Tag: Coding
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: New CPT Codes for RSV Vaccine Administration
Please Read Carefully
If your patient doesn’t have Medicare Part D, Medicare will pay for vaccine administration.
but not the vaccine under Part B.
CMS retroactively added 2 new CPT codes for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine administration to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule effective for dates of service on and after October 6, 2023:
- 96380 – Short descriptor: Admn rsv monoc antb im cnsl
- 96381 – Short descriptor: Admn rsv monoc antb im njx
Your Medicare Administrative Contractor will adjust claims you bring to their attention.
Superior Pediatric Vaccines 11/1/2023
For questions, please contact Pharmacy Provider Services
Updated: Vaccine Information
Date: 11/01/23
The best way to stay protected against COVID-19 and flu is by staying updated on vaccines. Superior HealthPlan would like to inform providers about current COVID-19 and flu vaccine coverage.
COVID-19 Vaccines
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated versions (2023-2024 formulation) of the COVID-19 vaccines; both the Pfizer and Moderna versions were approved in September and the Novavax version was approved in early October.
The Vendor Drug Program (VDP) is still working on getting the new COVID-19 vaccines added to the pharmacy formulary with no provided ETA. Superior Medicaid and CHIP members can obtain the new COVID-19 vaccines through their medical provider in the meantime or wait and return to the pharmacy once the VDP and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission have added the new vaccines to the pharmacy benefit. Please check the VDP Product Search for the most updated coverage of vaccines.
Flu Vaccines
The 2023-2024 flu vaccine formulations were added by the VDP to the pharmacy benefit on September 1, 2023. Similar to last year’s flu season, Medicaid and CHIP members who are 3 years of age and older can obtain their flu vaccine from a participating pharmacy. All members under 3 years of age will need to obtain a flu vaccine from their medical provider.
MLN Connects News
2024 Medicare Part B Deductible.
The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $240 in 2024, an increase of $14 from the annual deductible of $226 in 2023.
Discarded Drugs and Biologicals:
When to Use JW and JZ Modifiers.
Read updated JW and JZ Modifier FAQs for additional clarity on billing with these modifiers (see FAQs 7, 8, and 18–22). CMS posted a new list of billing and payment codes only used for single-dose containers that may require the modifiers, depending on the setting:
Aetna OfficeLink Updates, Oct. 1, 2023
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) modifiers FX and FY
Effective January 1, 2024, we will reduce payment for radiology procedures billed with modifiers FX and FY to align with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.
• Modifier FX (X-ray taken using film): A 20% payment reduction applies to the technical component (and the technical component of the global fee).
• Modifier FY (computed radiography X-ray): A 10% payment reduction applies to the technical component (and the technical component of the global fee).
Reimbursement for code A9279
(monitoring feature/device)
Effective January 1, 2024, Aetna® will no longer reimburse for code A9279, since it is considered statutorily non-covered.
HCC Tip Card
Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCCs) aren’t a new concept, but as more and more organizations shift to value-based care, the lack of a foundational knowledge of HCCs, could result in lower rates of reimbursement, or sometimes not getting paid at all.
Hierarchical Condition Categories, are sets of medical codes that are linked to specific clinical diagnoses.
HCCs are used by CMS as part of a risk-adjustment model that identifies individuals with serious acute or chronic conditions. This allows Medicare to project the expected risk and future annual cost of care.
A RAF, (Risk Adjustment Factor) score is a measure of the estimated cost of an individual’s care based on their disease burden and demographic information. Each HCC associated with a patient is assigned a RAF that is averaged with any other HCC code factors and a demographic score. The resulting score is the payment amount a provider receives for a patient. Healthier patients will have a below average RAF while sicker patients will have a higher one, which impacts the calculated payment amount.
The below linked HCC Tip Card is a few years old, but maybe it can help us understand how HCC is weighted.
13 Reasons a Claim is Denied
1). A duplicate claim was submitted when a practice hasn’t received reimbursement.
2). The patient isn’t eligible for services because their health plan coverage ended, and the patient hasn’t shown proof of new insurance.
3). The patient hasn’t met his/her deductible for the year.
4). Some services are bundled. For example, laboratory profiles with multiple tests don’t qualify for separate reimbursements, or an all-encompassing rate covers the minor procedures and the pre- and post- procedure visits. The provider receives one combined payment.
5). The benefit has been exceeded, such as the maximum allowed number of physical therapy visits covered by the health plan within a calendar year.
6). The claim form is missing a modifier, or modifier(s) are invalid for the procedure code (as in the case of bilateral codes billed on both sides).
7). An inconsistent place of service is marked on the claim form, such as an impatient procedure billed in an outpatient setting.
