Examination

As of 1/1/2023, CMS has eliminated prior specifications for the scope of examination and associated documentation in the outpatient office and hospital settings. The provider is expected to perform and document a medically necessary and [...]

Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements

Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements Can a physician return to work in his or her practice for a short period of time to reset the 60-day clock requirement for the fee-for-time compensation arrangement provider? Answer: In order for the [...]

General E/M Information

General E/M Information Please explain the terms “auxiliary personnel” and “clinical staff” in the context of Medicare services.   Answer: These terms are often used in defining which staff members can perform Medicare services [...]

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 [...]

History

As of 1/1/2023, CMS has eliminated prior specifications for documentation of a patient’s history for services provided in both the outpatient office and hospital setting, including the emergency department. The provider is expected to obtain [...]

Separately Identifiable Service

Separately Identifiable Service Please define the appropriate use of modifier 57 to identify a separately payable E/M with an initial decision for surgery. Answer: Modifier 57 is added to an E/M service that resulted in an initial [...]

Skilled Nursing Facility Services

Skilled Nursing Facility Services Please define rules for initial and subsequent SNF services, when the same provider has treated the patient at another site on the same date of service. Answer: This depends on the site of the prior [...]

Smoking Cessation

Smoking Cessation Please clarify appropriate codes for smoking cessation services. Answer: CPT codes 99406 and 99407 may be used for smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling visits. Please clarify what constitutes a session which [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Telehealth Services

Telehealth Services Please explain Medicare’s definition of a telehealth service. Answer: Medicare defines a telehealth service as a service provided by a Medicare-enrolled practitioner from an approved distant site for a beneficiary who [...]

Time-Based Services

Time-Based Services Please define rules for using time to level-set a service. Answer: In both the office and observation/inpatient setting, the provider’s time is calculated based on pre-visit, intra-visit, and post-visit activities [...]

Transitional Care Management

Transitional Care Management Please clarify responsibility for the TCM interactive contact. Can this be performed by a hospital-employed nurse prior to discharge? Answer: The provider who is billing the TCM service is responsible for the [...]

Urgent Care

Urgent Care Please explain the concepts of split/shared and incident to E/M services in the urgent care setting. Answer: The urgent care setting is defined by CMS as a nonfacility setting. This means the split/shared concept does not [...]

59132

Avoiding/Correcting This Error RHCs should not bill codes G0108 or G0109. Related Content CMS Internet-Only Manual, Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 9, Section 70.5 - Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) [...]

39928

Avoiding/Correcting This Error To access the line level reason associated with this reason code providers should go to claim page (2) (MAP 1712) and F11 to MAP171D to see the line level denial codes for each line of the claim. If you disagree [...]

39928

Avoiding/Correcting This Error To access the line level reason associated with this reason code providers should go to claim page (2) (MAP 1712) and F11 to MAP171D to see the line level denial codes for each line of the claim. If you disagree [...]

56900

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Regularly access claims in status locations SB6001, SB6098, or SB6099 to obtain a listing of claims for which records have not yet been received by the MAC (Medical Review Department). Look for information on the [...]

5WEXC

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Ensure all Medicare coverage and medical necessity requirements are met prior to billing. When the provider determines that Medicare will not cover the services, consider submitting the charges as noncovered. [...]

5WEXC

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Ensure all Medicare coverage and medical necessity requirements are met prior to billing. When the provider determines that Medicare will not cover the services, consider submitting the charges as noncovered. [...]

39934

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Review each line level denial reason code(s). Follow the steps provided in that line level reason code narrative. Line level reason code(s) appear on the right view of claim page two (MAP171D). In order to access [...]

C7010

Avoiding/Correcting This Error If services are unrelated to hospice stay, resubmit with condition code 07 (treatment of nonterminal illness for hospice patient). Verify hospice enrollment prior to claim submission by reviewing the CWF, the [...]

U5200

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Part of the eligibility verification process should include ensuring the dates of service fall within the Medicare entitlement period. Use the FISS/DDE Provider Online System or NGSConnex to verify [...]

U5210

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Each beneficiary should be screened for eligibility. Part of the eligibility verification process should include ensuring the dates of service fall within the Medicare entitlement period. Use the IVR system, the [...]

U5210

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Each beneficiary should be screened for eligibility. Part of the eligibility verification process should include ensuring the dates of service fall within the Medicare entitlement period. Use the FISS Provider [...]

U5233

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Verify the admission date, from, and through dates on the claim and compare the dates to the HMO entitlement dates. Verify the admission date, from, and through dates on the claim and compare the dates to the [...]

ASCA: Must an Administrative Simplification Compliance Act waiver be mailed or can it be faxed?

ASCA: When applying for an ASCA waiver, do I need to complete the Waiver Request form for each provider number?

ASCA: How will the Administrative Simplification Compliance Act enforcement review affect me as a “small provider/supplier?” Will I be required to submit claims electronically?

ASCA: I was under Administrative Simplification Compliance Act review once and received an approved waiver request to send paper claims, why am I under review again?

ASCA: What kind of supporting documentation should I attach to my Administrative Simplification Compliance Act Waiver Request?

ASCA: How will I know the outcome of my Administrative Simplification Compliance Act waiver request form?

ASCA: If my Administrative Simplification Compliance Act Waiver Request is denied, what will happen to my paper claims?

38312

Avoiding/Correcting This Error If appropriate, correct and resubmit a new claim.   To prevent this error on future claims: Ensure you have received all charges from all departments and that no claim has been submitted for the same DOS [...]

