit: Promoting Good Health Through Disease Prevention and Detection

Medicare covers many preventive services to keep your patients healthy. Preventive services can help find health problems early, when treatment works best, and can help keep your patients from getting certain diseases. Register today for an [...]

Four Reasons Patients Fear Quitting Tobacco

Four Reasons Patients Fear Quitting Tobacco Stress: If you rely on cigarettes to loosen up during your day, you might worry about losing this release valve. It’s essential to remember that using nicotine to relax is only a temporary fix and [...]

IDTF Procedure Codes (65 KB)

Prior Authorization CPT/HCPCS Code Inquiry Tool