8). A particular service isn’t covered under the plan’s benefits, or there appears to be a lack of medical necessity. In another example, there could be a mismatch between the actual diagnosis and the service performed.
9). The claim is deficient in certain information. It may be missing prior authorization or the effective period within which the pre-approved service must be provided for the reimbursement to occur.
10). There is a coding data error with mismatched totals or mutually exclusive codes.
11). It may be necessary to coordinate benefits when dual coverage issues arise, such as with secondary insurance or worker’s compensation.
12). The filing deadline has passed. If a claim isn’t submitted to the insurer within the permitted time frame, it is likely to be rejected. The limit to file can be as short as 90 days from the date of service.
13). Errors or typos were made while collecting pertinent information from the patient or during the data entry process for a claim.
Aetna Claim and Code Review Program
This update applies to Aetna’s Commercial, Medicare and Student Health members.
Beginning September 1, 2023, you may see new claim edits. These are part of our CCRP. These edits support our continuing effort to process claims accurately for our commercial, Medicare and Student Health members. You can view these edits on our Availity provider portal.*
For coding changes, go to Aetna Payer Space > Resources > Expanded Claim Edits
With the exception of Student Health, you’ll also have access to our code edit lookup tools. To find out if our new claim edits will apply to your claim, log in to the Availity provider portal. You’ll need to know your Aetna® provider ID number (PIN) to access our code edit lookup tools
How’d You Score?
Did you take Betsy Nicoletti’s Quiz on Modifier 25?
Let’s Explore the Facts or Rules Behind the Answers.
#1. The definition and rules for modifier 25 did not change in 2023. “In the March edition of the CPT Assistant it says that while the rules weren’t changed in the 2023 code set “confusion exists regarding its appropriate use.”
#2. What does a modifier added to a CPT or HCPCS code do? The answer is b) Indicates the service or procedure was altered by specific circumstances.
Some modifiers affect payment (like modifier 25) and some are informational only (those appended to teaching physician services). CPT modifiers may be used on HCPCS codes and HCPCS modifiers on CPT codes. A modifier doesn’t change the definition of the code, but indicates that the service or procedure was altered in some way.
#3. When using modifier 25 when reporting an E/M services and a minor procedure, do you need a different diagnosis for the E/M and the Procedure? The answer is NO.
“As such, different diagnoses are not required for reporting of the E/M services on the same date”. CMS says, “If a significant separately identifiable evaluation and management service is performed, the appropriate E&M code should be reported utilizing modifier 25 in addition to the chemotherapy administration or nonchemotherapy injection and infusion service. For an evaluation and Management service provided on the same day, a different diagnosis is not required.” Medicare Claims Processing Manual, CH. 12 30.5.C
#4. When performing a minor procedure, usual preoperative and postoperative activities are included i in the work of the procedure and should not be reported with an E/M service. Which of these activities are considered usual preoperative and postoperative activities? (List may not be complete). Answer is d) All of the above.
The March 2023 CPT Assistant lists the services that are considered part of the procedure—paid for within the fee for the procedure—and should not be counted as a separate E/M.
Pre- and post-operative services typically associated with a procedure include the following and cannot be reported with a separate E/M services code:
• Review of patient’s relevant past medical history,
• Assessment of the problem area to be treated by surgical or other service,
• Formulation and explanation of the clinical diagnosis,
• Review and explanation of the procedure to the patient, family, or caregiver,
• Discussion of alternative treatments or diagnostic options,
• Obtaining informed consent,
• Providing postoperative care instructions,
• Discussion of any further treatment and follow up after the procedure
5) When performing a preventive medicine service or wellness visit, the practitioner also assesses and manages the patient’s chronic conditions, reviews labs, and renews multiple prescriptions. How is this billed? The Answer is b) Preventive medicine or wellness visit and a problem-oriented visit, with modifier 25 on the problem-oriented visit
Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Ch 12. 30.6.1.1.2.H
“When the physician or qualified NPP, or for AWV the health professional, provides a significant, separately identifiable medically necessary E/M service in addition to the IPPE or an AWV, CPT codes 99201 – 99215 may be reported depending on the clinical appropriateness of the circumstances. CPT Modifier -25 shall be appended to the medically necessary E/M service identifying this service as a significant, separately identifiable service from the IPPE or AWV code reported (HCPCS code G0344 or G0402, whichever applies based on the date the IPPE is performed, or HCPCS code G0438 or G0439 whichever AWV code applies).”CPT Professional Ed., 2023, page 32
Cheers to knowledge
Check Your Modifier 25 Knowledge
Our Friend Betsy Nicoletti founder of CodingIntel, says “It’s hard for me to think of a topic that invites so much disagreement between coders and auditors, between practices and payers and with our practitioners.”
She has put together a short little quiz on the topic (below). Tell us how you did.
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