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?

DDE: How do I get my log on ID password reset?

DDE: Can a provider view additional development requests (ADRs) via the FISS/DDE?

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?

CLAIMS: How do I indicate on a Medicare claim that the services are NOT related to a liability, no fault (including medical payment) or Workers’ Compensation accident, injury or illness MSP record in the CWF?

Modifiers

Modifiers Table of Contents General Modifier Information CPT Modifiers (Used in Medicare Part B) HCPCS Modifiers ABN Modifiers GA, GX, GY and GZ Ambulance Origin and Destination Modifiers [Return to Top] General Modifier [...]

Modifier Usage

Modifier Usage Table of Contents E/M Services Within a Global Surgical Period – Modifiers 24, 25 and 57 24 – Unrelated E/M Service by the Same Physician During a Postoperative Period 25 – Significant, Separately Identifiable E/M [...]

Announcing Service Specific Post-Payment Audits of Individual Psychotherapy Services for J6 A Regions: IL, WI and MN

Edit Reason Code: 5FSEP Bill Type = 13X, 85X CPT/HCPCS/Modifiers:90832- 90834 Overview The Medical Review Department of National Government Services will be performing service specific post-payment reviews for claims submitted to Medicare [...]

Tips for Documenting Homebound Status

Tips for Documenting Homebound Status Comprehensive and accurate documentation is crucial to providing safe and effective care to Medicare beneficiaries. National Government Services' medical review team reviews this documentation while making [...]

Physicians and Nonphysician Practitioners: Revised CMS-855I Medicare Enrollment Application Required November 1 (Combined CMS-855I and CMS-855R)

Physicians and Nonphysician Practitioners: Revised CMS-855I Medicare Enrollment Application Required November 1 (Combined CMS-855I and CMS-855R) If you don’t use PECOS, use the revised CMS-855I (Medicare Enrollment Application - Physicians and [...]

Update: End Stage Renal Disease Claim Adjustments Needed Due to CWF Error in Date of First Dialysis

Update: End Stage Renal Disease Claim Adjustments Needed Due to CWF Error in Date of First Dialysis As of 7/18/2023, CMS has identified that the CWF continues to have some inaccurate dates for the first date of dialysis. We will advise when [...]

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Complete an EDI Registration Form”

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Complete an EDI Registration Form” This selection will prompt you to complete the EDI Registration Form. This option is for providers who wish to submit claim files using a third party such as a billing service [...]

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Complete a Connex Registration Form”

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Complete a Connex Registration Form” This selection will prompt you to complete the Connex Registration Form. This option is for providers who wish to send claims or receive remits through the NGSConnex portal. [...]

Clearinghouse

Clearinghouse When Clearinghouse is selected as your submitter type the following objective will be displayed. Select the objective and then click Next. I am a Clearinghouse and “I want to complete an EDI Registration Form” This objective [...]

Common Questions

Common Questions What is the Entity Name? This is the EXACT provider’s name that was submitted in section 2 of the CMS-855/PECOS enrollment application when applying to participate with Medicare.   What information should be put in [...]

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Connect Directly to the Part A FISS/DDE System”

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Connect Directly to the Part A FISS/DDE System” This selection will prompt you to complete the Logon Request Form. This option is for providers who need to request, modify, reinstate, or add additional access to [...]

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Allow a 3rd Party Billing Service to Bill for Me Using the Part A FISS DDE System”

I Am a Provider and “I Want to Allow a 3rd Party Billing Service to Bill for Me Using the Part A FISS DDE System” This selection will prompt you to complete the Letter of Authorization Form. This option is for providers who wish to allow [...]

I Am a Billing Service and “I Want to Complete an EDI Registration Form”

I Am a Billing Service and “I Want to Complete an EDI Registration Form” This selection will prompt you to complete the EDI Registration Form. This objective is for billing services who need to obtain a new TPID or make a change to an [...]

Hierarchy of Medicare Regulations

Hierarchy of Medicare Regulations Have you wondered how Medicare determines what is covered? Below you will find the hierarchy of how Medicare regulations are created. Social Security Act Title XVIII of the Social Security Act is [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: October 19, 2023

MLN Connects® Newsletter: October 19, 2023     News 2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles Help CMS Improve Provider Resources — Respond by November 9 CMS Health Information Handler Helps You Submit [...]

PC-ACE Software Instructions, Resources and Guides

PC-ACE Software Instructions, Resources and Guides Creating a 276 Claim Status Request in PC-ACE and Importing and Reading the 277 Claim Status Report PC-ACE Software – For Professional Users: Importing and Reading the 999 & 277CA Files [...]

