Certain payers develop coverage requirements for frequent or problematic procedures or services. Coverage requirements identify specific conditions (i.e., ICD-9-CM codes) for which the services or procedures are considered medically necessary. For example, echocardiography (99307) may not be considered medically necessary for a patient who presents with chest pain unless documentation also supports suspected acute myocardial ischemia and baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) is nondiagnostic; or in cases when the physician suspects aortic dissection.6
Medical Review Program
It is insufficient to develop billing compliance policies and standards without enforcement of these guidelines. In an effort to verify the appropriateness of claims and payment, CMS contracts with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs), and Program Safeguard Contractors (PSCs) to perform medical reviews. The goals of the Medical Review Program are reducing Medicare claims payment errors; decreased denials and increased timely payments; and increased educational opportunities.7
In order to determine which providers should be subject to medical review, contractors must analyze provider compliance with coverage and coding rules and take corrective action when necessary. The corrective action aims to modify behavior in need of change, collect overpayments, and deny improper payments.8 Several types of review exist:
- Prepayment review: The Medicare contractor requests medical records prior to payment;
- Postpayment review: The contractor requests medical records after payment has been received by the physician; this may result in upholding or reversing the initial payment determination;
- Probe review: The contractor requests medical records associated with 20 to 40 claims based upon provider-specific issues; and
- Comprehensive error rate testing (CERT) review: CMS measures the error rate and estimates improper claim payments by randomly selecting and reviewing a sample of claims for compliance.9
Prepayment reviews seem to be expanding as a response to the error rate for certain services. For example, high-level consultation services (99245 and 99255) have prompted review over the last several years to ensure documentation and medical necessity are appropriately supported and maintained. Hospitalists may have noticed a recent increase in prepayment record requests for subsequent hospital care (99232 or 99233) and discharge day management (99239) services. Responses to these and other record requests must be timely in order to prevent claim denial or repayment requests. TH
Carol Pohlig is a billing and coding expert with the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia. She is on the faculty of SHM’s inpatient coding course.
References:
1. Exclusions from coverage and Medicare as a secondary payer. Social Security Online. www.ssa.gov/ OP_Home/ssact/title18/1862.htm. Updated October 28, 2008. Accessed October 15, 2008.
2. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Medicare national coverage determination manual: chapter 1, part 1, section 70.4. www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/ downloads/ncd103c1_Part1.pdf. Accessed October 14, 2008.
3. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Transmittal 1460: Subsequent hospital visits and hospital discharge day management services (Codes 99231-99239). www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1460CP.pdf. Accessed October 14, 2008.