NGSConnex: Local Security Officer Overview, Access and Navigation

This webinar is geared toward all lines of business for those who will be a Local Security Officer (LSO) in the NGSConnex portal. Come join us and see how NGSConnex can make your life a little easier. We'll review the responsibilities of an [...]

NGSConnex: Standard User Overview, Access and Navigation

This webinar is geared toward all lines of business for those who will be Standard Users in the NGSConnex portal. Come join us and see how NGSConnex can make your life a little easier. We'll review what NGSConnex has to offer, including [...]

Medicare Part B Preventive Services: Intensive Behavioral Therapy for Obesity and Depression Screening

During this webinar, we'll review the Medicare coverage, coding and billing guidelines for intensive behavioral therapy for obesity and screening for depression in adults.

PECOS: View and Manage Reassignments through Group Enrollment

During this webinar, we’ll provide an understanding of how to view and manage reassignments through the group enrollment in Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS), including to add or terminate reassignments. Individual [...]

Getting Access to PECOS

During this webinar, we’ll discuss how to obtain access to the Internet-based Provider Enrollment Chain & Ownership System (PECOS) and gain connection to provider enrollment record as well as understand other Centers for Medicare & Medicaid [...]

Submitting Revalidation via PECOS

During this webinar, we’ll provide an understanding of how to utilize the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Internet-based Provider Enrollment Chain & Ownership System (PECOS) to be comfortable in navigating the system to submit a [...]

Let's Chat About Provider Enrollment

During this session, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about all aspects of provider enrollment. Answers will be provided by a panel of subject-matter experts. As this is a question-and-answer session, there is no presentation available.

Reducing Unprocessable Claims

When claims are submitted with invalid, incomplete or incorrect information, our claims processing system will detect these errors and will reject claims as unprocessable. Our goal is to assist our providers in submitting claims correctly the [...]

National A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor Ambulance Provider/Supplier Coalition

National A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor Ambulance Provider/Supplier Coalition Attention Ambulance Providers In response to numerous and continued requests from the ambulance community, the AB MACs have put together a National AB MAC [...]

FQHC Example of a Per Visit Rate Calculation for MAO Supplemental Payments

FQHC MAO Supplemental Payment Calculation Form

National AB Medicare Administrative Contractor Ambulance Provider/Supplier Coalition

National AB Medicare Administrative Contractor Ambulance Provider/Supplier Coalition Attention Ambulance Providers In response to numerous and continued requests from the ambulance community, the AB MACs have put together a National AB MAC [...]

Part A Summit- Skilled Nursing Facility: Coverage and Documentation

During this collaborative education session between Case Management and Medical Review, attendees will learn documentation requirements for skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage, how to properly respond to Additional Documentation Requests [...]

Part A Summit Let’s Chat: Prior Authorization for Certain Hospital Outpatient Department Services

This Let’s Chat session focuses on Prior Authorization for certain hospital outpatient department (OPD) services and is an informal opportunity for you to chat with our staff about the selected topic. During the session, you may ask us [...]

Part A Summit -Need Answers? The Options to Consider Before Calling or Writing into Medicare

During this session, we will review top trends on why providers are reaching out to Medicare and the best options to resolve those inquires. Plus, valuable tips and resources to help get the most out of Medicare.

Part A Summit- Medicare Secondary Payer: Preventing Rejections of Your Medicare Primary Claims

Increase your cash flow by preventing rejections of your Medicare primary claims! In this webinar, we review why claims reject for Medicare Secondary Payer and explain how to prevent these rejections by reporting information on your claims that [...]

Part A Summit - Exploring the NGS TPE Process

Join us to explore essential strategies for a successful Targeted Probe and Educate review. We'll cover the purpose of TPE and best practices, roles and responsibilities of National Government Service and providers under review. Gain practical [...]

Part A Summit- Navigating Billing and Documentation for Behavioral Health Services in Federally Qualified Health Centers

Unlock the secrets to effective billing and documentation for behavioral health services within Federally Qualified Health Centers. This collaborative webinar will include insights from Medical Review and is designed to help healthcare [...]

Part A Summit – How to Submit an Appeal Request

Join us for a comprehensive session focused on understanding the appeal submission process within National Government Service. This presentation is designed to guide participants through each step of submitting an appeal, ensuring clarity and [...]

