Medicare Blog

what does "provider based" mean for billing medicare ?

by Dr. Lucious D'Amore I Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Provider-based is a Medicare classification, and it means the facility has met specific Medicare regulations. Most large hospital systems are classified as provider-based by Medicare, and it applies to all patients, which results in uniform billing.

Provider-based billing is the practice of charging for physician services separately from building/ facility overhead. This is an increasingly common way for hospitals to operate their outpatient facilities because it can cover for additional costs.Apr 2, 2013

Full Answer

What does it mean when a hospital is provider based?

“Provider-Based” status is a Medicare status for hospitals and clinics that meet specific Medicare regulations and requires that we bill Medicare in two parts – one bill for the physician service, and another bill for the hospital/facility resources and services. What Payers does Rutland Regional contract with in-network?

Who is the provider in the framework of provider-based billing?

In the framework of provider-based billing, which is conducted by main providers, the provider is the hospital. Medicare defines main providers as any provider that creates or takes ownership of another location to provide additional healthcare services.

How does Medicare billing work when you see a physician?

According to Medicare billing rules, when you see a physician in a private office setting, all services and expenses are bundled into a single charge. When you see a physician in a hospital-based outpatient clinic, physician and clinic (facility) charges are billed separately.

What does “provider-based” status mean?

“Provider-Based” status is a Medicare status for hospitals and clinics that meet specific Medicare regulations and requires that we bill Medicare in two parts – one bill for the physician service, and another bill for the hospital/facility resources and services.

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How are provider-based claims billed to Medicare?

According to Medicare billing rules, when you see a physician in a private office setting, all services and expenses are bundled into a single charge. When you see a physician in a hospital-based outpatient clinic, physician and clinic (facility) charges are billed separately.

What does it mean to be provider-based?

A “Provider-Based” or “Hospital Outpatient Clinic” refers to services provided in hospital outpatient departments that are clinically integrated into a hospital. The clinical integration allows for higher quality and seamlessly coordinated care.

What is the difference between hospital-based and non hospital-based?

One is the “facility/hospital” charge and the other is the “physician (professional)” charge. When you see a physician in a freestanding private office, they bundle services in a single charge. In addition, the cost of services in the hospital-based providers is often higher.

What is the billing provider?

Billing Provider means an individual, agent, business, corporation, or other entity who, in connection with submission of claims to the Department, receives or directs payment from the Department on behalf of a performing provider and has been delegated the authority to obligate or act on behalf of the performing ...

What is base billing?

Introduction. Provider-based billing is the practice of charging for physician services separately from building/ facility overhead. This is an increasingly common way for hospitals to operate their outpatient facilities because it can cover for additional costs.

What is a facility based provider?

purposes of this bulletin, a “facility-based provider” is defined as a natural person or professional corporation enrolled as a provider who renders services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries exclusively, in one or more licensed health facilities or health-related facilities.

Which of the following is a hospital-based physician?

hos·pi·tal·ist. 1. A physician whose professional activities are performed chiefly within a hospital (e.g., anesthesiologist, emergency department physician, intensivist (intensive care specialist), pathologist, and radiologist). Synonym(s): hospital-based physician.

What does it mean to be hospital-based?

(G) The term “hospital-based” means, with respect to an agency, owned or operated by a hospital. (H) The term “medical director” means a physician who is registered under subsection (f) and provides medical oversight for an emergency medical services agency.

What is the difference between a hospitalist and hospital-based provider?

It is the hospitalist who takes over the hospital patient's in-hospital care. As such the hospitalist will consult health records and diagnosis taken by the patient's primary care physician. However, the hospitalist serves as the sole provider during your hospital stay.

What are 3 different types of billing systems?

There are three basic types of systems: closed, open, and isolated.

What is the difference between the billing provider and service provider?

– Individual Rendering/Servicing Provider: A provider who does not bill Medicaid directly and who prescribes or refers items or services through a Group, Facility, Agency, Organization or Individual Sole Proprietor. – Billing Provider: A provider who submits claims and/or receives payment for an Individual provider.

