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Posting Date: 12/07/2020
Annual Participation Enrollment Period Extended to January 31, 2021
Annual Participation Enrollment Period Extended to January 31, 2021 NOTE: CMS is extending the 2021 Annual Participation Enrollment Program. The participation enrollment period will now end 1/31/2021, instead of 12/31/2020. Posted 12/7/2020
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Posting Date: 06/18/2020
Retirement of Noncovered Services and Category III CPT Codes LCDs and Articles
Retirement of Noncovered Services and Category III CPT Codes LCDs and Articles Effective 7/1/2020, National Government Services is retiring the Noncovered Services LCD (L33629) and Billing and Coding Article (A57812), and the Category III CPT® [...]
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Posting Date: 08/06/2020
Alert: Postcard Disguised as Official OCR Communication 8/6/2020
Alert: Postcard Disguised as Official OCR Communication 8/6/2020 National Government Services would like to make providers aware of an official notification sent out by the OCR regarding a mailing that was sent out attempting to make providers [...]
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Posting Date: 04/07/2020
Adopting Appropriate Claim Denials Management System: Modifiers 76/77
Adopting Appropriate Claim Denials Management System: Modifiers 76/77 We have identified providers who are submitting several appeals for modifiers 76 and/or 77 and this has caused additional work for your organization as well as National [...]
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Posting Date: 02/07/2020
Adjustment on Payments for Outpatient Clinic Visit Services at Excepted Off-Campus Provider-Based Departments
Adjustment on Payments for Outpatient Clinic Visit Services at Excepted Off-Campus Provider-Based Departments The American Hospital Association challenged CMS’ use of its authority under Subsection (t)(2)(F) of the Medicare statute to pay for [...]
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Posting Date: 09/29/2020
Issues with Medicare Beneficiary Submitted Claims ‒ We Need Your Help
Issues with Medicare Beneficiary Submitted Claims ‒ We Need Your Help National Government Services has seen an increase of Medicare beneficiary submitted claims that often times result in a negative outcome. While most Medicare fee-for-service [...]
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Posting Date: 06/16/2020
Changes in Guidance for E/M Telephone Services (99441-99443)
Changes in Guidance for E/M Telephone Services (99441-99443) We are informing providers of a recent revision in interpretation and guidance for use of CPT codes 99441-99443 for telephone E/M services. Since these telephone services have been [...]
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Posting Date: 02/10/2020
Change in Hospice Cap Review Timeline and Letter Changes
Change in Hospice Cap Review Timeline and Letter Changes National Government Services wants all hospice providers to be aware that we are changing the timing of the final hospice cap reviews. The final hospice cap review will [...]
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Posting Date: 04/06/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 4/10/2020 and 4/24/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 4/10/2020 and 4/24/2020 The Provider Contact Center will not be closing for training on 4/10/2020 and 4/24/2020 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. ET. Instead, we will keep our lines open to ensure you can continue [...]
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Posting Date: 03/23/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 3/27/2020
Call Center Will Not Close for Training on 3/27/2020 The Provider Contact Center will not be closing for training on 3/27/2020 from 12:00-4:00 p.m. ET. Instead, we will keep our lines open to ensure you can continue to reach [...]
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Posting Date: 06/05/2020
COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition Code
COVID-19: Using the CR Modifier and DR Condition Code CMS revised MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20011 on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Response to the Public Health Emergency on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to clarify when you must use [...]
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Posting Date: 08/28/2020
CMS-855R Version (1/20) Reassignment of Medicare Benefits
CMS-855R Version (1/20) Reassignment of Medicare Benefits As a reminder, effective 5/1/2020, the CMS-855R Version (1/20) is the only version of the CMS-855R that can be submitted to allow a provider to reassign benefits to an [...]
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Posting Date: 06/22/2020
CERT A/B MAC Task Force
CERT A/B MAC Task Force The CERT A/B MAC Task Force goal is to educate providers on national issues of concern regarding improper payment errors and to reduce the national payment error rate by creating material to help prevent CERT [...]
