Targeted Probe and Educate Topics

Jurisdiction K Part B Targeted Probe and Educate: Medical Review Topics

Topic CPT Code(s) Common Denials Resources
Paring or Cutting of Benign Hyperkeratotic Lesion 11055, 11056, 11057 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation does not include some or all of the required elements including the necessary class findings, the presence of a qualifying systemic illness causing a peripheral neuropathy, and/or does not include precise and specific findings including specific location of lesion(s).
  • The documentation does not support the class findings modifier billed.
362 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity for the level of care billed. The reviewer recoded the service to a higher or lower level of care, depending on what the documentation supported.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD): L33636- Routine Foot Care and Debridement of Nails

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 290

Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (SSA), Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)
Trimming of Nondystrophic Nails and/or Nail Debridement with or without an E/M code 11719, 11720, 11721, 99211-99215 B65 – Services not furnished directly to the patient and/or not documented.
  • The documentation does not support that nondystrophic nails were present and/or treated.
362 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity for the level of care billed. The reviewer recoded the service to a higher or lower level of care, depending on what the documentation supported.

Local Coverage Determination (LCD): L33636- Routine Foot Care and Debridement of Nails

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 30

CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 30.6.6B

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Destruction of Benign Lesions; up to 14 Lesions 17110 TBD

Billing and Coding Article: Removal of Benign Skin Lesions (A54602)

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 16, Section 20 and Section 180

CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3.6.2.2

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)

Total Knee Arthroplasty 27447 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation does not support if the joint disease is evidenced by conventional radiography, or MRI.
A65 – Information requested from the provider was insufficient/incomplete.
  • Information received was for the incorrect beneficiary, date of service, or did not include the procedure report.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L36039-Total Joint Arthroplasty

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 30

CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.3.8(A) and (B)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)
 
Extracapsular Cataract Removal 66984 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines. The documentation lacks one or more of the following requirements:
  • Cataract causing symptomatic impairment of visual function.
  • Impaired of visual function is not correctable with a tolerable change in glass or contact lenses.
  • Visual impairment resulting in specific activity limitation and/or participation restrictions.
  • Other eye disease(s) including, but not limited to, macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy have been ruled out as the primary cause of decreased visual function.
A65 – Information requested from the provider was insufficient/incomplete.
  • Information received was for the incorrect beneficiary, date of service, or did not include the procedure report.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33558-Cataract Extraction

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 260.2

CMS IOM Publication 100-03, Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual, Chapter 1, Part 1, Sections 10.1 and 80

CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.3.8(A) and (B)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)
Removal of Impacted Cerumen 69210 A98 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity of the service billed.
  • The documentation does not support the presence of cerumen impaction to support the medical necessity of the service.
  • The documentation does not support the requirement of symptomatic impacted cerumen to support the medical necessity of the service.
  • The documentation does not support that instrumentation was used, requiring physician skills, to remove the cerumen to support the medical necessity of the service.
DA80 – The documentation does not support a significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service on the same day as the cerumen removal procedure.
CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 16, Section 20

CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 30.6.6B

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)
Diagnostic Chest X-Ray 71046 A98 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity of the service billed.
  • The submitted documentation does not include an indication to support the medical necessity of the chest X-ray.
B63 – Medically unnecessary item(s) or service(s); billed with the GA modifier. There was an ABN submitted with the documentation.; however, the ABN was invalid.
  • ABN was invalid due to a missing a signature date and/or the options box was not completed by the beneficiary.
CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 16, Section 20

CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3.3.1.1.F

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A) and (a)(7)
Breast Ultrasound 76641 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation does not include an indication.
  • The breast ultrasound is being completed as supplemental screening with mammography for patients with dense breasts or a personal/family history of breast cancer.
  • The breast ultrasound must be diagnostic. Medicare does not pay for screening breast ultrasounds.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33585-Breast Imaging: Breast Echography (Sonography)/Breast MRI/Ductography

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)
Vitamin D Assay 82306 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation indicates the previous vitamin D level was between 20 and 50 ng/dl. The documentation does not indicate why repeat testing was necessary on the billed date.
  • The documentation does not include an indication to support the medical necessity of the service.
  • The documentation supports that the patient has a previously established diagnosis of Vitamin D deficiency and is taking a Vitamin D supplement. The documentation supports that the patient is stable at this time and testing of Vitamin D level for assessment of adequate repletion of Vitamin D has already been rendered within the past year.
  • The documentation did not include the previous results for Vitamin D (within the previous year).
B65 – Services not furnished directly to the patient and/or not documented.
  • The submitted documentation does not support that the rendering provider of the service is the billing provider reported on the claim.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L37535-Vitamin D Assay Testing

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 30

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)
Natriuretic Peptide 83880 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation does not include an indication to support the medical necessity of the service.
B18 – The provider or provider representative indicated that this service was billed in error.

