Transmittals: CMS issues wage index corrections, changes lab NCD edit software, and more
Medicare Weekly Update, February 17, 2009
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Medicare Weekly Update!
Hospitals to report ZIP codes of outpatient service locations for certain services
On February 13, CMS issued clarifying instructions on the calculation of payment amounts for services paid to hospitals on the basis of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology, and mammograms. The instruction requires providers to report the ZIP code of outpatient service facility locations for off-site outpatient facilities. The location ZIP code will be used to calculate the appropriate local MPFS payment amount.
Effective date: October 1, 2007
Implementation date: July 6, 2009
CMS accepts National Drug Codes (NDCs) for drugs with no HCPCS assigned
On February 13, CMS issued instructions for submitting NDCs for drugs reported with C9399. HCPCS code C9399 is used for FDA approved drugs that do not yet have a product specific HCPCS code. The instruction also makes clear that contractors must accept decimal quantities for NDCs, although they may round those quantities for payment purposes.
Effective date: July 1, 2009
Implementation date: July 6, 2009
CMS issues corrections to the 2009 IPPS and OPPS wage indices
On February 13, CMS released corrections to the wage index for the fiscal year 2009 IPPS and the calendar year 2009 OPPS for certain hospitals requesting reversals of decisions made on their behalf by CMS and one provider with a typographical error in its reclassified CBSA.
Effective date: October 1, 2008
Implementation date: May 18, 2009
CMS announces changes to laboratory NCD edit software for April
On February 13, CMS released a transmittal communicating the changes it will make in April to the laboratory NCD edit software.
Effective date: April 1, 2009
Implementation date: April 6, 2009
CMS instructs contractors to strengthen safeguards against the abuse of modifier -79
On February 13, CMS released a transmittal instructing its contractors to review their safeguards against the misuse of modifier -79 and make any necessary changes.
Effective date: March 16, 2009
Implementation date: March 16, 2009
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Medicare Weekly Update!
Related Products
-
Billing Alert for Long-Term Care
It's essential to know how to correctly submit your Medicare claims in order to get the reimbursement your facility...
-
Coding and Billing for Outpatient Rehab Made Easy:
Take the confusion out of coding and billing for outpatient rehab and ensure you receive accurate reimbursement for the...
-
Clinical Documentation Improvement
Hospitals are undoubtedly aware of how a quality clinical documentation improvement program can benefit their facility, but...
-
Modifier -59 Case Studies: Clarify Common Coding Confusion
Modifier -59 is a perennial problem area for outpatient coders. It shouldn’t be viewed as a way to guarantee payment but...
-
The Postacute Care Transfer Rule and Patient Status
During this two hour audio conference, Gloryanne Bryant will use case scenarios to help you increase your understanding of...
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- Identify potential Medicaid RAC target areas
- Capturing all necessary codes for IUD insertion and removal can be challenging
- Topic: CMS, OESS post new security compliance review information, checklist
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- Q/A: Coding infusions to correct low potassium levels
- E-mailed
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- CMS has reformulated payments for some bilateral procedures
- Oxygen Cylinder Storage Requirements
- Q&A: Follow CMS' coding guidelines when using modifier -25
- Understand the spine to code back procedures correctly
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- New conflicts of interest create new challenges
- Searched