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Posting Date: 09/02/2020
Benefits of Using Electronic Data Interchange Transactions
Benefits of Using Electronic Data Interchange Transactions There are a number of advantages to enrolling and submitting claims online. Claims and other transactions submitted electronically process considerably faster than paper submission. [...]
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Posting Date: 08/31/2020
Award of MAC Contract for Jurisdiction 6
Award of MAC Contract for Jurisdiction 6 The CMS selected National Government Services to retain the J6 MAC Contract. As a result, there will be no changes to your service or the support we provide you. NGS looks forward to continuing to serve [...]
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Posting Date: 05/18/2020
Hospitals: Physician Time Studies During the COVID-19 PHE
Hospitals: Physician Time Studies During the COVID-19 PHE Hospitals that incur physician compensation costs must allocate those costs based on the percentage of total time spent furnishing: Part A services Part B services [...]
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Posting Date: 03/11/2020
Hospice Claims Adjustments
Hospice Claims Adjustments National Government Services has received reports of two issues that are currently affecting payments of some hospice claims that have been adjusted. Hospice End of Life SIA Payment Hospice claims are being [...]
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Posting Date: 05/11/2020
Home Health Plans of Care: NPs, CNSs and PAs Allowed to Certify
Home Health Plans of Care: Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Physician Assistants Allowed to Certify Section 3708 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Pub. L. No. 116-136) amended sections [...]
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Posting Date: 03/12/2020
Hospice Agencies and COVID-19
Hospice Agencies and COVID-19 CMS has issued a memorandum responding to questions related to hospice agencies, the COVID-19 (Corona Virus) outbreak, and minimizing transmission to other individuals. It is suggested that [...]
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Posting Date: 07/24/2020
HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar III Renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration on 7/23/2020
HHS Secretary Alex M. Azar III Renewed the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration on 7/23/2020 As a result of the continued consequences of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, on this date and after consultation with public [...]
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Posting Date: 11/30/2020
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement The CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement is to be submitted for billing providers upon initial enrollment, change in bank information and during [...]
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Posting Date: 08/27/2020
Flu and Pneumonia Shots: Extra Push This Fall and Spring
Flu and Pneumonia Shots: Extra Push This Fall and Spring National Government Services supports the CMS and NIAM recent announcements to make strong recommendations for Medicare patients to get their flu/pneumonia shots and refer Medicare [...]
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Posting Date: 08/26/2020
Flu Season 2020-2021 Has Arrived
Flu Season 2020-2021 Has Arrived The 2020-2021 flu season began on 8/1/2020. The Medicare flu billing codes and fees along with the brand name and manufacturer are located on the CMS Seasonal Influenza Vaccines Pricing web page. Please note: [...]
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Posting Date: 11/30/2020
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement
Don’t Forget the CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement The CMS-588 Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement is to be submitted for billing providers upon initial enrollment, change in bank information and during [...]
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Posting Date: 08/03/2020
Extension for Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey Submission
Extension for Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Wage Index Occupational Mix Survey Submission CMS collects data every three years on the occupational mix of employees for each short-term, acute care hospital participating in the [...]
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Posting Date: 06/30/2020
Exceptions to the RHC Productivity Standards for RHCs as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Exceptions to the RHC Productivity Standards for RHCs as a Result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Productivity standards are used to help determine the average cost per patient for Medicare reimbursement in RHCs. Physicians, nurse [...]
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Posting Date: 11/17/2020
Direct Mailing Notification to Hospice Providers Regarding the Hospice Benefit Component, Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model, for Participating Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs)
Direct Mailing Notification to Hospice Providers Regarding the Hospice Benefit Component, Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model, for Participating Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) This Change Request (CR) details the requirements of [...]
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Posting Date: 08/17/2020
Cyber Alert: Malicious Cyber Actor Spoofing COVID-19 Loan Relief Webpage via Phishing Emails
Cyber Alert: Malicious Cyber Actor Spoofing COVID-19 Loan Relief Webpage via Phishing Emails National Government Services wants to share the following alert from the HHS Office of Civil Rights Office that was issued Friday, 8/14/2020. Please [...]
