Medicare Blog

billing medicare when patient is in hospice

by Stephania Heidenreich Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Only an attending clinician who is not employed by the hospice can bill Medicare Part B for hospice care using the CPT E/M code. If the hospice physician serves as the attending physician, all services related to the terminal condition
terminal condition
Terminal illness or end-stage disease is a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as cancer, dementia or advanced heart disease than for injury.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Terminal_illness
are billed to Medicare by the hospice, not directly by the physician.

What is the Medicare modifier for hospice?

Modifier GVHospice Modifier GV This modifier should be used by the attending physician when the services are related to the patient's terminal condition or not paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider.Mar 19, 2021

What is the difference between GW and GV modifier?

Difference between GV and GW modifier When the physician provide a service related to the hospice diagnosis for which the patient is enrolled, GV modifier is used. When the physician provides a service unrelated or not related to the hospice diagnosis for which the patient is enrolled , GW modifier is used.Feb 7, 2020

What is the GW modifier used for?

GW Modifier This modifier should be used when a service is rendered to a patient enrolled in a hospice and the service is unrelated to the patient's terminal condition. All providers must submit this modifier when: The service(s) provided are unrelated to the patient's terminal condition.

What is EOB in hospice?

EOB stands for Explanation of Benefits.

How do you bill for hospice?

Hospice providers must use revenue code 0657 when billing for pain- and symptom-management services related to a recipient's terminal condition and provided by a physician employed by, or under arrangement made by, the hospice. Revenue code 0657 should be billed on a separate line for each date of service.

What is Medicare modifier GV?

The GV modifier is used when a physician is providing a service that is related to the diagnosis for which a patient has been enrolled in hospice. This physician is not associated with the hospice and is providing services as the attending physician.

What is the GZ modifier?

The GZ modifier indicates that an Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN) was not issued to the beneficiary and signifies that the provider expects denial due to a lack of medical necessity based on an informed knowledge of Medicare policy.May 31, 2021

What is a B9 code?

Code. Description. Reason Code: B9. Patient is enrolled in a hospice program.Jan 14, 2021

What does GT modifier mean?

via a telecommunications systemThe GT modifier is used to indicate the session was administered via a telecommunications system. The reason the GT modifier is used is to signify to the insurance company the delivery of your services has changed (i.e. over video call).

What are the two most common types of medical billing?

If you're looking at how to start a medical billing and coding career path, you should know the two types of medical billing, which are professional billing and institutional billing.Jul 9, 2020

What is difference between ERA and EOB?

Electronic remittance advice (ERA) is an electronic version of the explanation of benefits (EOB) for claims payments. Electronic funds transfer (EFT) transmits funds for claims payments directly from a health plan into your bank account.

What is an era medical billing?

An electronic remittance advice, or ERA, is an explanation from a health plan to a provider about a claim payment. An ERA explains how a health plan has adjusted claim charges based on factors like: Contract agreements. Secondary payers.Dec 1, 2021

What is hospice billing?

To understand physician billing for hospice patients, first understand that hospice, unlike any other Medicare process, is a patient-based benefit. When a patient selects hospice, all the choices are based upon patient-centered care and preferences. Upon referral to hospice, the patient elects to cease curative treatment for the terminal diagnosis.

Is hospice covered by Medicare?

These services are performed by a medical director or physician employed by the hospice and are included in the hospice payment rate. In other words, they are covered by the Medicare hospice benefit. No additional billing occurs for administrative activities.

What is the life expectancy of a patient in hospice?

The attending physician and the hospice medical director or team physician must certify that the patient has a "medical prognosis that his or her life expectancy is six months or less , if the illness runs its normal course.".

What is an attending physician in hospice?

The hospice attending physician is an MD, DO, PA or NP who may or may not be an employee of the hospice. An interdisciplinary hospice team includes a physician who oversees elements of the patient’s care.

What is the Medicare election period?

Medicare systems refer to the 90-day or 60-day periods as ‘benefit periods.’ Therefore, hospices should be aware that when they see references to ‘election periods’ in regulation or in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, they are referring to what is called a ‘benefit period’ for purposes of claims processing.

When did Medicare start paying hospice services?

(Rev. 3577, Issued: 08-05-16; Effective: 01-01-17; Implementation: 01-03-17) Effective January 1 , 2005, Medicare allows payment to a hospice for specified hospice pre-election evaluation and counseling services when furnished by a physician who is either the medical director of or employee of the hospice.

Does hospice have a notr?

The hospice enters their NPI. Medicare systems ensure that the provider number submitted on the NOTR is the currently active billing provider (e.g. the provider number matches that on the hospice election period or the most recent transfer date or change of ownership date on any benefit period). If any other provider number is submitted, the NOTR is returned.

Does CMS accept ICD-10?

CMS accepts only HIPAA approved ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM/ICD-10-PCS codes, depending on the date of service. The official ICD-9-CM codes, which were updated annually through October 1, 2013, are posted at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/codes.html

What is condition code D0?

Condition codes are not required on an original NOTR. If the hospice is correcting a revocation date using occurrence code 56, the hospice reports condition code D0. If the two codes are not reported together, the NOTR will be returned to the hospice.

How long does a hospice patient live?

