What are Medicare’s guidelines regarding use of an advance beneficiary notice of noncoverage (ABN) in relation to ambulance services?

Member for

3 months
Submitted by Cesar.Hernandez on

The CMS Medicare Claims Processing Manual states:

Ambulance transports

Emergency or urgent situations: In general, a notifier may not issue an ABN to a beneficiary who has a medical emergency or is under similar duress. Forcing delivery of an ABN during an emergency may be considered coercive. ABN usage in the ER may be appropriate in some cases where the beneficiary is medically stable with no emergent health issues.

What do I do if I receive an overpayment letter?

Member for

2 months
Submitted by Courtney.Miller on

An overpayment letter is a formal request to repay a debt owed to the Medicare Trust Fund. Payment is due upon receipt of the notice. Send the payment with a copy of the overpayment letter received or request an immediate offset.  Interest will accrue 30 days from the date on the overpayment letter and every thirty days thereafter. On day 40, we will immediately begin offsetting and claim payments will be withheld and applied until the entire debt is collected.

What do I do if I have been overpaid on a claim?

Member for

2 months
Submitted by Courtney.Miller on

Once an overpayment has been determined, providers are required to repay the debt. Complete the overpayment refund form (see below) and attach a check for the amount. Specific data such as patient name, Medicare ID # and Medicare claim number must be included for claim correction and remittance revision, where appeal rights are afforded. If this data is not returned and Medicare is unable to correct records, claim(s) included in the refund may be identified as an overpayment and demanded in the future.

Can an ambulance provider submit a claim even if they can’t obtain the beneficiary’s signature?

Member for

3 months
Submitted by Cesar.Hernandez on

Yes. Medicare requires the signature of the beneficiary, or that of his or her representative, for both the purpose of accepting assignment and submitting a claim to Medicare. The IOM Publication 100-02, Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 10, section 20.1.2 lists multiple options relating to how and when authorization can be obtained and submitted.

 

Reference

Why are my claims being denied for hospice involvement? I don’t work for a hospice.

Member for

2 months
Submitted by Charles.Johnson on

Medicare Part B pays only for physician services not performed for the hospice-related condition or paid under arrangement with a hospice entity. Services related to the terminal condition are billed by the hospice facility to the appropriate home health intermediary (Part A). 

How do I bill my claims when a patient revokes or elects hospice coverage during his or her inpatient stay?

Member for

2 months
Submitted by Charles.Johnson on

Electing or revoking the Medicare hospice benefit is the beneficiary’s choice. The patient or their representative may elect or revoke Medicare hospice care at any time in writing. The hospice entity cannot revoke the beneficiary’s election, nor request or demand that the patient revoke their election. If the patient revokes their hospice election, Medicare coverage of all benefits waived when hospice care was initially elected resumes under the original Medicare program. 

When billing Medicare for injections that are provided “incident to” by a nurse practitioner (NP) or other non-physician practitioner (NPP), does the supervising physician have to “sign off” on the injection?

Member for

2 months
Submitted by Robert.Lewis on

No. Although the injections are billed under the supervising physician’s NPI, he or she is not required to see the patient or document any notes in the patient’s medical record.

A service that is billed as “incident to” is one that is furnished as an incidental but integral part of the physician’s professional services in the course of the diagnosis or treatment of the patient’s injury or illness.

Therefore, in order to bill for injections provided “incident to” by an NP or NPP, the following criteria must be met:

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