Skip to Main Content

Print | Bookmark | Font Size: + |

March 28, 2012

A Preview of PWK—When to Use the PWK Segment

Beginning April 2, 2012, you will have the option of mailing or faxing hard copy documentation to accompany your electronically-submitted claims. This will be accomplished through the use of what is called the PWK (paperwork) segment. The process is:

  1. You submit an electronic claim, making sure to complete the PWK segment (use BM if mailing the documentation, or FX if faxing in PWK02). The PWK segment is on the 2300 claim level or 2400 line level of the 837 Professional and Institutional X12 version 5010.
  2. After the claim has been accepted by CGS, you complete the PWK Fax/Mail Cover Sheet, which will be available on our website by 04/02/2012.
  3. You mail or fax the PWK Fax/Mail Cover Sheet with all necessary documentation (the form will include the relevant mailing address and fax number).
  4. We will process the claim and will refer to your submitted PWK documentation, if necessary for proper claim adjudication.

The information provided in this article is intended to assist you in understanding when it is appropriate to use PWK. When considering whether or not to use the PWK segment, please keep the following tips in mind:

1. Use of the PWK segment is entirely voluntary

You are not required to use the PWK segment in any circumstance; it is entirely voluntary. Under current claim processing rules, if a Medicare contractor determines that additional information is needed to complete proper adjudication of a claim (for instance, due to an audit), then the contractor will send you a development letter requesting additional documentation. This process will not change. If you believe your claim may result in a development request, then it may be a good idea to include the documentation through the PWK process in order to expedite claim processing time.

2. The NTE (note) segment is still a valid option

Using the PWK segment is not always the best option for including additional claim information. The NTE (note) segment of an electronic claim is currently available for you to include notes and information that may be important for the proper adjudication of the claim. The NTE segment will continue to be available after the implementation of the PWK segment. Use of the PWK segment results in additional processing time due to the waiting period required for us to receive your mailed/faxed documentation. If you can use the NTE segment instead of the PWK segment, we encourage you to do so.

3. Do not send PWK documentation unless it is needed

Medicare rules and regulations require that you keep certain documentation on file in order to support the medical necessity and justification of your claims (medical records, progress notes, etc.); however, you are not required to submit this documentation with your claim. We encourage you to only submit supporting claim documentation when you believe we require it in order to correctly process your claim.

4. Use of the PWK segment does not guarantee that the J15 MAC will review the submitted paperwork

When processing your claims, we may look for additional information in the NTE segment or the PWK segment (beginning April 2) in order to complete your claim; however, use of the NTE segment or PWK segment does not mean that we will always review the information. We only look at your additional information when needed in order to properly process payment. For instance, if a claim is submitted with a modifier that precludes payment for the service, the claim will deny without our claim processors looking at the NTE or PWK segments.

For additional information about the PWK segment, refer to MLN Matters Article MM7041 at http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM7041.pdfExternal PDFand/or MLN Matters Article MM7306 at http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM7306.pdfExternal PDF.

26 Century Blvd Ste ST610, Nashville, TN 37214-3685 © CGS Administrators, LLC. All Rights Reserved