Medicare Part B 2024 Spring/Summer Virtual Conference: Mastering Medicare-Tuesday Tutorials for Part B Providers-Register Today for June 25th Sessions!

Medicare Part B 2024 Spring/Summer Virtual Conference: Mastering Medicare-Tuesday Tutorials for Part B Providers-Register Today for June 25th Sessions! We’re wrapping up our Medicare Part B 2024 Spring/Summer Virtual Conference with education [...]

Opt-Out Physician or Practitioner Providing Emergency or Urgent Care

Opt-Out Physician or Practitioner Providing Emergency or Urgent Care In an emergency or urgent situation, a physician or practitioner who opts out may treat a Medicare beneficiary with whom they do not have a private contract. In this [...]

Opt Out and Private Contracting

Opt Out and Private Contracting Opt out does not require a physician or practitioner to initially enroll with Medicare or complete a CMS-855I application. Opting out of Medicare allows a physician or practitioner to render services to [...]

Renewal to the Medicare Opt-Out Law for Physicians and Practitioners

Renewal to the Medicare Opt-Out Law for Physicians and Practitioners Prior to enactment of the MARCA of 2015, physician or practitioner opt-out affidavits were only effective for two years. As a result of changes made by MACRA, valid opt-out [...]

Providers Not Eligible to Opt Out and Enter Into Private Contracts

Providers Not Eligible to Opt Out and Enter Into Private Contracts Providers Who May Not Opt Out of the Medicare Program Chiropractors Opt-out law does not define ‘physician’ to include chiropractors; therefore, they may not opt out of [...]

Instructions to File

Instructions to File The requirements to opting out of Medicare are included on the forms. First, at least one private contracting agreement form must be signed between the physician or practitioner and a beneficiary. Second, the physician [...]

Requirements of Medicare Private Contracting Agreement

Requirements of Medicare Private Contracting Agreement Amendment 4507 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 permits a physician or practitioner to “opt out” of Medicare and enter into private contracts with Medicare beneficiaries. Under the [...]

Navigating Medicare: Part A Insights for Providers Podcast

Navigating Medicare: Home Health & Hospice Insights for Providers Podcast

National Government Services is on LinkedIn

Credit Balance Reminder: Submissions For Quarter Ending 6/30/2024 Start Soon!

Credit Balance Reminder: Submissions For Quarter Ending 6/30/2024 Start Soon! CBR submissions can be submitted starting on 7/1/2024 and are due within 30 days to be considered timely. Remember, even if no monies are owed to Medicare for this [...]

Requirements of Medicare Opt-Out Affidavit Agreement

Requirements of Medicare Opt-Out Affidavit Agreement Amendment 4507 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 permits a physician or practitioner to “opt out” of Medicare and enter into private contracts with Medicare beneficiaries if specific [...]

Requests for Additional information

Requests for Additional information While processing the affidavit, National Government Services may determine additional information is needed. All requested information should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days from [...]

Approval or Denial

Approval or Denial Once your affidavit is approved, you will receive an approval letter of opt-out status along with the opt-out effective date. Review this letter to ensure that everything is accurate and if you have any questions, please [...]

Organizations That Furnish Physician or Practitioner Services

Organizations That Furnish Physician or Practitioner Services Opt-out regulations apply to all items or services the physician or practitioner furnishes to Medicare beneficiaries, regardless of the location where such services are furnished. [...]

Standard Companion Guides

Standard Companion Guides Standard Companion Guide Trading Partner Information (275) Standard Companion Guide Trading Partner Information (277) Standard Companion Guide Trading Partner Information (278/275) Standard Companion Guide Health [...]

Early Termination for First Time Opt-Out Providers

Early Termination for First Time Opt-Out Providers Opt-out affidavits are effective for two years and cannot be terminated early unless during the first time opt-out period and within 90 days of the effective date of the affidavit. A request [...]

Best Practices for a Successful Targeted Probe and Educate Review

Best Practices for a Successful Targeted Probe and Educate Review Table of Contents Getting Started With TPE Notification Letter During the Review Process Post-Probe/Review Results Letter Prepare for Post-Probe Education [Return to [...]

Botulinum Toxin Best Practices

Botulinum Toxin Best Practices Botulinum toxins are potent neuromuscular blocking agents that are useful in treating various focal muscle spastic disorders and excessive muscle contractions, such as dystonias, spasms and twitches. They produce [...]