32078

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Ensure the appropriate revenue code(s) and HCPCS/CPT code(s) are reported on the claim and each claim line contains the correct service date. Verify the information billed and PF9 to resubmit. Related [...]

37098

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Verify billing and, if appropriate, correct and return the claim. Related Content Billing for FQHC MAO Plan Supplemental Payment (PPS Providers) CMS Internet-Only Manual 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing [...]

39929

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Verify the line level rejection information to determine the rejection for each of the lines of the claim in question. Resubmit as appropriate. Line level reason code(s) appear on the right view of claim page two [...]

39929

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Verify the line level rejection information to determine the rejection for each of the lines of the claim in question. Resubmit as appropriate. Line level reason code(s) appear on the right view of claim page two [...]

W7088

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Each FQHC PPS claim must be billed with a qualifying visit code, and associated line-item charges, along with all other FQHC services furnished during the encounter. A qualifying visit code is the code that [...]

W7089

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Payment for a FQHC encounter requires a medically necessary face-to-face visit. Each FQHC specific payment code (G0466-G0470) must have a corresponding service line with a HCPCS code that describes the qualifying [...]

W7089

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Payment for a FQHC encounter requires a medically necessary face-to-face visit. Each FQHC specific payment code (G0466-G0470) must have a corresponding service line with a HCPCS code that describes the qualifying [...]

31836

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Verify billing and, if appropriate, correct and resubmit the claim for payment. Related Content MLN® Booklet: How to Use the PFS Look-up Tool

U5065

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Check/verify the beneficiary's entitlement dates in the CWF. A Medicare beneficiary, or their authorized representative, may have requested a new MBI. Verify eligibility and MBI number, correct and return the claim.

38312

Avoiding/Correcting This Error If appropriate, correct and resubmit a new claim.   To prevent this error on future claims: Ensure you have received all charges from all departments and that no claim has been submitted for the same DOS [...]

32243

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Review the claim and either update the charges or remove the line containing zero or blank charges. Return the claim for processing. 

32402

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Verify HCPCS code using the FISS DDE Inquiries HCPCS file (option 14) to determine the allowable revenue codes based upon the date of service. Verify billing and, if appropriate, correct the claim using the [...]

W7088

Avoiding/Correcting This Error Each FQHC PPS claim must be billed with a qualifying visit code, and associated line-item charges, along with all other FQHC services furnished during the encounter. A qualifying visit code is the code that [...]

CERT Awareness Week Three – Verify Your Medical Records Correspondence Address

CERT Awareness Week Three – Verify Your Medical Records Correspondence Address The Part A, Part B, DME, home health and hospice and RRB MACs are working together to promote the importance of complying with CERT documentation requests. This is [...]

Reducing Unprocessable Claims

When claims are submitted with invalid, incomplete or incorrect information, our claims processing system will detect these errors and will reject claims as unprocessable. Our goal is to assist our providers in submitting claims correctly the [...]

Intensive Outpatient Program

Intensive Outpatient Program Table of Contents IOP vs. Partial Hospitalization Program Provider Types Eligible to Provide IOP Medicare Beneficiary Eligible for IOP Services Active Treatment and Treatment Plan Covered IOP Services [...]

Alcohol Misuse, Counseling to Prevent Tobacco Use and Lung Cancer Screening

During this webinar, we’ll review the coverage, coding and billing guidelines for the Medicare Part B preventive services benefits of alcohol misuse, counseling to prevent tobacco use and lung cancer screening.

Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Billing When Benefits Exhaust Job Aid

Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Billing When Benefits Exhaust Job Aid Table of Contents Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Billing When Benefits Exhaust Job Aid Benefits Exhaust Date Submitting Claims Through the Benefits Exhaust Date [...]

PECOS Enrollment Process and Advantages

PECOS Enrollment Process and Advantages The Internet-based PECOS can be used in lieu of the paper enrollment application. Submitting the application via PECOS is the preferred method. Advantages of Online Enrollment: Lets you submit [...]

Paper Enrollment Process

Paper Enrollment Process Enrollment via paper is an option, but PECOS is the preferred method to process the application with streamlining features. Paper-based enrollment applications are available. Determine which CMS Paper Form you will [...]

Enrollment Application Forms

Enrollment Application Forms You have two options for submitting your Part B Enrollment application to Medicare. You can choose to submit: Electronic application through PECOS, or CMS paper application forms Also view Understanding [...]

For First Time Users: Request a User ID and Connection

For First Time Users: Request a User ID and Connection Instructions for accessing PECOS: If you are unsure if you have a user ID, select “Forgot User ID?” from PECOS. Connect to the Identity & Access (I&A) Management System, [...]

Complete All Topics

Complete All Topics Instructions for completing all PECOS topics: Select the ‘Topic View’ tab and add information in every topic Note: The electronic funds transfer (EFT) topic must be completed by: groups suppliers sole owner group [...]

Resolve All Errors and Verify Warnings

Resolve all Errors and Verify Warnings Instructions for resolving all errors and warnings: Select the ‘Errors/Warning Check’ Tab.   Correct all errors identified and verify any warnings.   Related Content Resolving PECOS [...]

Sign and Submit the Application(s)

Sign and Submit the Application(s) In order to send your application, after resolving all errors, you must select “Begin Submission” which is available from any of the tabs (Topic View, Fast Track View, Error/Warning Check). Instructions for [...]