May 27, 2016
Part B Telephone Reopening Request
Telephone Reopening request can not be accepted, if your claim has a payment adjustment applied due to any of the following:
- Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS),
- Value Base Modifier (VBM) or
- Electronic Health Record (E H R)
If you find your Fee For Service charge needs a correction, and you have a payment adjustment applied to other allowed charges on the claim, you will need to request a Written Reopening and not a Telephone Reopening, when a payment adjustment has been applied to your Fee For Service charges.
What to look for on your Medicare Remittance
The PQRS, EHR Incentive Program, and Value Base Modifier (VM) currently use CARC 237 – Legislated/Regulatory Penalty, to designate when a negative or downward payment adjustment will be applied.
At least one Remark Code will be provided (may be comprised of either the NCPDP Reject Reason Code or Remittance Advice Remark Code that is not an ALERT) in combination with the following RARCs:
- N237 - Legislated/Regulatory Penalty. At least one Remark Code must be provided (may be comprised of either the NCPDP Reject Reason Code, or Remittance Advice Remark Code that is not an ALERT.)
- PQRS N699 Payment adjusted based on the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Incentive Program.
- EHR, N700 Payment adjusted based on the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program.
- Value Based Modifier (VM), N701 Payment adjusted based on the Value-based Payment Modifier
Before submitting your initial claim entry, check your patient records for any recent services that may contribute to you having to apply a modifier or that may have specific ICD-10 requirements.