Part A Summit - NGSConnex: User Pain Points Examples/Solutions

Are you experiencing issues while utilizing NGSConnex? Join this informative session to learn what user pain points are and how to resolve these issues from an NGSConnex Agile Product Owner. This session will encompass issues with [...]

Part A Summit - World of Medicare Contractors

Medicare Administrative Contractors are responsible for processing claims, managing policy and payment, and establishing regional policy guidelines. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also uses several additional contractors to manage [...]

Part A Summit - Maintaining Your Provider Files

This virtual webinar will aid in maintaining accurate provider enrollment files for the internet-based Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services systems: Identity & Access Management System, National Plan & Provider Enumeration System and the [...]

Part A Summit- Navigating NGS and CMS Websites

Join us for this informative session where we will review how to find helpful Medicare references and resources on the National Government Services website (www.NGSMedicare.com) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website [...]

Part A Summit - Provider Outreach and Education Roundtable

Join us for an interactive and insightful roundtable discussion with the Provider Outreach and Education Manager and team. This session is designed to offer a comprehensive look into the future of POE and explore innovative strategies for [...]

Medicare Part B Secondary Payer Post-Pay Overpayments

During this webinar, providers and office staff members will learn about the Medicare Part B overpayments and the appropriate steps for reporting Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) overpayments. NGS MSP subject-matter experts will be on hand to [...]

Urgent Care

Urgent Care Please explain the concepts of split/shared and incident to E/M services in the urgent care setting. Answer: The urgent care setting is defined by CMS as a nonfacility setting. This means the split/shared concept does not [...]

Transitional Care Management

Transitional Care Management Please clarify responsibility for the TCM interactive contact. Can this be performed by a hospital-employed nurse prior to discharge? Answer: The provider who is billing the TCM service is responsible for the [...]

Time-Based Services

Time-Based Services Please define rules for using time to level-set a service. Answer: In both the office and observation/inpatient setting, the provider’s time is calculated based on pre-visit, intra-visit, and post-visit activities [...]

Telehealth Services

Telehealth Services Please explain Medicare’s definition of a telehealth service. Answer: Medicare defines a telehealth service as a service provided by a Medicare-enrolled practitioner from an approved distant site for a beneficiary who [...]

Smoking Cessation

Smoking Cessation Please clarify appropriate codes for smoking cessation services. Answer: CPT codes 99406 and 99407 may be used for smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling visits. Please clarify what constitutes a session which [...]

Skilled Nursing Facility Services

Skilled Nursing Facility Services Please define rules for initial and subsequent SNF services, when the same provider has treated the patient at another site on the same date of service. Answer: This depends on the site of the prior [...]

Separately Identifiable Service

Separately Identifiable Service Please define the appropriate use of modifier 57 to identify a separately payable E/M with an initial decision for surgery. Answer: Modifier 57 is added to an E/M service that resulted in an initial [...]

Scribes

Scribes When a physician or NPP performs a service that is documented by a scribe, what are the documentation requirements? Answer: As per CMS IOM Publication 100-08, Medicare Program Integrity Manual, Chapter 3, Section 3.3.2.4: “CMS [...]

Provider Specialty

Provider Specialty Should each MD in the same practice bill with two different taxonomy codes based on whether functioning as a cardiologist or electrophysiologist? Answer: Yes, providers should be billing with their taxonomy codes. The [...]

Prolonged Services

Prolonged Services Note: View the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Internet-Only Manual (IOM) Publication 100-04, Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 30.6.15.2 and Section 30.6.15.3 for CPT codes [...]

Preoperative Clearance

Preoperative Clearance What requirements must be met for a preoperative clearance visit to be considered medically necessary and billable? Answer: CMS does not set requirements for medical clearance; these are established by individual [...]

Nonphysician Practitioner Services

Nonphysician Practitioner Services In addition to the frequently asked questions below, please view NGS’ Nonphysician Practitioners-Reducing Costly Appeals; Increase Provider Revenue article for related information. Is it permissible for [...]

New vs. Established Patients

New vs. Established Patients How does CMS define a patient as “new” versus “established”? Answer: In 2023, the definition of a “new” patient differs based on whether the patient is being treated in an office or an observation/ inpatient [...]

Medical Decision Making

Medical Decision Making In a split/shared service, when a medical record includes a plan of care developed by the physician, based on a history and/or examination performed by the NPP and a personal review of diagnostic findings, [...]

