New NPI Deadlines Fast Approach

Becky’s

Schedule

 

· March 6  Rehab Net Board Mtg

· March 11 Time Out Workshop

· March 18 CMSA Mtg

· March 24-28 Vacation

Rehabilitation Network of ArkansaS

Rehab Net News Update

March 1, 2008

Volume 9 Number 2

In the hubbub over the physician fee schedule, PPS changes and therapy cap drama, don’t forget one major billing requirement in the New Year:  NPIs.

Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) are already rejecting claims if they can’t validate NPIs used in NPI/legacy number pairs against the NPI crosswalk, CMS said in an email message to providers.  Durable medical equipment MACs began rejecting such claims Oct. 29.

Starting January 1, 2008, contractors will also reject claims without an NPI in the primary provider fields, CMS reminds.  Those are the billing and pay-to fields.

 

New Deadline: For the time being, providers still will be able to use legacy-only numbers in secondary fields, such as the one for referring physicians.  But by May 23, providers will have to use NPIs in those fields as well, CMS revealed.  Any remember to ensure your referring doctor’s NPIs are in line too. If you need to look up a physician’s NPI, you can do this at http://www.npinumberlookup.org/.

Please don’t wait till too late to try sending claims without the legacy numbers on them.  Some people have discovered problems with their billing software when trying to remove the legacy numbers from their claims.  I recently asked office managers about the software they were using and here are a list of those that are reported as good software products

 

AHIN                                                                                    Claims Logic

PMIS                                                                                     Eclipse

DB Consultants Software

 

I believe some using Medisoft have run into problems removing the legacy numbers.

 

Deter, Detect & Defend Against ID Theft

 

Deter—Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before discarding.  Do not carry your social security card in your wallet or write the number on a check.  Use your social security number only if absolutely necessary.  Don’t give out personal information on the phone.  Never click on links sent in unsolicited e-mails.  Don’t use obvious passwords like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your social security number.  Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

 

Detect—Be alert to signs that require immediate attention, such as bills that do not arrive as expected, unexpected credit cards or account statements, denials of credit for no apparent reason, and calls or letters about purchases you did not make.  Inspect your credit report.  The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies to give you a free copy of your credit report each year if you ask for it.  Review financial statements regularly looking for charges you did not make.

 

Defend—Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit report, close accounts that have been tampered with, file a police report and report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission.