Physicians: Are You Ordering Surgical Dressings for Your Patient?

Physicians: Are You Ordering Surgical Dressings for Your Patient? In order for a DME supplier to provide surgical dressings to your patients, there are actions you can take to make sure that all the required supporting medical record [...]

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Nebulizers and Inhalation Medication for Your Patient?

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Nebulizers and Inhalation Medication for Your Patient? Medicare will consider coverage of a nebulizer, compressor and related accessories when the patient’s medical record verifies that the patient has a [...]

Physicians: Are You Ordering Glucose Monitors and Supplies for Your Patients?

Physicians: Are You Ordering Glucose Monitors and Supplies for Your Patients? The CERT program has noted claim errors for glucose monitors. The following information is provided to assist you in reducing these types of errors. Medicare will [...]

Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS)

Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies To help providers and suppliers gain a better understanding of the roles of billing, coverage, documentation requirements and medical necessity when providing DMEPOS to Medicare [...]

Clinicians: Are You Ordering PAP Devices and Related Accessories for Your Patients?

Clinicians: Are You Ordering PAP Devices and Related Accessories for Your Patients? Medicare can make payment for PAP devices and related accessories when the patient’s medical record shows the patient has OSA and meets medical documentation, [...]

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Spinal Orthoses for Your Patient?

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Spinal Orthoses for Your Patients? The DME MACs are providing helpful guidance to assist the supplier in providing a spinal orthosis to your patient. Medicare must be able to verify there is supporting medical [...]

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Ankle-Foot/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses for Your Patients?

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Ankle-Foot/Knee-Ankle-Foot Orthoses for Your Patients? The DME MACs are providing helpful guidance to assist suppliers in providing a lower limb orthosis to your patient. Medicare must be able to verify that [...]

Clinicians: Are You Ordering Oxygen for Your Patient?

Clinicians: Are You Ordering Oxygen for Your Patient? Home use of oxygen and oxygen equipment is eligible for Medicare reimbursement only when a beneficiary meets all of the requirements set out in the CMS IOM, Publication 100-03, Medicare [...]

Clinicians: Are You Ordering Diabetic Shoes for Your Patients?

Clinicians: Are You Ordering Diabetic Shoes for Your Patients? The following section outlines roles of various practitioners that are involved in the decision-making and provision process for diabetic shoes: Certifying physician: The [...]

Physicians Ordering Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment - Quick Tips

Physicians Ordering Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment - Quick Tips The following is a quick reference guide for physicians and nonphysician practitioners concerning Medicare’s coverage of oxygen and oxygen equipment. For Medicare to consider [...]

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Knee Orthoses for Your Patients?

Practitioners: Are You Ordering Knee Orthoses for Your Patients? The DME MACs are providing helpful guidance to assist suppliers in providing a knee orthosis to your patient. Medicare must be able to verify that there is medical record [...]

Physicians: Are You Ordering DMEPOS for Your Patients?

Physicians: Are You Ordering DMEPOS for Your Patients? Physicians provide the foundation for correctly billing services and/or supplies to Medicare. DMEPOS suppliers rely on prescribing providers to substantiate the need for services and/or [...]

Physicians: Are You Ordering External Breast Prostheses for Your Patient?

Physicians: Are You Ordering External Breast Prostheses and Supplies for Your Patient? Following this guidance will help your patients and the Medicare Program by verifying there is medical documentation to support the provision of external [...]

Long-Term Care Hospital

Learning Medicare Secondary Payer Interactively

It’s all about Part B Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) provisions and providers knowing their responsibilities for obtaining all insurance data from beneficiaries. During this MSP learning session, we'll make it easy for you to understand how MSP [...]

Initial Preventive Physical Examination and Annual Wellness Visit

Ensure that your patients obtain the wellness examinations they are eligible for by knowing the differences between the initial preventive physical examination and annual wellness visit. During this webinar, we'll review the coverage, coding [...]

Stay of Enrollment

Stay of Enrollment The individual provider or authorized/delegated official of a group/facility agrees to adhere to all Medicare requirements when enrolling. CMS implemented a preliminary, interim status representing a pause in enrollment [...]

Stay of Enrollment

Stay of Enrollment The individual provider or authorized/delegated official of a group/facility agrees to adhere to all Medicare requirements when enrolling. CMS implemented a preliminary, interim status representing a pause in enrollment [...]