IPPE and AWV Services

IPPE and AWV Providers are reminded that the IPPE and AWV are Medicare-covered services within their own benefit category. As such, they are not subject to standard “incident to” billing guidelines and must be billed by the performing [...]

History

As of 1/1/2023, CMS has eliminated prior specifications for documentation of a patient’s history for services provided in both the outpatient office and hospital setting, including the emergency department. The provider is expected to obtain [...]

The National Correct Coding Initiative and Medically Unlikely Edits for Part B Providers

This webinar will assist Part B providers with navigating tables for the National Correct Coding Initiative and the medically unlikely edits. We'll also review the proper modifiers to use to avoid denials. There will be time for your questions [...]

General E/M Information

General E/M Information Please explain the terms “auxiliary personnel” and “clinical staff” in the context of Medicare services.   Answer: These terms are often used in defining which staff members can perform Medicare services [...]

Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements

Fee-For-Time Compensation Arrangements Can a physician return to work in his or her practice for a short period of time to reset the 60-day clock requirement for the fee-for-time compensation arrangement provider? Answer: In order for the [...]

Critical Care Services

Critical Care Services Please define the time requirement for billing CPT code 99292. Answer: Whether critical care is performed by a single provider or on a split (or shared) basis, the time requirement for CPT code 99292 remains the [...]

Examination

As of 1/1/2023, CMS has eliminated prior specifications for the scope of examination and associated documentation in the outpatient office and hospital settings. The provider is expected to perform and document a medically necessary and [...]

Documentation

Documentation What are the basic documentation requirements for a service submitted to Medicare for payment? Answer: For all services submitted to Medicare, the medical record (whether electronic or paper) must clearly define the provider [...]

Complex and Chronic Care - HCPCS Code G2211

Complex and Chronic Care - HCPCS Code G2211 Please define appropriate usage and billing for HCPCS code G2211. Answer: CPT G2211 is an approved add-on code representing complex and/or continuous management in the office and outpatient [...]

Chronic Care Management

Chronic Care Management The guidelines state moderate or high complex MDM. Do the E/M guidelines apply here? Answer: Yes, the E/M guidelines for MDM are applicable, since chronic care management (CPT 99490) is included within the E/M [...]

Advanced Care Planning

Advanced Care Planning Please define documentation requirements when billing advanced care planning (CPT 99497 and 99498). Answer: ACP codes may be used with or without a base E/M code on the same date of service, based on whether a [...]

Admission and Discharge Services

Admission and Discharge Services Is it permissible for an NPP to perform an initial hospital admission or discharge service on behalf of the attending physician, or on a split/shared basis, when both are members of the same provider [...]

Teaching Environment E/M Services

Teaching Environment E/M Services Please define levels of care for E/M services that can be performed by residents in a hospital outpatient setting under the PCE rules. Answer: CMS PCE guidelines for the hospital outpatient setting permit [...]

Observation Services

Observation Services Please define guidelines for providers billing observation services. Answer: Observation services are ordered, performed and billed by the practitioner (or group), who is responsible for the patient’s care during the [...]

Split/Shared and Incident To Services

Split/Shared and Incident To Services Please define the substantive portion of a split (or shared) visit. Answer: The following factors apply in determining the substantive portion of a split (or shared) visit:   Total time [...]

Revised and Updated Educational Frequently Asked Questions

Revised and Updated Educational Frequently Asked Questions Our educational FAQs have been updated. Please visit the Help and FAQs page under the Education section of our website to explore topics such as: ASCA Appeals CAR T-cell Therapy [...]

Global Period Services

Global Period Services Is it permissible for providers (physicians or NPPs) other than the primary surgeon to bill for preoperative or postoperative care within a global period? Answer: The global surgery fee is paid to the primary [...]

Emergency Department

Emergency Department When a consultant has seen a patient in the ED and billed an ED code, how are subsequent services billed when the patient is then admitted to inpatient status? Answer: The ED consult (billed with an ED code [...]

Behavioral/Mental Health Services

Behavioral/Mental Health Services Please explain the parameters for mental health services delivered via telehealth to a beneficiary who is at home. Answer: As of 1/1/2025, CMS has permanently extended permission for behavioral and mental [...]

Consultations

Consultations Does CMS permit payment for consultative E/M services? Answer: CMS permits payment for medically necessary consultative E/M services. The specific E/M codes previously used to represent consultative services were [...]

PC-ACE: Is there a resource I can use to assist me with Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) claims when using PC-ACE?