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Posting Date: 06/30/2020
Cost Report Submission Due Dates
Cost Report Submission Due Dates Due to updated instructions received from the CMS relative to the COVID-19 public health emergency and in accordance with 42CFR§413.24(f)(2)(ii), the due date for submission of Medicare cost reports has again [...]
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Posting Date: 06/19/2020
July 2020 Release "Dark Days" for the Common Working File Hosts
July 2020 Release "Dark Days" for the Common Working File Hosts For the upcoming July 2020 Release: For Production, CWF will be observing dark days starting Friday, 7/3/2020 through Sunday, 7/5/2020 to accommodate the anticipated duration [...]
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Posting Date: 12/07/2020
January 2021 Release "Dark Days" for the Common Working File Hosts
January 2021 Release "Dark Days" for the Common Working File Hosts For the upcoming January 2021 Release: For Production, Common Working File (CWF) will be observing the Gray Day on Wednesday, 12/30/2020, and Dark Days starting Thursday, [...]
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Posting Date: 12/08/2020
January 2021 EDI Front End Quarterly Release: New and Modified Edits
January 2021 EDI Front End Quarterly Release: New and Modified Edits Part A Edit Changes: Edit Reference Number Change Reason for change Trading Partner Impact/Results X223. 433.2400.DTP03.040 Revised 277C [...]
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Posting Date: 01/02/2020
January 2020 Fiscal Intermediary Standard System Direct Data Entry Screen Changes
January 2020 Fiscal Intermediary Standard System Direct Data Entry Screen Changes Therapy Attachment (44) has been removed from the Claims Correction Menu (MAP1704). (Correction) Entry added for new Bone Density HCPCS codes 0554T-0558T [...]
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Posting Date: 08/26/2020
National Government Services Part B Medical Review Newsletter September 2020
National Government Services Part B Medical Review Newsletter September 2020 National Government Services MR Department would like to welcome you to our newest service; a regular newsletter. It is our hope that you will find this newsletter [...]
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Posting Date: 12/11/2020
National Government Services Part B Medical Review Newsletter December 2020
National Government Services Part B Medical Review Newsletter December 2020 The National Government Services Medical Review department would like to welcome you to our newest service; a regular newsletter. It is our hope that you will find [...]
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Posting Date: 12/10/2020
Reminder: NGS Appeals Requesting Reimbursement Change for HCPCS Code G0463
Reminder: National Government Services Appeals Requesting Reimbursement Change for HCPCS Code G0463 Appeals activities conducted by National Government Services are governed by CMS. Providers and beneficiaries have the right to appeal claim [...]
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Posting Date: 06/12/2020
July 2020 Fiscal Intermediary Standard System Direct Data Entry Screen Change
July 2020 Fiscal Intermediary Standard System Direct Data Entry Screen Change The purpose of the New MAP171G is to display the OASIS information and make it viewable for home health providers. To access the New MAP171G from the FISS Inquiries [...]
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Posting Date: 11/06/2020
Invalid National Drug Code for the 2020-2021 Flu Season
Invalid National Drug Code for the 2020-2021 Flu Season National Government Services has noticed a large amount of claims being billed for the 2020-2021 flu season with the incorrect CPT codes for influenza flu vaccines. The NDCs change each [...]
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Posting Date: 11/09/2020
Internet Only Manual Update, Pub. 100-04, Chapter 11 - This CR Rescinds and Fully Replaces CR 11807
Internet Only Manual Update, Pub. 100-04, Chapter 11 - This CR Rescinds and Fully Replaces CR 11807 This Change Request (CR) makes updates to the manual language regarding submitting Notice of Termination/Revocation, Processing Professional [...]
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Posting Date: 03/04/2020
Incorrect Medicare Identification Numbers Submitted on Provider Enrollment Forms
Incorrect Medicare Identification Numbers Submitted on Provider Enrollment Forms Providers/suppliers enrolled in multiple business types (Part A, Part B and/or DME) should be cautious of what identifying numbers are submitted on Medicare [...]
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