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September 4, 2018

Targeted Probe and Educate Progress Update

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Change Request 10249External PDF implemented the Targeted Probe & Educate (TPE) process, effective October 1, 2017. The following provides progress of TPE from October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018.

Findings

Medical Review initiated complex review edits for specific providers identified through data analysis demonstrating high risk for improper payment. Education has been offered to providers throughout and upon completion of Round 1 of TPE review. Currently not enough Hospice providers have completed Round 1 to report Hospice progress. Current Round 1 Home Health Results are as follows:

Home Health

Probes completed October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018

Eligibility and Medical Necessity edit 5A000

Results Home Health
Probes Completed 45
Providers Compliant after Round 1 Completion 4
Providers Non-compliant after Round 1 Completion (advancing to Round 2) 41
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADRs for Round 1 11

No response to ADR edit 5A004

Results Home Health
Probes Completed 12
Providers Compliant after Round 1 Completion 1
Providers Non-compliant after Round 1 Completion (advancing to Round 2) 11
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADRs for Round 1 2

Probes completed April 1, 2018 – June 30, 2018

Eligibility and Medical Necessity edit 5A000

Results Home Health
Probes Completed 30
Providers Compliant after Round 1 Completion 1
Providers Non-compliant after Round 1 Completion (advancing to Round 2) 29
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADRs for Round 1 9

No response to ADR edit 5A004

Results Home Health
Probes Completed 12
Providers Compliant after Round 1 Completion 1
Providers Non-compliant after Round 1 Completion (advancing to Round 2) 11
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADRs for Round 1 2

Findings by State

CGS is providing an overview of review findings by state for providers who have completed Round 1 review from April 1, 2018 – June 30, 2018.

HH Review Decisions by State

Risk Category

Risk Category is defined based on end of round provider error rate. The categories are defined as:

Risk Category Error Rate
Minor 0-25%
Moderate 26-50%
Significant 51-100%

HH Risk Category

Home Health

Top Denial Reasons April 1 2018 – June 30, 2018

  1. Face-to-Face missing/incomplete/untimely
  2. Therapy visits not medically necessary
  3. Initial certification invalid
  4. Recertification estimate missing/invalid
  5. Plan of care missing/invalid
  • FTF Documentation Denials accounted for approximately 29% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
    • Actual FTF encounter document not submitted
    • Certifying physician did not document the date of the FTF encounter
      • CGS Home Health Physician Certification Web page
    • Community physician was not identified when a physician who would not be following the patient after discharge signed the certification
    • Required elements for initial certification (initial plan of care, initial certification, initial encounter documentation) were not submitted for recertification

    Refer to the CGS Home Health Coverage Guidelines Web page for a variety of resources on the home health FTF encounter.
  • Documentation did not support medical necessity of therapy services accounted for approximately 10% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.

    Refer to the CGS Physical Therapy Web page for documentation tips, access to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7) therapy information and the Local Coverage Determination for physical therapy services.
  • Initial certification invalid accounted for approximately 9% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.

    Refer to the CGS Home Health Physician Certification Web page for documentation tips and access to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7).
  • Recertification estimate missing/invalid accounted for approximately 9% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.

Education

Providers with a moderate to high error rate will be offered an individualized education session where each claim found in error will be discussed and any questions will be answered. CGS offers education sessions via webinar, web-based presentation, or traditional teleconferences. Other methods may also be available. Providers may also submit questions or request education via the home health and hospice TPE email box at J15HHPROBEANDEDUCATION@CGSADMIN.COM.

Next Steps

Providers found to be non-compliant at the completion of Round 1 will advance to Round 2 of TPE at least 45 days from completion of the 1:1 post probe education call date. CGS offers education at any time for providers. Providers do not have to be identified for TPE to request education. CGS encourages providers to request education and conduct self-monitoring based on our posted Medical Review Activity Log and using tools such as Comparative Billing Reports (CBRs)PDF offered through our web portal.

References

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