Posts Tagged ‘RA’

July 2010 RARC, CARC, and MREP Update

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Change Request (CR) 6901 announces the latest update of Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARCs) and Claim Adjustment Reason Codes (CARCs), effective July 1.

The reason and remark code sets must be used to report payment adjustments in Remittance Advice (RA) transactions. The reason codes are also used in some Coordination of Benefits (COB) transactions.

Part B providers who use the Medicare Remit Easy Print (MREP) software will need to download the updated RARC/CARC code file when it is available July 6, to use in conjunction with the MREP software. The MREP user guide provides instructions to assist providers with importing the updated RARC/CARC codes file into the MREP software. The MREP user guide and software can be accessed on the CMS MREP web page.

Reference Transmittal 1950, CR 6901, issued April 23, and MLN Matters article MM6901 for further details.

Source: TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, LLC

New HCPCS Codes in Effect April 1

Monday, April 5th, 2010

The April 2010 update of HCPCS Level II codes is now available on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website. Downloadable files include one for a smattering of C codes and another involving four modifiers.

New C codes effective April 1 are:

HCPCS Code Long Description
C9258 Injection, telavancin, 10 mg
C9259 Injection, pralatrexate, 1 mg
C9260 Injection, ofatumumab, 10 mg
C9261 Injection, ustekinumab, 1 mg
C9262 Fludarabine phosphate, oral, 1 mg
C9263 Injection, ecallantide, 1 mg

Modifiers revised or added, effective April 1 are:

HCPCS Code Long Description Action Coverage
GA Waiver of liability statement issued, as required by payer policy Revise C
GX Notice of liability issued, voluntary under payer policy ADD C
       
RA Replacement of a dme, orthotic or prosthetic item Revise  
       
RB Replacement of a part of a dme, orthotic or prosthetic item furnished as part of a repair Revise  

Download these files from the HCPCS Quarterly Update webpage on the CMS website.

Refer to the April 2010 update of the hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) for further information on these codes.

Submit a Lot of Duplicate Claims? Expect a Call

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) National Government Services (NGS) is in the process of identifying providers in jurisdiction 13 (Connecticut and New York) who continually submit multiple duplicate claims. These providers will be asked to explain the reason(s) for the duplicative billing and education will be provided to avoid excessive submissions in the future.

NGS does not believe offending providers are deliberately trying to defraud Medicare, but habitually submitting multiple duplicate claims does send out a red flag.

The definition of a duplicate claim submission is when a provider resubmits a claim either on paper or electronically for a single encounter and the service is provided by the same provider to the:

  • same beneficiary; for the
  • same item(s) or service(s); for the
  • same date(s) of service.

You can identify claims that are denied as a duplicate submission by reviewing your remittance advice (RA). Your RA will provide you with the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) group code “CO” and reason code “18.” NGS recommends providers check claim status.

For information on the status of a claim submitted to NGS and/or to verify NGS received your claim, you should follow the instructions provided on the company website.

CMS: TIPs Not Reasonable or Necessary

Monday, December 15th, 2008

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a national coverage determination (NCD) ruling thermal intradiscal procedures (TIPs) not reasonable and necessary for the treatment of low back pain performed on Medicare beneficiaries. Read more »