CMS Medicare Billing Reminder for Cardiac Device Credits

December 2018 ~

CMS has released a reminder regarding correct billing for recalled cardiac medical in compliance with Medicare requirements for reporting manufacturer credits.

As stated in the notice from CMS, a 2018 Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Report noted that payments reviewed for recalled cardiac medical devices did not comply with Medicare requirements for reporting manufacturer credits. Medicare incorrectly paid hospitals $7.7 million for cardiac device replacement claims, resulting in potential overpayments of $4.4 million. Manufacturers issued reportable credits to hospitals for recalled cardiac medical devices, but the hospitals did not adjust the claims with the proper condition codes, value codes, or modifiers to reduce payment as required.

CMS developed the Medicare Billing for Cardiac Device Credits Fact Sheet to ensure that hospitals properly report manufacturer credits for cardiac devices and avoid overpayment recoveries. Additional resources:

• Hospitals Did Not Comply With Medicare Requirements For Reporting Certain Cardiac Device Credits OIG Report, March 2018
• Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter Volume 5, Issue 2, January 2015
• Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 3, Section 100.8: Replaced Devices Offered Without Cost or With a Credit
• Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 4, Section 61.3.5: Reporting and Charging Requirements When a Device is Furnished Without Cost to the Hospital or When the Hospital Receives a Full or Partial Credit for the Replacement Device Beginning January 1, 2014

Source(s): MLN Connects for December 06, 2018;