Knowledge Base Article
July Medicare Transmittals and Other Updates
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July Medicare Transmittals and Other Updates
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
MEDICARE TRANSMITTALS – RECURRING UPDATES
Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Drug/Biological Code Changes – July 2019 Update
Update of the HCPCS code set for codes related to drugs and biologicals.
Quarterly Update for Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment
July 2019 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 20.2
October 2019 Quarterly Average Sales Price (ASP) Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions to Prior Quarterly Pricing Files
Changes to the Laboratory National Coverage Determination (NCD) Edit Software for October 2019
Quarterly Update to the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) Procedure-to-Procedure (PTP) Edits, Version 25.3 Effective October 1, 2019
Notice of New Interest Rate for Medicare Overpayments and Underpayments -4th Qtr Notification for FY 2019
The Medicare contractors shall implement an interest rate of 10.625 percent effective July 17, 2019 for Medicare overpayments and underpayments.
https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2019Downloads/R318FM.pdf
OTHER MEDICARE TRANSMITTALS
Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) Changes to Assist Beneficiaries Enrolled in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program
Modifications to Medicare’s claims processing systems to ensure that the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) appropriately differentiates between QMB claims that are paid and denied and to show accurate patient payment liability amounts for beneficiaries enrolled in QMB.
New Waived Tests
New Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) waived tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since these tests are marketed immediately after approval, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must notify the MACs of the new tests so that they can accurately process claims.
Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging – Educational and Operations Testing Period - Claims Processing Requirements
Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) related HCPCS modifiers on claims to be accepted January 1, 2020.
MEDICARE SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLES
Activation of Systematic Validation Edits for OPPS Providers with Multiple Service Locations
Revised to provide an update on Round 3 testing and to announce a delay of full implementation until October 2019.
Pre-Diabetes Services: Referring Patients to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
Information on this new Medicare covered service.
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) and the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act
Medicare Plans to Modernize Payment Grouping and Code Editor Software
CMS is modernizing its grouping and code editor software. Medicare processes all Original Medicare institutional claims through one of three sub-systems within the Fiscal Intermediary Shared System (FISS):
- The Medicare Code Editor (MCE)
- The Inpatient Grouper (MS-DRG)
- The Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (IOCE).
These sub-systems are built with an antiquated programming language (Assembler) that is difficult to extend, maintain, support and test. Modernizing these programs will protect CMS from future quality and integration risks.
MEDICARE COVERAGE UPDATES
Acupuncture Coverage for Chronic Low Back Pain
CMS proposes to cover acupuncture for chronic low back pain for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in approved studies.
https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-tracking-sheet.aspx?NCAId=295
Update to Coverage of Intravenous Immune Globulin for Treatment of Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases in the Home
Updates the list of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes for the coverage of IVIG for treatment of Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases (PIDD) in the home.
MEDICARE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Medicare Fast Facts
Medicare Fast Facts resources this month include:
- Cardiac Device Credits: Medicare Billing
Palmetto GBA Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Module
Explains HBO therapy, covered and non-covered conditions as indicated per NCD 20.29 for treatment, as well as documentation guidelines pertinent to establishing medical necessity when submitting claims to Medicare
https://www.palmettogba.com/internet/eLearn3.nsf/HyperbaricOxygenTherapy/story_html5.html
OTHER MEDICARE UPDATES
KEPRO Updates for Healthcare Providers
Since Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIOs) started transitioning into a new 5-year contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), KEPRO has been making necessary changes to help streamline processes. During the next few weeks, we will share periodic updates with you in a special bulletin.
https://www.keproqio.com/providers/transition/
Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model
Jun 27, 2019 Announcement: Second annual evaluation report and associated materials posted.
https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/cjr
ESRD Treatment Choices (ETC) Model
Proposed required model aims to encourage greater use of home dialysis and kidney transplants for Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/esrd-treatment-choices-model
Executive Order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First
“Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall propose a regulation, consistent with applicable law, to require hospitals to publicly post standard charge information…”
CMS Announces Extension of Enforcement Discretion Period for Laboratory Date of Service Exception Policy Under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule Until January 2, 2020
During the enforcement discretion period, hospitals may continue to bill for advanced diagnostic laboratory tests (ADLTs) and molecular pathology tests that would otherwise be subject to the laboratory DOS exception.
https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/ClinicalLabFeeSched/Clinical-Lab-DOS-Policy.html (see Downloads section)
CY 2020 Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Proposed Rule
Proposes routine updates to the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2020, and also includes: a proposal to modify the payment regulations pertaining to the content of the home health plan of care; a proposal to allow therapist assistants to furnish maintenance therapy; and a proposal related to the split percentage payment approach under the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS). Finally, this rule will include proposals related to the implementation of the permanent home infusion therapy benefit in 2021.
Rule: https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-14913.pdf
Monday, July 29, 2019, CMS released three important Medicare proposed payment rules for 2020:
- The OPPS and ASC Proposed Rule - https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-takes-bold-action-implement-key-elements-president-trumps-executive-order-empower-patients-price
- The MPFS Proposed Rule - https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administrations-patients-over-paperwork-delivers-doctors
- The ESRD and DME Proposed Rule - https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-cms-proposals-strengthen-medicare-unleash-innovation-and-promote-competition-provide-kidney
This material was compiled to share information. MMP, Inc. is not offering legal advice. Every reasonable effort has been taken to ensure the information is accurate and useful.
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