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December 7, 2011

STATUS REPORT FOR QUARTER 3 - 2011

HCPCS CODE A4253 SERVICE-SPECIFIC PREPAYMENT REVIEW

The Medical Review Department of CGS, the Jurisdiction C DME MAC, began a service-specific prepayment edit for HCPCS code A4253 (Blood Glucose Test Strips) in 2009. This edit is the result of data demonstrating a high claims payment error rate for this product category. A summary report for claims reviewed between July 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011 follows:

HCPCS Code A4253

Claims Reviewed

8,447

Claims Denied

8,133

Denial Rate

96%

Allowed Dollars Error Rate

95%

An analysis of the claim denials showed that the top reasons a determination was made not to pay the claim were:

  • Claim history showed multiple suppliers billing the same items for overlapping dates of service and another supplier had already been paid for the maximum quantity of medically necessary supplies for the time span under review;
  • No medical records were provided;
  • Medical records did not support the medical necessity for the testing frequency ordered;
  • Documentation did not include a request for refill;
  • There was no common reference, such as a tracking number, on both the shipping service's tracking slip and the supplier's shipping invoice that linked the two documents together; and
  • Documentation lacked a current (within six months prior to the date of service being reviewed) test log or physician record (narrative statement in the progress notes, etc.) documenting the frequency at which is beneficiary was actually testing.

CGS has numerous online resources to aid suppliers in understanding and complying with the Medicare coverage criteria for home blood glucose monitoring supplies. Some of these resources, including FAQs and Documentation Checklists, may be accessed via this web address:

http://www.cgsmedicare.com/jc/mr/glucose_monitors.html

Additionally, CGS's Provider Outreach and Education (POE) staff offers frequent webinars that provide an overview of the Medicare Glucose Monitor and Testing Supplies policy. The program instructor discusses information about how a beneficiary qualifies for Medicare coverage of these items and as well as highlighting important documentation points. A review of Medicare's quantity of supply guidelines is also included. The instructor also allows plenty of time for a Q&A session. Additional program and registration information about the DME MAC Jurisdiction C webinars is available at:

http://www.cgsmedicare.com/jc/education/webinars.html

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