Eligible Institutional Providers

Eligible Institutional Providers Certified Providers and Certified Suppliers that Enroll via the Form CMS-855A. Unique statutory and regulatory requirements for these types of providers/suppliers are addressed in the CMS IOM Publication [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: August 15, 2024

MLN Connects® Newsletter: August 15, 2024 News Negotiating for Lower Drug Prices Works, Saves Billions Resources & Flexibilities to Assist with the Public Health Emergency in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina Hospitals: New EMTALA [...]

Additional Development Requests for Part A Claims for CPT J9299

Additional Development Requests for Part A Claims for CPT J9299 A system error on 7/25/2024 caused ADR letters to be issued in error on Part A claims for CPT J9299 with DOS on or after 3/1/2024. The issue has been resolved and all impacted [...]

End-Stage Renal Disease: Medicare Part A Quick Reference Manual

End-Stage Renal Disease: Medicare Part A Quick Reference Manual Table of Contents ESRD Provider PTAN Number Range: Third through sixth digit FL 04 Type of Bill FL 6 Statement Covers Period FL 18-28 Condition Codes FL 18-28 Condition [...]

Claim Submission Guidelines

Claim Submission Guidelines CMS developed and transmitted HCPCS and PFS payment and coding files to include revisions to add other CDT codes and indicated parameters for payment to implement the finalized Medicare Parts A and B payment for [...]

Disproportionate Share Hospital

The Medicare DSH adjustment provision under Section 1886(d) (5) (F) of the Act was enacted by section 9105 of the COBRA of 1985 and became effective for discharges occurring on or after 5/1/1986. According to section 1886(d) (5) (F) of the Act, [...]

Electronically Submitted Claims that Exceed $99,999.99 Reminder

Electronically Submitted Claims that Exceed $99,999.99 Reminder Electronically submitted claims containing a dollar amount in excess of 99,999.99 will be rejected as a front-end EDI edit. The Standard Companion Guide for Health Care Claim: [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: August 22, 2024

MLN Connects® Newsletter: August 22, 2024 News Commemorating the 2nd Anniversary of the Lower Cost Prescription Drug Law MolDx Local Coverage Determination Statement Hospital Price Transparency: Get Resources to Help You Comply New [...]

Facet Joint Interventions

Facet Joint Interventions National Government Services will begin accepting PARs for Facet Joint Intervention codes on 6/15/2023 for services provided beginning on or after 7/1/2023.   To meet coverage criteria, the patient’s medical [...]

Part B

Part B  Home Education Help and FAQs Manuals Medicare Monthly Review Medicare Topics Medicare University News POE Advisory Group Specialties Resources Claims and Appeals Contact Us EDI Enrollment EDI Solutions Forms [...]

FQHC

FQHC and RHC  Home Education Help and FAQs Manuals Medicare Monthly Review Medicare Topics Medicare University News POE Advisory Group Specialties Resources Claims and Appeals Contact Us Cost Reports EDI Enrollment EDI [...]

Part A

Part A  Home Education Help and FAQs Manuals Medicare Monthly Review Medicare Topics Medicare University News POE Advisory Group Specialties Resources Claims and Appeals Contact Us Cost Reports EDI Enrollment EDI [...]

Home Health and Hospice

Home Health and Hospice  Home Education Help and FAQs Manuals Medicare Monthly Review Medicare Topics Medicare University News POE Advisory Group Specialties Resources Claims and Appeals Contact Us Cost Reports EDI [...]

Direct Graduate Medical Education/Indirect Medical Education

Direct Graduate Medical Education Table of Contents Direct Graduate Medical Education Indirect Medical Education [Return to Top] Direct Graduate Medical Education Section 1886(h) of the Act as added by section 9202 of the COBRA of [...]

Original Medicare Coverage Costs

Original Medicare Coverage Costs Important Links Medicare News Fact Sheet Your Medicare Costs Your Medicare Benefits Your Medicare Coverage Your Medicare Coverage for Home Health Services Your Medicare Coverage for Hospice Care [...]

Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up

Clinical Trial Services and Modifiers Q0 and Q1

Clinical Trial Services and Modifiers Q0 and Q1 Table of Contents Clinical Trial Services and Modifiers Q0 and Q1 Q0 and Q1 Modifiers Use in Approved Clinical Trials Modifier Q0 Modifier Q1 Clinical Service Billing May Include [...]

"What If" and Scenario Questions

"What If" and Scenario Questions Physician offices often contact us with different scenarios and "what if?" questions regarding coding and documentation for a particular service(s). Providers ask the contractors for a definitive response on [...]

Medically Unlikely Edits Billing and Processing

Medically Unlikely Edits Billing and Processing Table of Contents Medically Unlikely Edits Billing and Processing Notes on MUE Processing Instructions MUE Program Inquires Related Content [Return to Top] Medically Unlikely Edits [...]

Avoid Processing Delays by Following Proper Submission Guidelines

Avoid Processing Delays by Following Proper Submission Guidelines Table of Contents Avoid Processing Delays by Following Proper Submission Guidelines Claims Appeals Responding to an ADR Consider Submission via NGSConnex or Electronic [...]

