Knowledge Base Article

Medicare Coverage Updates

August 20, 2021: Closing the Gap: Left Atrial Appendage Closure Module

Palmetto GBA, the Medicare Administrative Contractors for Jurisdictions J and M, published this module (link) to provide an overview of required documentation to support billing of these claims. This interactive model covers the following:

• Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) overview,
• Indications & Coverage Criteria,
• Registries & Studies, and
• How to Prevent Denials.

Palmetto GBA offers the following tip to preventing denials, “facilities may want to consider implementing a process of requiring the patient’s history and physical with utilization review prior to scheduling the procedure or have designated staff analyze the beneficiary records for national coverage determination (including shared decision-making [SDM]) compliance before allowing the procedure to be scheduled.”

September 8, 2021: Change Request 12361: Claims Processing Instructions for NCD 20.33 – Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge [TEER] for Mitral Valve Regurgitation

NCD 20.33, TEER for Mitral Valve Regurgitation was previously named Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (TMVR). CR 12361 (link) informs MACs that on January 1, 2021 (Effective Date), CMS expanded coverage of mitral valve TEER procedures for the treatment of functional mitral regurgitation (MR) and maintained coverage of TEER for the treatment of degenerative MR through coverage with evidence development (CED) with mandatory registry participation.

CMS notes in the CR summary of changes that “NCDs are binding on the MACs who review and/or adjudicate claims, make coverage determinations, and/or payment decisions, and also binds quality improvement organizations, qualified independent contractors, the Medicare appeals council, and Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) (see 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 405.1060(a)(4) (2005)). An NCD that expands coverage is also binding on a Medicare advantage organization.”

A related MLN Article MM12361 (link) was released on September 14, 2021. This article includes the procedure and diagnosis codes on claim lines that the MACs will accept for TEER services. CMS notes that “your MAC won’t search for TEER claims they processed before implementation of CR 12361. They will adjust such claims you bring to their attention.” The implementation date is October 8, 2021.

You can read more about the changes and new requirements for NCD 20.33 in a related MMP article (link).

National Coverage Determination (NCD) 270.3 Blood-Derived Products for Chronic, Non-Healing Wounds

• Article Release Date: September 15, 2021
• What You Need to Know: Effective for claims with dates of service on or after April 13, 2021, CMS will nationally cover autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for the treatment of chronic non-healing diabetic wounds under specific conditions. CMS notes that claims should contain HCPCS code G0460, an ICD-10 diagnosis code for diabetes mellitus and an ICD-10 diagnosis code for chronic ulcer. This article provides a link to a list of acceptable diabetes mellitus and chronic ulcer diagnosis codes.
• MLN MM12403: (link)

Medicare Educational Resources

MLN Educational Tool: Medicare Payment Systems

With the beginning of new Prospective Payment System Final Rules just a couple days away now, I want to make our readers aware of a fairly new MLN Education Tool )https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/html/medicare-payment-systems.html#Intro">link) where CMS has combined information about Medicare Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals, Hospice, Skilled Nursing, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Hospital Outpatient, Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities, Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities and Long-Term Care Hospitals.

July 2021 Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter

CMS announced the release of the July newsletter (link) in the Thursday September 9, 2021, edition of MLN Connects. This newsletter’s aim is to provide guidance to address billing errors.

MLN Booklet: Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF)

This MLN Booklet (link) was updated in September. Updates are bolded in red. Of note, guidance for IDFTs related to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has been added to this booklet.

MLN Booklet: Transitional Care Management Services Revised

This MLN Booklet (link) focuses on covered services, location, who may provide services, supervision, billing services, documenting services and service benefits specific to Transitional Care Management. With the most recent updates, the CMS has added codes health care professional can bill concurrently with Transitional Care Management services and added language about auxiliary personnel providing services under supervision.

Medicare & You 2022

Medicare & You is the official U.S. government Medicare handbook. The 2022 is now available (link). New and important information about COVID-19-related items & services, cognitive assessment & care plan services, and blood-based biomarker testing have been added to the latest edition of this handbook.