The hospice enters the NPI and name of the hospice physician responsible for certifying that the patient is terminally ill, with a life expectancy of 6 months or less if the disease runs its normal course. Note: Both the attending physician and other physician fields should be completed unless the patient’s designated attending physician is the same as the physician certifying the terminal illness. When the attending physician is also the physician certifying the terminal illness, only the attending physician is required to be reported.

When did hospice enter NPI?

For notice of elections effective prior to January 1, 2010, the hospice enters the National Provider Identifier (NPI) and name of the physician currently responsible for certifying the terminal illness, and signing the individual’s plan of care for medical care and treatment.

What is level of care 656?

Level of care 656: General inpatient care – Payment at the inpatient rate is made when general inpatient care is provided at a Medicare certified hospice facility, hospital, or SNF. When the patient is discharged deceased, the inpatient rate (general or respite) is paid for the discharge date.

How long is hospice benefit?

The Medicare hospice benefit consists of two 90-day benefit periods and an unlimited number of 60-day benefit periods. The benefit periods must be used in that order (90-90-60). Hospice care is considered continuous from one benefit period to another, unless the patient revokes the hospice benefit, or the physician discharges or does not re-certify the patient.#N#Rarely, the hospice may discharge the patient from the benefit due to patient or hospice staff safety. If a patient revokes or is discharged from hospice care, the remaining days in the benefit period are lost. If the patient meets the hospice coverage requirements, they can re-elect the hospice benefit, and will begin with the next benefit period.

When to use a notr?

A notice of termination/revocation (NOTR) is used when a hospice patient is discharged alive from the hospice or if a hospice patient revokes the election of hospice services. Submit the NOTR to the Part A MAC within five days after the effective date of discharge or revocation. Do not use an NOTR when a patient is transferred.

Is hospice a Medicare benefit?

Hospice is a Medicare Part A benefit most often provided to terminally-ill patients who wish to remain in their homes. Medicare guidelines for hospice are detailed and can be arduous, however, making billing and reimbursement tricky. An overview of the guidelines and clarification of several misconceptions will help you with claims payment ...

What is the HCPCS level 2 code for hospice?

Hospices must report a HCPCS Level II code with a level of care revenue code (651, 652, 655, and 6 56) to identify the service location where that level of care was provided. The following HCPCS level II codes report the type of service location for hospice services:#N#Q5001 Hospice or home health care provided in patient’s home/residence#N#Q5002 Hospice or home health care provided in assisted living facility#N#Q5003 Hospice care provided in nursing long term care facility (LTC) or non-skilled nursing facility (NF)#N#Q5004 Hospice care provided in skilled nursing facility (SNF)#N#Q5005 Hospice care provided in inpatient hospital#N#Q5006 Hospice care provided in inpatient hospice facility#N#Q5007 Hospice care provided in long term care facility#N#Q5008 Hospice care provided in inpatient psychiatric facility#N#Q5009 Hospice or home health care provided in place not otherwise specified (NOS)#N#Q5010 Hospice home care provided in a hospice facility#N#If care is rendered at multiple locations, identify each location on the claim with a corresponding HCPCS Level II code. For example, routine home care may be provided for a portion of the billing period in the patient’s residence, and another portion may be billed for time in an assisted living facility. In this case, report one revenue code 651 with HCPCS Level II code Q5001 and the number of days the routine home care was provided in the residence; and another revenue code 651 with HCPCS Level II code Q5002 and the number of days the routine home care was provided in the assisted living facility.

How long does it take for hospice to bill?

Time Care Coordination Carefully. Medicare allows hospice providers to bill claims within one year of the start date of service on a claim. Hospices are bound by Medicare’s rule of sequential billing, meaning claims must be filed monthly and must be filed in date order.

Do hospices report injectable drugs?

Hospices should report injectable and non-injectable prescription drugs for the palliation and management of the patient’s terminal illness and related conditions on their claims (CMS Transmittal 2864). On the claims, report both injectable and non-injectable prescription drugs on a line-item basis per fill, corresponding with the amount the pharmacy dispensed; however, hospices are not reimbursed for the drugs listed on the claims; they are reimbursed and included in the per day rate.#N#Transmittal 2864 also explains that when a facility (hospital, skilled nursing facility, non-skilled nursing facility, or hospice inpatient facility) uses a medication management system where each administration of medication is considered a fill for hospice patient care, the hospice should report the monthly total for each drug (i.e., report the total for the period covered by the claim) with the total dispensed. Report also multi-ingredient compound prescription drugs (non-injectable) using revenue code 0250. According to the 837i guidelines in loop 2410, hospice should specify the same prescription number for each ingredient of a compound drug. The hospice should provide the National Drug Code (NDC) for each ingredient in the compound; the NDC qualifier represents the amount/quantity of the dispensed drug, and it should be reported as the unit measurement.#N#For prescription drugs in a comfort kit/pack, report the NDC of each prescription drug in the package, per the procedures for non-injectable prescriptions. Hospices should report durable medical equipment infusion pumps on a line-item basis for each pump and each medication fill and refill. The claim should reflect the infusion pump’s total charge for the period covered by the claim. Infusion pump charges can be made daily, weekly, biweekly, with each medication refill, etc., whatever basis is easiest for its billing systems, as long as the total reflects the charges for the pump during the time of the claim.

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