PC-ACE Software Instructions, Resources and Guides

PC-ACE Software Instructions, Resources and Guides Creating a 276 Claim Status Request in PC-ACE and Importing and Reading the 277 Claim Status Report PC-ACE - For Institutional Users: Importing and Reading the 999 and 277CA Files PC-ACE [...]

Browser Compatibility

Browser Compatibility Access NGSConnex using one of the supported browsers below. Microsoft Edge version 88.0 and above Google Chrome version 45.0 and above  Mozilla Firefox version 31.0 and above Apple Safari version 9 and [...]

Mental Health Services

Mental Health Services Medicare Part B provides benefits for psychiatric services, which are medically necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of diagnostic and/or behavioral health treatment. Medicare recognizes the following Part B [...]

Register Today! National Government Services Fall 2023 Medicare Virtual Conference: Understanding Medicare Compliance for Part B Providers

Register Today! National Government Services Fall 2023 Medicare Virtual Conference: Understanding Medicare Compliance for Part B Providers This three full-day virtual conference will offer a variety of Part B sessions geared toward Medicare [...]

Medicare Billing Fact Sheet for Electronic (837P) and Paper (Form CMS-1500) Claims

Credit Balance Report Reminder

Credit Balance Report Reminder CBRs for the quarter ending 9/30/2023 are now due. CBRs must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the quarter to be considered timely. FISS DDE users who submit the 838 detail page directly over the [...]

Medicare Overpayments Are Not Redeterminations

Medicare Overpayments Are Not Redeterminations Our records indicate some providers are incorrectly submitting redetermination request forms for MSP overpayment issues. Please use this notification as educational instruction from National [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: October 26, 2023

MLN Connects® Newsletter: October 26, 2023 News Help CMS Improve Provider Resources — Respond by November 9 CMS Roundup (Oct 20, 2023) Nursing Facility Evaluation and Management Visits: Comparative Billing Report in October Claims, [...]

Part B Top Claim Errors Are Updated

Part B Top Claim Errors Are Updated Our top claim errors are updated on a quarterly basis to reflect current information. Visit Top Claim Errors to learn what you can do to avoid claim processing delays. We’ve listed the error reason code, a [...]

Prior Authorization Outpatient Department Exemption Additional Documentation Requests

Prior Authorization Outpatient Department Exemption Additional Documentation Requests National Government Services Prior Authorization initiated the process of issuing ADRs to exempt providers. Please monitor your facility’s ADR location [...]

Navigating Medicare Home Health & Hospice Insights for Providers Podcast

Navigating Medicare Home Health & Hospice Insights for Providers Podcast Listen to our new podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!   We invite you to join our thoughtful conversations and helpful insights into the Home Health & [...]

Coming Soon ‒ The CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Coming Soon - The CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule The CY 2024 MPFS will soon be available on the Fee Schedule Lookup tool located on NGSMedicare.com, after the CY 2024 physician fee schedule regulation is put on display. Once the Fee [...]

Electronic Cost Report Exhibit Templates

Who May File an Appeal

Who May File an Appeal? Table of Contents Who May File an Appeal? Appointment of Representative When Is an Appointment Not Necessary? Who May Be a Representative How to Make and Revoke an Appointment When Is an Appointment Not [...]

Reopenings for Minor Errors and Omissions

Reopenings for Minor Errors and Omissions Table of Contents Reopenings for Minor Errors and Omissions What is a Clerical Error? Clerical Error and Omission Reopening Request Request a Reopening- NGSConnex Request a Reopening- In Writing [...]

Review Bad Debt Listing

Table of Contents Review Bad Debt Listing Identifying Fee Schedule Services Fee Schedules Included in Bad Debt Policy Related Content [Return to Top] Review Bad Debt Listing Bad debts are unrecovered costs due to uncollectible [...]

Hospice Cap

Hospice Cap Table of Contents The Inpatient Day Limitation Aggregate Cap Calculation Beneficiary Count Proportional Method (applies to most hospices) Streamlined Method  [Return to Top] The Inpatient Day Limitation [...]

Proper Use of Modifiers JW and JZ

Proper Use of Modifiers JW and JZ National Government Services Provider Contact Center has received several inquiries regarding claim denials related to the use of the JW and JZ modifier for drugs/biologicals. As a reminder, effective [...]

Claim Denials for Medically Unnecessary Ambulance Transports: Avoiding Reason Code 55B10

Claim Denials for Medically Unnecessary Ambulance Transports Table of Contents Claim Denials for Medically Unnecessary Ambulance Transports Medical Necessity and Coverage Guidelines for Ambulance Transport Avoiding Reason Code 55B10 [...]