What is the difference between servicing provider and billing provider?

Generally speaking, professional claims have fields for the entity who will be paid, sometimes called the 'billing provider', and the entity who performed the services, the 'servicing provider'.

What is a provider based billing?

In the framework of provider-based billing, which is conducted by main providers, the provider is the hospital. Medicare defines main providers as any provider that creates or takes ownership of another location to provide additional healthcare services. These hospital outpatient clinics are subject to stricter government guidelines ...

What is a provider in Medicare?

According to Medicare, a provider is generally defined as a hospital, central access hospital, skilled nursing facility, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility, home health agency, or hospice participating in the Medicare program.

What is PBD 603?

Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 ( Public Law 114-74) mandates off-campus provider-based departments (PBD) are excepted or grandfathered in when they have both furnished and billed for services according to timely filling limits, prior to Nov. 2, 2015, under OPPS. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, those excepted facilities will continue to receive payment through OPPS. These facilities will see higher than average payments than freestanding facilities with reimbursement from both OPPS and MPFS. Non-excepted sites will receive lower payments under the MPFS or the Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System with an appropriate HCPCS Level II modifier. Facilities that are not affected or do not apply to Section 603 include provider-based entities, on-campus departments, and those facilities not billed under OPPS.

What are the two types of physician offices?

There are essentially two types of physician offices: (1) Hospital outpatient clinics, where the physician offices are considered a department of the hospital, which fall under Medicare’s definition of providers, and (2) private physician practices, which are considered suppliers . In the framework of provider-based billing, ...

What is the role of a provider in the organization?

Operates under the same organizational documents (for example, bylaws and operating decisions of the governing body) Main provider holds responsibility for administrative decisions, outside contract approvals, personnel actions and policies, and medical staff appointment approvals. Administration and Supervision.

What is provider based attestation?

Provider-based attestations are used to establish that a facility has met provider-based status determination requirements. Providers may bill for services furnished in newly created or established facilities, both on and off-campus, prior to qualifying for provider-based status.

How much of a physician practice does a hospital own?

In an effort to gain market share, hospitals began buying up private physician practices, and by 2018 collectively owned over 31 percent of physician practices, according to research by The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI).

Why is provider based billing used?

Patients benefit because all participating hospital facilities must follow more strict quality standards and offer additional resources for patients and their families.

Do you have to list professional services separately?

The requirement to list professional services and facility charges separately is unique to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Only patients with Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage or Medicaid HMO plans are billed with the professional service and facility charges listed separately.

What does provider based mean in Medicare?

Provider-based is a Medicare classification, and it means the facility has met specific Medicare regulations. Most large hospital systems are classified as provider-based by Medicare, and it applies to all patients which results in uniform billing. This decision was made as a result of our desire to increase the quality ...

How does provider based billing apply to billing?

How does provider-based apply to billing? Billing applies to all patients, regardless of the type of insurance you have. The way your insurance covers facility and/or treatment charges will be different based on whether you have insurance through your employer, an insurance company, or if you are covered by Medicare.

What if I have Medicare Advantage?

What if I have Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage Plans or Tricare? In a hospital-based outpatient clinic, if you have Medicare, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage Plans or Tricare, you may receive two (2) separate bills for services provided in the clinic — one for physician services and another from the hospital.

Does Rutland Regional Medical Center have Medicare?

Insurance carriers who have a contract with Rutland Regional Medical Center may not require the same billing process as plans such as Medicare or Medicaid. You may not incur additional expenses but should check with the business office or your insurance plan.

What is provider based?

Provider-based refers to a Medicare billing status and process for physician services that are provided in a hospital outpatient clinic. A provider-based clinic must meet Medicare provider-based regulations. 2.

How long does it take for CMS to process a provider based billing?

Yes. A determination can take up to 6 months for CMS to process. Since the attestation is voluntary, if the facility meets all of the provider-based criteria, it does not need to wait to begin billing as provider-based.

Why is provider based clinic important?

Provider-based clinics are under more scrutiny than ever before, so it is important for facilities to ensure their clinics are meeting Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) criteria. 1. What is a provider-based clinic?

