NHIC, Corp., a Jurisdiction A Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC A), released the results of a widespread prepayment complex review of lower limb prostheses HCPCS codes billed with a K3 functional level modifier and components/additions provided, which resulted in a charge denial rate of 66%.
The review included 141 claims submitted by 97 suppliers that were processed between December 2012 and February 2013. Requests for additional documentation were not received for 19 (13%) of the claims, and of the remaining 122 claims, 94 were denied, resulting in a claim denial rate of 77%.
The reasons for denials included lack of medical record documentation (30%), missing evaluation/assessment documentation (4%), clinical documentation that did not justify the functional level of the billed item (32%) and a lack of proof of delivery (12%).
Based on the results of the prepayment review, DME MAC A will continue to review claims for lower limb prostheses HCPCS codes billed with a K3 functional level modifier. NHIC also emphasized that suppliers who did not respond to Additional Documentation Requests could be referred to the Jurisdiction A Program Safeguard Contractor/Zone Program Integrity Contractor.
For more information:
http://www.medicarenhic.com/dme/medical_review/mr_bulletins/mr_bulletin_pca/030813_llp.pdf