Diabetes Self-Management Training, Diabetes Screening Tests, and Medical Nutrition Therapy

During this webinar, we'll review the coverage, coding and billing guidelines for diabetes screening tests, diabetes self-management training, and medical nutrition therapy.

Reminder: The Self-Service Pulse Has Ended

Reminder: The Self-Service Pulse Has Ended We sincerely thank you for being a loyal reader of our Self-Service Pulse each week. To continue receiving updates on our latest self-service tools and services, please subscribe to our general Email [...]

Health Equity Vaccination Efforts: Achieving the Highest Level of Health and Well-Being for Your Patients

Health Equity Vaccination Efforts: Achieving the Highest Level of Health and Well-Being for Your Patients Health equity is the concept that all people should have a fair and just chance to be as healthy as possible, regardless of their [...]

Who May File an Appeal?

Who May File an Appeal? Who May File an Appeal? Appointment of Representative Who May Be a Representative How to Make and Revoke an Appointment Attorney Representatives Required Elements When to Submit the Appointment Validity of an [...]

About Appeals

About Appeals Providers, suppliers and beneficiaries have the right to appeal claim determinations made by National Government Services. The purpose of the appeals process is to ensure the correct adjudication of claims. Appeals activities [...]

MSP Overpayments

MSP Overpayments If you are appealing or correcting a claim that you have received an overpayment on because Medicare paid as the primary insurer and another insurance carrier should be the primary payer, follow the instructions on the [...]

What Documents are Needed

What Documents are Needed? What Documents are Needed? Medical Records to Support an Appeal Anesthesia Biofeedback Blepharoplasty Cardiac Rehabilitation Services Chiropractic Services Concurrent Care Cosmetic [...]

Submit an Appeal Electronically with NGSConnex

Submit an Appeal Electronically with NGSConnex You can submit redetermination or reopening requests electronically through NGSConnex. To determine if your appeal qualifies as a reopening or redetermination, access the About Appeals page. All [...]

Submit an Appeal Electronically via esMD

Submit an Appeal Electronically via esMD CMS developed a mechanism for contractors to receive first level appeals electronically from providers via a secure gateway known as Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation, or esMD. Some [...]

Get Help Submitting a Appeal Hard Copy

Get Help Submitting a Appeal Hard Copy All levels of appeals may be submitted by mail. The only types of appeals submitted to National Government Services are reopening and redetermination requests. For information on other types of appeals, [...]

How to Avoid Costly Appeals

How to Avoid Costly Appeals This table includes helpful information to help avoid costly appeals. Use the initial submission tips and resources to help reduce claim denials and improve revenue cycle workflow issues within your office. [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: April 25, 2024 (UPDATE)

MLN Connects® Newsletter: April 25, 2024 (UPDATE) Editor's Note: CMS updated a message because we delayed the effective date that physicians who certify hospice services must enroll in or opt-out of Medicare until 6/3/2024. You may have to [...]

LCD and Article Updates for April/May 2024

LCD and Article Updates for April/May 2024 Billing and Coding Articles Billing and Coding: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Primary Refractory or Relapsed Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma with B-cell or T-cell Origin (A59311) [...]

Billing for Drug Wastage: JW and JZ Modifier

Billing for Drug Wastage: JW and JZ Modifier Properly billing for drug wastage and associated modifiers helps to prevent claims processing errors and denials while ensuring you receive correct reimbursement. Providers and suppliers are to [...]

National Government Services Proposed LCDs for Comment (4/25/2024-6/8/2024)

National Government Services Proposed LCDs for Comment (4/25/2024-6/8/2024) The proposed LCDs listed below are being presented for comment for the Jurisdiction 6 and Jurisdiction K MACs. The formal comment period extends from 4/25/2024 through [...]

Covered Medicare Part B Drugs/Biologicals

Covered Medicare Part B Drugs/Biologicals Each drug and biologic that can be considered for coverage under Medicare Part B has its own set of coverage guidelines. Below are examples of covered Medicare Part B drugs and biologicals, which may [...]

Maximum Payment Limits for Rural Health Centers

Maximum Payment Limits for Rural Health Centers Payment Limit Annual Adjustment Period Covered $190.00 TBD 1/1/2028–12/31/2028 $178.00 TBD 1/1/2027–12/31/2027 $165.00 TBD [...]