Medical Necessity of Vitamin D Assay Testing: Top Denials and How to Prevent Them

Medical Necessity of Vitamin D Assay Testing: Top Denials and How to Prevent Them Learn how to prevent common denials for Vitamin D Assay Testing (CPT Code 82306): 1. Testing may not be used for routine or other screening. There must be [...]

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics Prevent technical denials by ensuring your medical records are legible and include a valid, legible provider signature. If you notice the provider signature is illegible when asked to [...]

Targeted Probe and Educate Educational Videos

Targeted Probe and Educate Educational Videos Video Description MAC Medical Review Best Practices: Updating Your Contact Information Did you know providers can now designate a separate [...]

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics

Medical Review: Targeted Probe and Educate Review Topics Prevent technical denials by ensuring your medical records are legible and include a valid, legible provider signature. If you notice the provider signature is illegible when asked to [...]

2024 DMEPOS HCPCS Jurisdiction Listing

Medicare Part B Coverage and Billing Guidance for Breast Ultrasound

Medicare Part B Coverage and Billing Guidance for Breast Ultrasound Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the breast and can show changes that are more difficult to see on a mammogram. Breast ultrasound is not [...]

Additional Development Request Letters Guide

Daily Treatment Notes Requirement for Inpatient SNF Services

Therapy Treatment Note Requirement for Inpatient SNF Services The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Internet-Only Manual (IOM) Publication 100-2, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15 is the primary source for therapy [...]

NGS Medical Review Process

NGS Medical Review Process Medicare contractors, like National Government Services, operate the medical review program to prevent improper payments and protect the Medicare Trust Fund. Medical reviews involve the collection and clinical review [...]

MLN Connects® Newsletter: July 11, 2024

MLN Connects® Newsletter: July 11, 2024 Proposed Rules Physician Fee Schedule CY 2025 Proposed Rule Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System & Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System CY 2025 Proposed Rule Mitigating the Impact [...]

Dental Services

Dental Services If you're a new or seasoned provider billing dental services to Fee-for-Service Medicare or Original Medicare, this article guides you through recently clarified payment provisions for dental services in 2023, the provider [...]

Jurisdiction 6 State Licensing and Certification Websites

State Licensing and Certification Websites The following list contains helpful links to websites of some organizations within the J6 jurisdictions that can be used to verify your status. Table of Contents Illinois Minnesota Wisconsin [...]

Complete All Topics

Complete All Topics Instructions for completing all PECOS topics: Select the ‘Topic View’ tab and add information in every topic Note: The electronic funds transfer (EFT) topic must be completed by: groups suppliers sole owner group [...]

Upload Supporting Documents

Upload Supporting Documents Instructions for PECOS to upload required supporting documentation: Select the ‘Topic View’ tab Select “Required and/or Supporting Documents” Upload documents Mandatory for all provider/supplier types: [...]

Resolve All Errors and Verify Warnings

Resolve all Errors and Verify Warnings Instructions for resolving all errors and warnings: Select the ‘Errors/Warning Check’ Tab.   Correct all errors identified and verify any warnings.   Related Content Resolving PECOS [...]

Verify and Manage Signature(s)

Verify and Manage Signature(s) Verify signatures on all application(s) submitted including applications that were “Return for Corrections”, by returning to the enrollment box in PECOS. Important: The reassignments are viewed by selecting [...]

Determine your Business Structure

Determine your Business Structure When starting a business, you must decide what form of business entity you wish to establish. The legal structure you choose for your business has more to do with tax, liability and management arrangements. [...]

Individual (Group Member) Reassigning Benefits Only

Individual (Group Member) Reassigning Benefits Only Download CMS-855I: Complete sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 4F, 12, 13 and 15 (B and C). Reassignment means that an individual physician, nonphysician practitioner, or other supplier has granted [...]

Individual Medicare Enrollment Private Practice (Sole Proprietor) via SSN

Individual Medicare Enrollment Private Practice (Sole Proprietor) via SSN Download CMS-855I. Complete sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13 and 15B. Note: Be sure to complete sections 4, 4A, 4A3, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E. If reassigning benefits [...]