Acceptable Electronic Signatures Reminder

Acceptable Electronic Signatures Reminder Table of Contents Acceptable Electronic Signatures Reminder Examples of Acceptable Electronic Signature Examples [Return to Top] Acceptable Electronic Signatures Reminder CMS issued [...]

Primary Care Exception Guidelines

Primary Care Exception Guidelines Services performed by attending physicians at teaching hospitals, in collaboration with house staff in an approved GME program, generally require evidence of direct care by the attending physician in order to [...]

Cloned Documentation Could Result in Medicare Denials for Payment

Cloned Documentation Could Result in Medicare Denials for Payment Medicare providers today are faced with the challenges of providing quality healthcare while meeting ever increasing regulatory and compliance regulations. Many providers are [...]

Documentation Required for Home Visits

Documentation Required for Home Visits  CPT Codes 99341‒99350 As of 1/1/2019, CMS no longer requires providers to differentiate medical necessity for a home visit versus an office or outpatient visit. Providers no longer need to document [...]

Referring, Monitoring and Certifying Home Health Services

Referring, Monitoring and Certifying Home Health Services Table of Contents Referring, Monitoring and Certifying Home Health Services Homebound Status Need for Skilled Services Under the Care of a Physician or Allowed Practitioner Plan [...]

Scribing Medical Record Documentation

Scribing Medical Record Documentation National Government Services recognizes an increasing trend in providers’ use of scribes as assistants in medical record documentation. In these situations, a provider utilizes the services of staff to [...]

Submit Medical Record Documentation Electronically

Submit Medical Record Documentation Electronically Table of Contents Submit Medical Record Documentation Electronically What do you need to get started? What are the Attachment Transactions? Who can use the Attachment Transactions? [...]

Using the Medicare Part B PWK Fax-Mail-esMD Cover Sheet

Using the Medicare Part B PWK Fax-Mail-esMD Cover Sheet JK and J6 providers have the option of electronically submitting, mailing, or faxing documentation for electronically-submitted claims that require additional documentation for purposes [...]

Anesthesia for Pain Management Procedures

Anesthesia for Pain Management Procedures The use of moderate or deep sedation, general anesthesia, and MAC is rarely indicated for pain management procedures and is not considered reasonable and necessary. The ASA provides guidelines for [...]

Remittance Advice

Remittance Advice Table of Contents General Information Electronic Remittance Advice Remittance Message Codes Standard Paper Remittance General Information Once Medicare has processed a claim, the provider will receive a notice [...]

Requesting an Exception to Timely Filing

Requesting an Exception to Timely Filing Table of Contents Requesting an Exception to Timely Filing No Appeal Rights for Claims Denied Based on Timely Filing Limit Provider Liability Exceptions that May Allow the Time Limit to be [...]

Outpatient Services for Registered Inpatients

Outpatient Services for Registered Inpatients There are occasional circumstances in which a registered inpatient may require a service that is not available at the inpatient facility. These inpatient facilities include acute-care hospitals [...]

Allergen Immunotherapy Preparation (95144-95165)

Allergen Immunotherapy Preparation (95144‑95165) National Government Services will allow the preparation and provision of antigen for allergen immunotherapy, codes 95144 through 95165 when performed incident to by auxiliary personnel. However, [...]

CPT Code 15830: Excision, Excess Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue; Abdomen, Infraumbilical Panniculectomy

CPT Code 15830: Excision, Excess Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue; Abdomen, Infraumbilical Panniculectomy CMS created the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Look-up Tool for MACs to follow when processing claims. CMS listed CPT code 15830 as a [...]

Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangement and Reciprocal Billing Job Aid

Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangement and Reciprocal Billing Job Aid Table of Contents Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangement and Reciprocal Billing Job Aid Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements Reciprocal Billing Arrangements Related [...]

Answers to Common Fee-for-Time Compensation Arrangements Questions

Answers to Common Fee-for-Time Compensation Arrangements Questions Does a fee-for-time compensation arrangement physician need to enroll with Medicare prior to acting as a physician? Answer: Currently, a fee-for-time compensation [...]

Nonphysician Practitioners Billing for Surgical Procedures

Nonphysician Practitioners Billing for Surgical Procedures Several providers have asked about the Medicare guidance for NPPs include billing for surgical procedures. For the purpose of this education, NPPs include NPs, PA, and CNSs. State law [...]

Professional Services During a Patient Hospice Election

Professional Services During a Patient Hospice Election Table of Contents Article Overview Hospice Election Medicare Payment During Hospice Election Determining the Correct Entity to Bill Separately Payable Part B Services Hospice and [...]

Proper Billing for Finger and Toe Procedures

Proper Billing for Finger and Toe Procedures When billing for procedures that are performed on the fingers and/or toes, it’s essential to append the appropriate anatomical modifier for the service rendered. This allows the patient history to [...]

Proper Submission of Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements and Reciprocal Billing Arrangements

Proper Submission of Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements and Reciprocal Billing Arrangements Table of Contents Proper Submission of Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements and Reciprocal Billing Arrangements Fee-For-Time Compensation [...]

