Knee Orthoses Pre-Pay Review Quarterly Status Report
Below is the analysis of claim denials for knee orthoses HCPCS codes L1832, L1833, L1843, L1844, L1845, L1851, L1852, and L2397 reviewed between October 1 and December 31, 2023. The error rate for this quarter is 65.22%. The top 10 reasons for claim denials are as follows:
Rank | Reason | Percent |
---|---|---|
1. | The HCPCS procedure code on the claim is not correct for the item(s) billed. | 36.11% |
2. | The file does not include medical records that support an examination of knee instability and an objective description of joint laxity (i.e., joint testing, anterior draw, posterior draw, valgus/varus test) from the treating practitioner. | 18.06% |
3. | The medical record does not contain one of the diagnoses required by the Knee Orthoses LCD (L33318). | 9.72% |
4. | The records do not support that the person who did the custom fitting for the orthosis has the expertise of a certified orthotist or an individual who has equivalent specialized training in the provision of orthotics such as a physician, treating practitioner, an occupational therapist, or physical therapist in compliance with all applicable Federal and State licensure and regulatory requirements. | 8.33% |
5. | The medical record documentation is not authenticated (handwritten or electronic) by the author. Refer to Medicare Program Integrity Manual 100-08, Chapter 3, Section 3.3.2.4. | 4.17% |
6. | The documentation does not include verification that the equipment was lost, stolen, or irreparably damaged in a specific incident. Refer to Medicare Claims Processing Manual 100-04, Chapter 20, Section 50 and Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs (A55426). | 4.17% |
7. | The documentation submitted indicates the item(s) were returned by the beneficiary. | 4.17% |
8. | The file does not include medical records that support that the beneficiary is ambulatory. | 2.78% |
9. | The documentation does not include a valid face-to-face encounter that meets the requirements as outlined in the Standard Documentation Requirements for All Claims Submitted to DME MACs (A55426). | 2.78% |
10. | No medical record documentation was received. Refer to Medicare Program Integrity Manual 100-08, Chapter 3, Section 3.2.3.8. | 2.78% |
*The total percentage will be greater than 100% because some claims were denied for multiple reasons.
**The error rate included is an overall average for the supplier specific reviews as a part of the Targeted Probe and Educate program. This is not meant to represent an overall error rate for the HCPCS code or policy under medical record review.
Resources:
- Knee Orthoses Documentation Checklist
- Knee Orthoses – LCD (L33318)
- Knee Orthoses – Policy Article (A52465)
- Orthotics and Prosthetics Medical Review Resources
Updated: February 2, 2024