Medicare Quick Answers

A: A great place to start is to search in your web browser for the Department of Human Services [your state] or the term Medicaid [your state]. The other option is to type Mecicaid.gov in your browser. These options should lead you to your state department for Medicaid services where you can locate coverage exclusions, provider enrollment forms, and specific benefits.

A: There was a rule for Medicare that was not strictly enforced until January 2018. The use of modifier GP indicates that a service was performed as part of an outpatient physical therapy plan of care. In addition to the GP modifier, you would also include the GY modifier when billing Medicare for this statutorily non-covered service. The use of the GP modifier applies to all 97XXX and G0283 codes that are billed to Medicare. (Hint: United Healthcare and some other payers are also asking for this GP modifier)

A: A Provider Transaction Number (PTAN) is the number that an entity (individual provider or clinic/group) receives once approved for enrollment with Medicare. This number is only for use within Medicare and will be used as an identification factor when calling into Medicare. The fact that you have an assigned number ensures Medicare that you have completed their enrollment process. A Chiropractic entity must maintain an active PTAN to continue to treat Medicare patients. If you do not revalidate or do not submit a claim within 1 year, your PTAN will become deactivated.

A: When submitting Medicare claims for statutorily excluded services, each service must have a “GY” modifier. For therapy services, you must include the “GP” modifier (GY GP). The GP modifier is also referred to as the “Always Therapy” modifier. When sending E/M services to Medicare for secondary consideration you may want to include the “25” modifier if the E/M service is separate and distinct from the CMT service. E/M services must always have the GY modifier signifying that you realize this is a statutorily excluded service (25 GY). Keep in mind that you are NOT REQUIRED to bill Medicare for statutorily excluded services, however, if the patient has secondary insurance, billing these services to Medicare will ensure that they are denied appropriately in order for the secondary to respond.

A: The QMB program is a Medicaid benefit that assists low-income Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare Part A and Part B premiums and cost sharing. It includes deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. In 2016, 7.5 million individuals enrolled in the QMB program. Of that total, about twenty-two percent received Medicaid coverage of their Medicare expenses only (QMB Only), and seventy-eight percent received full Medicaid benefits in addition to coverage of their Medicare expenses (QMB Plus).

A: According to Medicare, they don’t have a cap; "they have a “screen.” If a patient’s care is still truly medically necessary, you can continue to send it into Medicare with an AT modifier. Having said that, if you have reason to believe the care won’t be reimbursed by Medicare, you can add the GA modifier after the ABN is signed by the patient which informs the patient that you have reason to believe it won’t be reimbursed.

A: According to Medicare guidelines you can only bill Medicare for what is medically necessary. That means you can’t charge separately for maintenance care. You should document the care and only bill Medicare for the appropriate levels. This is not considered “gifting” as you are just adhering to Medicare guidelines.

A: The answer depends on several factors; the most important is whether or not you have a written agreement with the substitute doctor and how the doctor is being paid. Normally, a substitute doctor covering for another doctor for a vacation will make a reciprocal billing arrangement (e.g., two physicians exchange coverage for vacations). This is an informal arrangement and does not require a written agreement. The regular physician’s 1500 claim form (with NPI in box 24J) will need to be appended with the Q5 modifier. If the time away will be extensive, the regular physician should make a fee-for-time compensation arrangement (previously known as locum tenens) with the substitute doctor. The payment is NOT an exchange of services but rather a fixed per diem amount. According to Medicare, the substitute doctor does not need to be registered with Medicare to perform the duties of the Locum Tenens (although some commercial carriers (e.g., Medicare Advantage plans) may have different rules. When billing for these services, your NPI still goes in 24J and the Q6 modifier is appended. The office needs documentation reflecting the dates that the locum tenens provider was covering and those patients that were treated under his/her care.

A: The code 223 is new due to the “sequestration reduction” based on the federal budget. The amount of reduction is applied to the allowable fee and therefore is an additional write-off which you cannot collect from the patient. We hope it is temporary. However, as there has of yet been no approved budget out of our federal government, this is still being applied.

A: Medicare’s utilization guidelines for chiropractic services require the following three components in order to establish medical necessity:

1) Presence of a subluxation that causes a significant neuromusculoskeletal condition. Medicare will not pay for treatment unless it is by manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation. The subluxation must be consistent with the complaint/condition.
2) Documentation of the Subluxation. A subluxation may be demonstrated by one of two methods - x-ray or physical examination. If documented by physical examination, the PART system must be used in conjunction with a Functional Outcomes Assessment in order to indicate a Functional Deficit.
3) Documentation of the Initial and Subsequent Visits. Specific documentation requirements apply whether the subluxation is demonstrated by x-ray or by physical examination. Medical Necessity must be documented for each region that is adjusted along with re-evaluations to document the effectiveness of the treatment plan.

A: Medicare considers CPT Code 97010 (hot/cold packs) a ‘bundled’ service. When a service is bundled, it means that the reimbursement for the code is built into or grouped with the reimbursement for another code. In this instance, it means services described by 97010 are not separately billable when rendered to a Medicare patient. It is considered a part of whatever primary service is rendered to the patient, and in the case of chiropractic that will be a CMT code (98940-98942). This is different than a ‘non-covered’ service, which can be charged to the patient. A bundled service cannot be charged to the patient, as it is being reimbursed within another code’s value.

A: Unfortunately, no, it doesn’t work that way. Patients can either use their insurance OR they can use ChiroHealthUSA for the services. This applies to offices that offer a Time of Service Discount, as well. It is one or the other—not both.

A: In order to avoid federal penalties, you must charge every patient for every service rendered. Otherwise, you are vulnerable to Inducement Violation which can generate an avalanche of violations that start when you offer federally funded patients services that are free or outside the 5-15% time of service guideline (as set forth by the OIG). The safest way to offer a greater discount is by using a discount medical plan such as ChiroHealthUSA or properly verifying the patient’s financial need according to your written hardship policies.

A: According to www.Medicare.gov, a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) is a Medicare health plan that qualified beneficiaries may choose as part of their Medicare packages. These plans are very similar to traditional Health Management Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and Private Fees for Service (PFFS) plans. They technically replace traditional Medicare Part B in the sense that the carrier handles all benefits and claim processing.

A: The ABN is not a work-around for enrolling with Medicare. In the chiropractic setting, the ABN is only used when the provider is actively enrolled as either a Participating or Non-Participating provider.
It is not appropriate to use the ABN form if the provider is not actively enrolled with Medicare. An ABN does not protect the provider from the mandatory enrollment requirement.

A: In some instances, Medicaid pays the deductibles, coinsurance, and premiums for Medicare Part A and B for low-income individuals. These cases are referred to as “Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries” or QMB’s.