2024 Medicare Cost Report Due Dates

2024 Medicare Cost Report Due Dates FYE 12/31/2023 cost reports are due by 5/31/2024. We strongly encourange early filing of the cost report. Early-filed cost reports that are rejected will receive a grace period to re-submit prior to [...]

Vaccines

Vaccines Medicare covers some preventive vaccines at no cost to the beneficiary. CMS and National Government Services provide detailed educational and billing information for providers. Medicare also covers vaccines that are directly related [...]

EDI Guided Enrollment Form

MLN Connects® Newsletter: May 2, 2024

MLN Connects® Newsletter: May 2, 2024 News CMS Statement on Proposed Local Coverage Determination for Skin Substitute Grafts/Cellular and Tissue-Based Products for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Venous Leg Ulcers Quality in [...]

May 2024

In This Issue National Government Services Articles for Part A and Part B Providers LCD and Article Updates for April/May 2024 National Government Services Proposed LCDs for Comment (4/25/2024-6/8/2024) Top Tobacco Counseling Claim Errors [...]

Important Reminders for Your EDI Enrollment

Important Reminders for Your EDI Enrollment When completing the EDI Enrollment application, it’s important that the entity name and address you enter on the EDI enrollment form matches exactly to the information contained in the CMS-855/PECOS [...]

Join Us for ‘Real Time” with CMS Chicago

Join Us for ‘Real Time' with CMS Chicago The CMS Chicago LEA would like to invite you to our “Real Time” with CMS Chicago, a bi- weekly webinar that occurs on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of every Month at 9 a.m. CT. These 30-minute calls are [...]

About Prior Authorization

About Prior Authorization CMS has implemented Prior Authorization (PA) programs nationwide to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to receive medically necessary care while protecting the Medicare Trust Fund from improper payments. PA [...]

OPD Facility/Physician Communication

OPD Facility/Physician Communication What does this mean for the Part B Provider who will be performing the service in the hospital OPD? The performing provider, must work alongside the hospital OPD staff to obtain PA for the services to be [...]

Billing Reminder: When a Skilled Nursing Facility Payment Ban is in Effect

Billing Reminder: When a Skilled Nursing Facility Payment Ban is in Effect CMS may impose a DPNA against the SNF when the facility is not in compliance with the requirements of participation under the Social Security Act at Sections 1819(h) [...]

PS&R/Cost Report Crosswalk

PS&R/Cost Report Crosswalk Did you know you have access to crosswalks between the PS&R Summary Report and the Medicare cost report? Our Medicare Audit and Reimbursement Department created crosswalk tools for hospitals and [...]

Save the Dates! National Government Services 2024 Spring/Summer Virtual Conference

Save the Dates! National Government Services 2024 Spring/Summer Virtual Conference Mastering Medicare: Tuesday Tutorials for Part B Providers Coming to you soon on 6/4/2024, 6/11/2024, 6/18/2024 and 6/25/2024, four full days of virtual [...]

Save the Dates! CMS National Provider Enrollment Conference in San Diego: 8/28/2024-8/29/2024

Save the Dates! CMS National Provider Enrollment Conference in San Diego: 8/28/2024-8/29/2024 Wednesday, 8/28/2024 and Thursday, 8/29/2024 from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. PT Register for the CMS National Provider Enrollment Conference at the San [...]

SNFs: Missing Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number on Minimum Data Set Can Cause Potential Claim Denials

SNFs: Missing Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number on Minimum Data Set Can Cause Potential Claim Denials Our Medical Review department has noted many cases where the HIC number is missing from the MDS that is in the repository. MDS Overview [...]

Get Your PS&R Reports

Table of Contents Get Your PS&R Reports Register to Receive the PS&R Report Instructions on How to Use Redesign Detail Reports [Return to Top] Get Your PS&R Reports The PS&R report is a tool used by Part A providers [...]

Get Your PS&R Reports

The PS&R report is a tool used by Part A providers and MACs to prepare and process Medicare cost reports. Table of Contents Register to Receive the PS&R Report Instructions on How to Use Redesign Detail Reports [Return to Top] [...]

Request a Due Date Extension

It may be necessary to request an extension for your cost report due date because of an extraordinary circumstance. An example of an extraordinary circumstance would be a flood or fire that forces a provider to cease operations and transfer [...]