2022-04-07-MLNC

Dynamic List Information
Dynamic List Data
Date
2022-04-07
Title
Improve the Health of Minority Populations with Covered Preventive Services
MLN Connects logo

Thursday, April 7, 2022

News

Compliance

Claims, Pricers, & Codes

MLN Matters® Articles

Publications

 

News

Fiscal Year 2021 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports

Fourth quarter fiscal year 2021 Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPERs) are available. Get user guides and recorded training sessions:

These reports summarize provider-specific data for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper payments. Use the data to support internal auditing and monitoring.

More Information:

 

Preventive Services & Health Equity: Improve the Health of Minority Populations

Health inequities historically affect underserved and marginalized communities. During National Minority Health Month, learn about preventive services, and find out how to advance health equity.

Medicare covers preventive services, and your patients pay nothing if you accept assignment. Learn how to check eligibility (PDF) for preventive services. If you need help, contact your eligibility service provider.

More Information:

 

Compliance

What’s the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Program?

CMS created the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program to measure the rate of improper Fee-for-Service payments. The error rate measures payments that didn’t meet Medicare requirements; it doesn’t indicate fraud.

How does the CERT program work?

The CERT contractor reviews a sample of processed claims. If a claim doesn’t meet Medicare’s coverage, coding, and billing rules or the provider fails to submit medical records, it’s counted as a total or partial improper payment. Medicare Administrative Contractors analyze CERT error rates to reduce improper payments by updating their internal processes and educating providers.

 

Claims, Pricers, & Codes

April 2022 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 23.1

Learn about claims processing changes, effective April 1, 2022 for:

  • Hospital outpatient departments
  • Community mental health centers
  • Non-outpatient prospective payment system (PPS) hospital providers
  • Limited services when provided in a home health (HH) agency that isn’t paid under the HH PPS
  • Hospice patients for non-terminal illness treatment

See the instruction to your Medicare Administrative Contractor (PDF).

 

Claim Status Category and Claim Status Codes Update

Learn about claims status category and code updates effective April 1, 2022:

See the instruction to your MAC (PDF).

 

MLN Matters® Articles

Mental Health Visits via Telecommunications for Rural Health Clinics & Federally Qualified Health Centers

Learn about regulatory changes and billing (PDF).

 

Update to Chapter 7, “Home Health Services,” of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (Pub 100-02)

Learn how CMS changed Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 7 (PDF), including:

  • Replaced requests for anticipated payments with one-time notices of admission
  • Corrected and clarified who can certify and recertify

 

April 2022 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)

Learn about updates effective, April 1, 2022 (PDF), including:

  • Integrated Outpatient Code Editor
  • HCPCS codes
  • New COVID-19 CPT codes

 

Remittance Advice Remark Code (RARC), Claims Adjustment Reason Code (CARC), Medicare Remit Easy Print (MREP) and PC Print Update

Learn about the latest RARC and CARC code sets (PDF).

 

Claims Processing Instructions for the New Pneumococcal 15-valent Conjugate Vaccine Code 90671 and Pneumococcal 20-valent Conjugate Vaccine Code 90677 — Revised

Learn about claim adjustments for HCPCS code 90671 (PDF) with dates of service from July 16, 2021–March 31, 2022.

 

Publications

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, Anesthesiologist Assistants, & Physician Assistants — Revised

Learn about recent policy changes affecting non-physician practitioners (PDF), including:

  • Nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and physician assistants (PAs) can certify Medicare patient home health benefit eligibility and oversee patient care plans.
  • NPs, CNSs, certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), and PAs may provide services on assignment, but they can’t charge a patient more than amounts permitted under 42 CFR 424.55. If a patient pays more than these limits, the practitioner must refund the patient amount over the allowed charge.
  • PAs meet statutory physician supervision requirements by collaborating with physicians and forming partnerships according to their state’s scope of practice laws.
  • PAs bill the Medicare Program directly for their services and get paid like NPs and CNSs.
  • PAs may reassign their services' payment rights and incorporate as a group of only practitioners in their specialty and bill the Medicare Program like NPs and CNSs.
  • PAs must bill under their national provider identifier.
  • We pay PAs for their professional services, including services and supplies provided incident to their services.
  • We pay professional PA services provided in all rural and non-rural settings and areas; we make payment to them only if no facility or other provider bills or we didn’t pay for any other services they provided.

 


Report a problem viewing this newsletter.

Subscribe to the MLN Connects® newsletter. Previous issues are available in the archive.

This newsletter is current as of the issue date. View the complete disclaimer.

Follow the MLN on Twitter #CMSMLN, and visit us on YouTube.

The Medicare Learning Network®, MLN Connects®, and MLN Matters® are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Medicare Learning Network logo