CMS releases enrollment, billing and fee schedule updates

BALTIMORE - A bulletin published by CMS this week may contain some relief for HME providers that are struggling to get ordering/referring physicians listed in CMS's Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS).

Much is at stake: Starting Jan. 4, 2010, CMS will begin rejecting claims that include the names and NPI numbers of physicians and non-physician practitioners that aren't listed in the system. Last month, the agency began sending providers "informational messages"--not denials--to alert them of such claims.

The bulletin states that CMS will systematically add to the PECOS enrollment records the NPIs of all physicians and non-physician practitioners whose PECOS records do not contain their NPIs. This action will result in the addition of many more physicians and non-physician practitioners to the PECOS list.

For more on the bulletin, go to:

http://www.hmenews.com/?p=article&id=hm200911XEOjK7



CMS guidance: How to bill replacement oxygen equipment

BALTIMORE - Have you picked up oxygen patients from an HME provider that has filed for Chapter 7 or 11 bankruptcy? CMS detailed how you're supposed to bill for replacement oxygen equipment in a listserv message last week.

To read the message, go to:

http://www.hmenews.com/?p=article&id=hm200911FBr5re



CMS addresses competitive bidding, oxygen in final rule

BALTIMORE - CMS last week published the final rule for the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule in the Federal Register, and it addresses national competitive bidding for DME, including payment for damages for terminated contracts awarded last year; and maintenance and service for oxygen equipment.

To read the rule, go to:

http://federalregister.gov/page2.aspx