Proper Use of Taxonomy Codes

Proper Use of Taxonomy Codes A taxonomy code is a unique ten-character code that designates your classification and specialization and enables providers to identify their specialty at the claim level. CMS developed a crosswalk of [...]

Common Reciprocal Billing Questions and Answers

Common Reciprocal Billing Questions and Answers If a practice, the same specialty as ours, wants us to take calls for them for two weeks, can we bill under their number as a reciprocal billing arrangement? Answer: No. In a reciprocal [...]

Reminder for Avoiding Claim Denials for Positron Emission Tomography Scans

Reminder for Avoiding Claim Denials for Positron Emission Tomography Scans Background It has been noted that a high volume of PET scan claims falling between the CPT code range 78811–78816 are being denied upon original claim submission due [...]

Unlisted and Not Otherwise Classified Procedure Codes

Unlisted and Not Otherwise Classified Procedure Codes Table of Contents Unlisted and Not Otherwise Classified Procedure Codes Proper Billing for NOC Procedures Electronic Claims Paper Claims The following tips will help you bill [...]

Fiscal Year/Calendar Year Claim Split

Fiscal Year/Calendar Year Claim Split Part A/B Type of Bill Fiscal Year Split Calendar Year Splint Part A – 11X, 21X prospective payment system (PPS*) No No Part A – 11X, 18X, 21X, non-PPS Yes [...]

The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Benefit and Home Health Agencies

The Medicare Home Infusion Therapy Benefit and Home Health Agencies If you are a HHA that wants to provide and bill Medicare HIT professional services starting in CY 2021, you are required to enroll with the Part B Medicare Administrative [...]

Medicare Coverage for Living Organ Transplant Donors

Medicare Coverage for Living Organ Transplant Donors Table of Contents Coverage Hospital Guidelines Physician Guidelines Billing Guidelines Transplant Centers Physicians and Surgeons Related Content [Return to Top] Coverage [...]

Kidney Transplant Services

Kidney Transplant Services Table of Contents Kidney Transplant Services Physician Services Pretransplant Services Immunosuppressive Drugs Cadaver Donor Updated CMS-1500 Claim Form Guidelines [Return to Top] Kidney Transplant [...]

September 2024

In This Issue National Government Services Articles for Part A and Part B Providers Introducing the All-New Medicare University! Removal of Facet HCPCS Codes  National Government Services Articles for Part A Providers [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: August 29, 2024

MLN Connects® Newsletter: August 29, 2024 News CMS Roundup (August 23, 2024) Physicians, Teaching Hospitals, & Non-Physician Practitioners: Review Your Open Payment Data by December 31 Claims, Pricers, & Codes Home Health [...]

Eligible Part B Physicians and Nonphysicians to Enroll as Ordering and Referring Only

Eligible Part B Physicians and Nonphysicians to Enroll as Ordering and Referring Only Physician and nonphysician practitioners who can enroll in Medicare solely to order or refer: Doctors of medicine or osteopathy Doctors of dental surgery [...]

Eligible Method II Providers

Eligible Method II Providers If a CAH wants to become a Method II biller, email the request to A&R at ngsreimbursement@anthem.com. Suppliers who can enroll in as a Method II Biller Reassignment. Doctor of Medicine (MD) Doctor of [...]

CMS-20134 Completion Tips for Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Suppliers

CMS-20134 Completion Tips for Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program Suppliers Review the standards on page 2 and follow the instructions printed on the CMS-20134 application Section General Guidelines Section 1: Basic [...]

Physicians and Nonphysician Practitioners in Private Practice (Sole Owner or Sole Proprietor) With or Without any Reassigned Benefits

Physicians and Nonphysician Practitioners in Private Practice (Sole Owner or Sole Proprietor) With or Without any Reassigned Benefits Revalidation instructions for sole proprietor using SSN or EIN: Download CMS-855I. Complete Sections 1, [...]

Approved Pending Regional Office Review

Approved Pending Regional Office Review For ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and portable x-ray suppliers (PXRS): When credentialing, you will receive an approved pending regional office review status in PECOS.   National Government [...]

Medicare Coverage for Zika Virus Testing

Medicare Coverage for Zika Virus Testing In February, 2016 the Zika virus was declared a PHE by the WHO. In the United States, the CDC considers the Zika virus disease to be a nationally notifiable condition. The Zika virus is primarily [...]

Molecular Pathology: Claims Review and Supporting Information to Submit on the Claim

Molecular Pathology: Claims Review and Supporting Information to Submit on the Claim Table of Contents Molecular Pathology: Claims Review and Supporting Information to Submit on the Claim Prepayment and/or Post Payment Review Tier 2 Codes [...]

Surgical Pathology Billing Tips

Surgical Pathology Billing Tips CPT Codes: 88300-88399 Surgical pathology is the study of tissues removed from living patients during surgery to help diagnose a disease and determine a treatment plan. Surgical pathology involves gross and [...]

Pathology Interpretation Services

Pathology Interpretation Services National Government Services has noted that there is some confusion and questions regarding the billing of professional components on some laboratory services. There is a certain subset of CPT codes for which [...]