Individual Medicare Enrollment Private Practice (Sole Proprietor) via EIN

Individual Medicare Enrollment Private Practice (Sole Proprietor) via EIN Download CMS-855I: Complete sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13 and 15B. Notes: Be sure to complete section 4, 4A, 4A3 (enter employer identification number) 4B, [...]

Individual Medicare Enrollment Sole Owner of a Corporation via Tax ID

Individual Medicare Enrollment Sole Owner of a Corporation via Tax ID Download CMS-855I: Complete sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 13 and 15. Notes: Corporation structures: examples are PA, PC, LLC, PLLC, Inc., etc. Be sure to complete [...]

Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant Download CMS-855I Complete sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 4F, 12, 13 and 15B Note: Submit the required supporting documents including the NCCPA and diploma. Reviewed 6/13/2024

Adding a New Reassignment of Benefits Using the CMS-855I

Adding a New Reassignment of Benefits Using the CMS-855I Download CMS-855I version (5/23): Complete sections 1A and B, 2A, 3, 4F (add, terminate, change reassignment), 13, and 15B and 15C IMPORTANT: If an individual is new to the [...]

Ordering/Referring Provider Only

Ordering/Referring Provider Only Download CMS-855O. Complete sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8. Note: Ordering and referring providers are only required to be enrolled in one state. Be sure to include supporting documentation for [...]

Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement

Electronic Funds Transfer Agreement Download and complete the CMS-588 EFT Authorization Agreement. Physicians and nonphysician practitioners who are reassigning all of their payments to another entity are not required to submit the CMS-588. [...]

Medicare Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement

Medicare Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement Download and complete CMS-460 Medicare Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement. Note: CMS-460 must have a signature and date of participant or authorized representative of [...]

Requests for Additional Information

Requests for Additional Information While processing the application(s), National Government Services may determine additional information is needed. All requested information should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days [...]

Jurisdiction K State Licensing and Certification Websites

State Licensing and Certification Websites The following list contains helpful links to websites of some organizations within the JK jurisdictions that can be used to verify your status. Table of Contents Connecticut Maine Massachusetts [...]

State License and Registrations for Individuals and Organizations

State License and Registrations for Individuals and Organizations Prior to submitting a provider enrollment application to Medicare, ensure that all applicable state licensing and/or specialty certification requirements are current. Each state [...]

Description of Application Fee

Description of Application Fee The application fee is imposed on institutional providers and suppliers to cover enrollment costs. The application fee for calendar year 2024 is $709. Related Content Federal Register Notice ‒ information [...]

Who Needs to Pay Application Fees

Who Needs to Pay Application Fees Institutional providers or suppliers must submit an application fee or hardship exception when initially enrolling, revalidating their enrollment or adding a new Medicare practice location. Physicians, [...]

How to Pay the Application Fee

How to Pay the Application Fee The application fee must be paid electronically. Important: If submitting a hardship request, it must be submitted with the enrollment application. It cannot be accepted separately. To pay the application fee [...]

How to Obtain a Refund

How to Obtain a Refund A refund will only be granted in the following instances: The application fee was not required for the application submitted A hardship request was subsequently approved and a fee was paid An application was [...]

How to Submit a Hardship Request

How to Submit a Hardship Request To request a hardship consideration, submit with a letter and any supporting documentation describing the hardship and why it justifies the exception for your application. Your hardship request will not be [...]

Site Visits

Site Visits Site visits may be required for certain providers and will be unannounced; the contractor representatives must disclose to the provider appropriate identifying credentials and explain the purpose of the visit. The CMS has [...]

Hospice Billing Instructions for Influenza, Pneumococcal and Hepatitis B Vaccines

Hospice Billing Instructions for Influenza, Pneumococcal and Hepatitis B Vaccines Medicare covers influenza virus, pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines in accordance with coverage requirements, when furnished by a hospice to those [...]

Hospice Visit Reporting

Hospice Visit Reporting Table of Contents Background Discipline Visits Reporting Visits in the Routine Home Care, Continuous Home Care and Inpatient Respite Care Levels of Care Discipline Revenue and HCPCS Coding Required Detail for [...]

How to Bill When the Hospice Face-to-Face is Late from a Previous Benefit Period

How to Bill When the Hospice Face-to-Face is Late from a Previous Benefit Period Background CMS requires that a hospice physician or hospice nurse practitioner must have a FTF encounter with each hospice patient prior to the beginning of the [...]