B65 – Services not furnished directly to the patient and/or not documented.
  • The documentation does not support that the rendering provider of the service is the billing provider reported on the claim.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD): L33573 - B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) Testing

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 30

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)
Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation 90791 A07 - The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines. The documentation lacks one or more of the following requirements:
  • The treatment plan must state the type, amount, frequency, and duration of the duration of the services to be furnished and indicate the diagnoses and anticipated goals.
  • The psychiatric diagnostic procedure requires the elicitation of a complete medical (including past, family, social) and psychiatric history, a mental status examination, establishment of an initial diagnosis, an evaluation of the patient's ability and capacity to respond to treatment, and an initial plan of treatment.
  • Information may be obtained from not only the patient, but also other physicians, healthcare providers, and/or family if the patient is unable to provide a complete history. If unable to obtain the history, attempts at obtaining must be documented.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33632-Psychiatry and Psychology Services

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)
Psychotherapy 90834, 90837 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation does not include an individualized treatment plan that includes the type, amount, frequency, duration, diagnosis and anticipated goals.
  • The documentation does not include an encounter note that includes functional status, focused mental status exam, and progress to date.
  • The documentation does not support the correct billing of the telehealth visit.
  • The documentation included late provider signatures and the signature guidelines were not followed.
B65 – Services not furnished directly to the patient and/or not documented.
  • The submitted documentation does not support that the rendering provider of the service is the billing provider reported on the claim.
  • Incident-to requirements were not met when services were provided by a nonphysician practitioner.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33632-Psychiatry and Psychology Services

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 6, Section 70.1

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Sections 30 and 60.1-60.2

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)

MLN® Fact Sheet: Complying with Medicare Signature Requirements

Billing for telehealth: Billing and coding Medicare Fee-for-Service telehealth claims
Acupuncture 97810-97814 B53 – Medically unnecessary item(s) or service(s); billed with the GA modifier. There was no ABN submitted with the documentation. The documentation lacks the required information that the pain is not related to a systemic cause or surgery in order to support the medical necessity of the service.

B65 – Services not furnished directly to the patient and/or not documented.
  • The documentation does not support that the rendering provider of the service is the billing provider reported on the claim.
B51 – The information provided does not support the need for this service or item.
  • Exceeded 12 treatments in 90 days with lack of improvement
  • Exceeds 20 treatments in a year
  • Documentation does not support definition of cLBP
National Coverage Determination (NCD): Acupuncture for Chronic Lower Back Pain (cLBP) (30.3.3)

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 30

CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3.3.1.1.F-Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)
Annual Wellness Visit when billed with an E/M Code G0438, G0439

99211-99215
TBD

 


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CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Section 280.5

CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 30.6.1.1 and Section 30.6.6B

CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 18, Section 30.6.1.1 and Section 140

42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 410.15

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A) and 1862 (a)(7)
Hyaluronan or Derivative, for Intra-Articular Injection J7318-J7332, 20610, 20611 A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation does not support improvement of functional capacity for subsequent injections.
  • Frequent cloned documentation.
  • The documentation does not include subjective patient report of knee pain at the time of injection.
  • Incorrect code billed when ultrasound guidance was used.
  • The documentation was missing one or more of the following: a diagnosis and/or history of symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee, radiologic evidence to support osteoarthritis diagnosis, and documentation to support failure of at least three months of conservative treatment
     
B18 – A billing error was identified.
  • The modifier JZ was not appended to the drug code to attest that there are no amounts of drugs or biologicals from single-dose containers or single-use packages that were unused or discarded.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L33394: Drugs and Biologicals, Coverage of, for Label and Off-Label Uses

C
MS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 17, Sections 10 and 40

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)
Outpatient Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and/or Speech Language Pathology All therapy codes when billed with KX modifier A07 – The documentation does not support the medical necessity per policy guidelines.
  • The documentation lacked the requirements to support the medical necessity of the additional services beyond the therapy threshold.
  • The documentation lacked justification to support the need for additional therapy and how the additional therapy would directly and significantly impact the rate of recovery of the condition being treated such that it is appropriate to exceed the threshold.
  • The documentation lacked evidence to support the ongoing skills of a qualified therapist were required to complete the treatment.
  • The documentation did not support that the level of complexity or condition of the patient required the services that could only be performed safely and effectively by a qualified therapist.
B65 – Services not furnished directly to the patient and/or not documented.
  • The submitted documentation does not support that the rendering provider of the service is the billing provider reported on the claim.
  • Medical necessity could not be determined due to the documentation received was not from the billing provider.
Local Coverage Determination (LCD): Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy Services (L33631)

CMS IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Sections 30, 220

CMS IOM Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 5, Section 10.3.2-10.3.3

 

CMS IOM Publication 100- 08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Sections 3.4.1.3, 3.6.2.1, 3.6.2.2

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1833(e)

Title XVIII of the SSA, Section 1862(a)(1)(A)

 

42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Sections 409.17, 409.44, 410.60, 410.61(a) and (c)


*Not an all-inclusive list of resources

If a non-response to an ADR occurs, the claim may deny with denial code 692. A 692 denial will negatively impact a provider's error rate and may result in additional rounds of TPE review. By implementing TPE best practices and responding to ADRs, this is an easily preventable denial.

Additional References

Revised 2/14/2024