• Providers can submit claim status inquiries via the Medicare Administrative Contractors’ provider Internet-based portals. • Some providers can enter claim status queries via direct data entry screens.
Full Answer
Who do I call if I Have Questions about Medicare?
Do you have questions about your Medicare coverage? 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) can help. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048. What should I have ready when I call 1-800-MEDICARE?
Where do I send inquiries about Medicare provider data?
Inquiries regarding this data can be sent to [email protected]. To receive email notifications, please sign up for the Medicare Provider Data GovDelivery subscription here.
What questions should Medicare patients ask before they're discharged?
What questions should Medicare patients ask before they're discharged from the hospital? How does a doctor's participation in Medicare affect reimbursement? Will all doctors accept my Medicare coverage? How do I replace a lost Medicare card? What steps should I take to avoid Medicare fraud?
What are the billing responsibilities of a Medicare provider?
Your Billing Responsibilities For Medicare programs to work effectively, providers have a significant responsibility for the collection and maintenance of patient information. They must ask questions to secure employment and insurance information.
Phone
For specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, log into your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE.
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
For specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, log into your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE.
What is secondary payer?
Medicare is the Secondary Payer when Beneficiaries are: 1 Treated for a work-related injury or illness. Medicare may pay conditionally for services received for a work-related illness or injury in cases where payment from the state workers’ compensation (WC) insurance is not expected within 120 days. This conditional payment is subject to recovery by Medicare after a WC settlement has been reached. If WC denies a claim or a portion of a claim, the claim can be filed with Medicare for consideration of payment. 2 Treated for an illness or injury caused by an accident, and liability and/or no-fault insurance will cover the medical expenses as the primary payer. 3 Covered under their own employer’s or a spouse’s employer’s group health plan (GHP). 4 Disabled with coverage under a large group health plan (LGHP). 5 Afflicted with permanent kidney failure (End-Stage Renal Disease) and are within the 30-month coordination period. See ESRD link in the Related Links section below for more information. Note: For more information on when Medicare is the Secondary Payer, click the Medicare Secondary Payer link in the Related Links section below.
When do hospitals report Medicare beneficiaries?
If the beneficiary is a dependent under his/her spouse's group health insurance and the spouse retired prior to the beneficiary's Medicare Part A entitlement date, hospitals report the beneficiary's Medicare entitlement date as his/her retirement date.
Is Medicare a primary or secondary payer?
Providers must determine if Medicare is the primary or secondary payer; therefore, the beneficiary must be queried about other possible coverage that may be primary to Medicare. Failure to maintain a system of identifying other payers is viewed as a violation of the provider agreement with Medicare.
Does Medicare pay for black lung?
Federal Black Lung Benefits - Medicare does not pay for services covered under the Federal Black Lung Program. However, if a Medicare-eligible patient has an illness or injury not related to black lung, the patient may submit a claim to Medicare. For further information, contact the Federal Black Lung Program at 1-800-638-7072.
Does Medicare pay for the same services as the VA?
Veteran’s Administration (VA) Benefits - Medicare does not pay for the same services covered by VA benefits.
What is provider based outpatient?
provider-based outpatient department of a hospital is part of the hospital and therefore may bill for CCM services furnished to eligible patients, provided that it meets all applicable requirements. A hospital-owned practice that is not provider-based to a hospital is not part of the hospital and, therefore, not eligible to bill for services under the OPPS; but the physician (or other qualifying practitioner) practicing in the hospital-owned practice may bill under the PFS for CCM services furnished to eligible patients, provided all PFS billing requirements are met.
How long does a CPT 99490 bill take?
The service period for CPT 99490 is one calendar month, and CMS expects the billing practitioner to continue furnishing services during a given month as applicable after the 20 minute time threshold to bill the service is met (see #3 above). However practitioners may bill the PFS at the conclusion of the service period or after completion of at least 20 minutes of qualifying services for the service period. When the 20 minute threshold to bill is met, the practitioner may choose that date as the date of service, and need not hold the claim until the end of the month.
What is CPT 99490?
CPT 99490 describes activities that are not typically or ordinarily furnished face-to-face, such as telephone communication, review of medical records and test results, and consultation and exchange of health information with other providers. If these activities are occasionally provided by clinical staff face-to-face with the patient but would ordinarily be furnished non-face-to-face, the time may be counted towards the 20 minute minimum to bill CPT 99490. However, see #12 below regarding care coordination services furnished on the same day as an E/M visit.
What is Medicare outpatient?
Per section 20.2 of publication 100-04 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, a hospital outpatient is a person who has not been admitted by the hospital as an inpatient but is registered on the hospital records as an outpatient and receives services (rather than supplies alone) from the hospital. Since CPT code 99490 will ordinarily be performed non face-to-face (see # 11 above), the patient will typically not be a registered outpatient when receiving the service. In order to bill for the service, the hospital’s clinical staff must provide at least 20 minutes of CCM services under the direction of the billing physician or practitioner. Because the beneficiary has a direct relationship with the billing physician or practitioner directing the CCM service, we would expect a beneficiary to be informed that the hospital would be performing care management services under their physician or other practitioner’s direction.
How many times can you bill Medicare for E/M?
Under longstanding Medicare guidance, only one E/M service can be billed per day unless the conditions are met for use of modifier -25. Time cannot be counted twice, whether it is face-to-face or non-face-to-face time, and Medicare and CPT specify certain codes that cannot be billed for the same service period as CPT 99490 (see #13, 14 below). Face-to-face time that would otherwise be considered part of the E/M service that was furnished cannot be counted towards CPT 99490. Time spent by clinical staff providing non-face-to-face services within the scope of the CCM service can be counted towards CPT 99490. If both an E/M and the CCM code are billed on the same day, modifier -25 must be reported on the CCM claim.
What is CCM certified technology?
Hospital furnished the CCM services using a version of certified EHR that is acceptable under the EHR Incentive Programs as of December 31st of the calendar year preceding each Medicare PFS payment year (referred to as “CCM certified technology”). The hospital must also meet the requirements to use electronic technology in providing CCM services that are required for payment under the Physician Fee Schedule, such as 24/7 access to the care plan, and electronic sharing of the care plan and clinical summaries other than by fax.
When is CPT 99490 billed?
CPT 99490 can be billed if the beneficiary dies during the service period, as long as at least 20 minutes of qualifying services were furnished during that calendar month and all other billing requirements are met.