November 2023

In This Issue National Government Services Articles for Part A and Part B Providers Collaborative A/B/DME Therapeutic Shoes for Persons with Diabetes Webinar Decrease Burden and Combine Multiple PDFs in one Document Before Responding to [...]

Submitting a Prior Authorization Request

Submitting a Prior Authorization Request Table of Contents Submitting a Prior Authorization Request Documentation Requirements Documentation Checklist for Medical Professionals Supporting the Physician Certification Statement [Return [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: Take Our Provider Survey Today - November 1, 2023

MLN Connects® Newsletter: Take Our Provider Survey Today - November 1, 2023 News Take Our Provider Survey Today Posted 11/1/2023

MLN Connects® Newsletter: November 2, 2023

MLN Connects® Newsletter: November 2, 2023 News CY 2024 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule CY 2024 End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Final Rule Behavioral Health: Medicare Pays for 3 Services [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: PFS, OPPS/ASC, & OPPS 340B-Acquired Drug Final Rules - November 2, 2023

MLN Connects® Newsletter: PFS, OPPS/ASC, & OPPS 340B-Acquired Drug Final Rules - November 2, 2023 Final Rules CMS Finalizes Physician Payment Rule that Advances Health Equity CMS Makes Hospital Prices More Transparent and Expands [...]

Who May File an Appeal

Who May File an Appeal Table of Contents Who May File an Appeal Appointment of Representative When Is an Appointment Not Necessary? Who May Be a Representative How to Make and Revoke an Appointment Required Elements When to Submit the [...]

Submit an Appeal Electronically with NGSConnex

Submit an Appeal Electronically with NGSConnex Table of Contents Submit an Appeal Electronically with NGSConnex Step 1: Access NGSConnex Step 2: Submit an Electronic Appeal and Attach Documentation Step 3: Attach Documentation [...]

Get Help Submitting an Appeal Hard Copy

Get Help Submitting an Appeal Hard Copy Table of Contents Get Help Submitting an Appeal Hard Copy Step 1: Complete the Appeals Request Form Helpful Tips: [Return to Top] Get Help Submitting an Appeal Hard Copy All levels of appeals [...]

Reopenings for Minor Errors and Omissions

Reopenings for Minor Errors and Omissions Table of Contents Reopenings for Minor Errors and Omissions Reopening Facts What is a Clerical Error? Clerical Error and Omission Reopening Request Request a Reopening - NGSConnex Request a Reopening - [...]

Overpayment: How Should I Respond?

Table of Contents Overpayment: How Should I Respond? What Action Should I Take? Complete a Voluntary Refund Where Should I Send my Forms and Payments? [Return to Top] Overpayment: How Should I Respond? An overpayment may be [...]

What Documents are Needed

What Documents are Needed Table of Contents What Documents are Needed Supporting Medical Records Ambulance Ambulatory Surgery, Operating Room, Lithotripsy and Preadmission Testing Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic and Therapeutic [...]

Medicare Provider & Supplier Search

Medicare Provider & Supplier Search Search the CMS Website Find a doctor Find a supplier Search the National Government Services Website Medicare Participating Physicians Directory

Social Security Administration Resources

Social Security Administration Resources Common Issues Handled by the Social Security Administration The following Medicare-related issues are the responsibility of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and should be handled by your local [...]

Social Security Administration

Social Security Administration All Medicare/Social Security-related questions are handled by the closest Social Security office in each Congressional district for each state. The following describe reasons to contact the SSA regarding [...]

Tobacco Cessation Counseling Doesn’t Have To Be Lengthy or Intimidating

Tobacco Cessation Counseling Doesn’t Have To Be Lengthy or Intimidating Did you know that tobacco cessation counseling is a covered Medicare service? Brief tobacco counseling provides substantial health benefits while producing cost savings. [...]

Common Definitions for Claim Submission Types

Common Definitions for Claim Submission Types Appeals An appeal is an independent review of the initial or revised determination. Proceeding with an appeal is the responsibility of the provider. Overall there are five levels of appeal the [...]

The Great American Smokeout is Coming!

The Great American Smokeout is Coming! As a health care professional who provides care to patients with Medicare, you can help protect the health of your patients by encouraging them to take advantage of Medicare-covered preventive services, [...]

State Health Insurance Assistance Program

State Health Insurance Assistance Program The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is a national program available in all states that offers free and unbiased one-on-one counseling and assistance to People with Medicare and [...]

Beneficiary Contact Center

Beneficiary Contact Center People with Medicare have a single Medicare point-of-contact at:  1-800-MEDICARE 1-800-633-4227 TTY/TDD: 1-877-486-2048  1-800-MEDICARE connects you to a seamless network of customer service entities that [...]