Outcomes
Individual contractors are notified of improper payments. These include overpayments and underpayments. Unfortunately, contractors do not have to resolve CERT issues involving underpayments, although they are encouraged to do so by CMS.
The CERT program identified overpayments totaling $875,005 during the 12-month reporting period, but collected only $650,418 in overpayments after consideration of appeals that overturned a CERT decision or the provider discontinued business operations. (See Table 1, p. 18, for error rates and Table 2, p. 18, for highest rates of improper payment)
To improve billing compliance and prevent repetitive errors, contractors must implement provider education regarding erroneously paid claims. A contractor may determine the best education method to distribute information about Medicare rules and effectively answer coverage and coding questions.
Some contractors have designed Web-based training modules, Web pages with frequently-asked-questions sections, or local coverage analyses to address contractor-specific errors. Detailed CERT contractor information can be found at www.cms.hhs.gov/ mcd/indexes.asp?from2=indexes.asp&
Due to its successful outcomes, future CMS goals include the continuation of the CERT program. MACs will look more closely at service types based on identified error rates.
Apart from CERT requests, prepayment contractor reviews already exist for most of the services included in Table 2 (p. 18). Timely response is crucial to justify and receive appropriate reimbursement. 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. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Improper Medicare fee-for-service payments report: May 2008. CMS Web site. Available at: www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/er_report/preview_er_report.asp?from=public&which=long&reportID=9. Accessed Dec. 20, 2008.
2. Beebe M, Dalton J, Espronceda M, Evans D, Glenn R. Current Procedural Terminology Professional Edition. Chicago: American Medical Association; 2008.