Can a provider clinic be on the same campus as the main provider?

No, a provider-based clinic may be on the same campus as the main provider or located off campus. The CMS definition of campus requires the clinic to be within 250 yards of the main buildings.

Is there an official CMS form for attestation?

There is not an official CMS form for an attestation and evaluation. Guidance for the content of the attestation can be found in Program Memorandum A-03-030, published April 18, 2003. Some Medicare MACs and CMS regional offices do have a preferred format.

Can CMS recover past payment for cost report periods?

In addition, if CMS subsequently discovers the facility has been billing as provider-based and an attestation has been made and approved but does not meet the provider-based rules, then CMS would not recover all past payment for cost report periods subject to reopening.

Can a provider be a provider based RHC?

Yes. A new Medicare provider number is issued when a clinic becomes an RHC. It is necessary to get a CMS determination for the RHC to be provider-based to the hospital, at which time a provider-based RHC number will be issued.

What is centralized billing?

Centralized Billing for COVID-19: A way for mass immunizers to send all COVID-19 roster bill claims to a single Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC), Novitas. Medicare pays based on where you administer the vaccine. You can enroll in and use centralized billing, regardless of where you administer the vaccines.

What is a roster bill?

Roster Bill: A way for you to submit multiple claims for flu, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines. Mass immunizers must use roster billing. You must administer the same type of vaccine to 5 or more people on the same date of service. You must bill each type of vaccine on a separate roster bill.

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Trends in Provider-Based Billing

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In an effort to gain market share, hospitals began buying up private physician practices, and by 2018 collectively owned over 31 percent of physician practices, according to research by The Physicians Advocacy Institute (PAI). Hospital acquisition of private physician practices increased by 128 percent between July …
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Debate Over Pros and Cons

  • There are strong arguments on both sides of the table regarding provider-based billing, with many pertaining to payment rates and proposed adjustments. Regardless of stance, there are clear benefits and drawbacks to hospital acquisitions and the payments that accompany them. One is the potential financial advantages for providers. However, the premise behind provider-based bil…
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Qualifying For Provider-Based Status

  • Provider-based attestations are used to establish that a facility has met provider-based status determination requirements. Providers may bill for services furnished in newly created or established facilities, both on and off-campus, prior to qualifying for provider-based status. Should CMS determine that the voluntary self-attestation does not mee...
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Criteria and Requirements

  • Although providers may bill for services prior to receiving a provider-based designation, the main provider must meet all the criteria and requirements to qualify for provider-based billing according to the regulations stated in 42 CFR §413.65. On-campus facilities (within 250 yards) must follow all rules stated under Section (d). Off-campus facilities must adhere to Section (d) requirements …
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Place of Service Codes

  • The following POS codes (as defined in the CPT® code book) are used on professional claims to designate the entity where the services were provided: Appending the wrong POS code could result in erroneous or non-compliant payment, leading to overpayment liability and potential False Claims Act liability. In the case of an overpayment differential, repayment would be equivalent t…
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and Modifiers

  • Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-74) mandates off-campus provider-based departments (PBD) are excepted or grandfathered in when they have both furnished and billed for services according to timely filling limits, prior to Nov. 2, 2015, under OPPS. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, those excepted facilities will continue to receive payment through …
See more on aapc.com

Billing Guidance

  • Split billing for PBDs through the UB-04 and CMS-1500 claims or electronic equivalents may appear to be equal parts of the whole, but typically the total payment is higher than if it was only billed under MPFS. This is due in part to the UB-04 capturing the facility fee under OPPS, which includes point of care testing. The CMS-1500 reports the professional fee under the MPFS, alon…
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Audit For Compliance

  • Avalere Health and PAI found in their 2016 study on risk-adjusted payment differences for cardiac imaging, colonoscopy, and evaluation and management (E/M) that all three services have a higher cost to Medicare from hospital outpatient departments compared to physician-owned offices. For example, in the PAI full report profile, two E/M services for hospital outpatient departments wer…
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