LUTZ BUSINESS INSIGHTS
Provider-Based Arrangements
KIRK DELPERDANG, HEALTHCARE director
The Act excludes from Medicare’s hospital outpatient prospective payment system (“OPPS”) any services (except for items and services furnished by a dedicated emergency department) furnished at an off-campus outpatient department of a hospital beginning January 1, 2017. Quite simply, this means that if you were not billing under OPPS for an off-campus location as of November 1, 2015, you will continue to be paid under OPPS during 2016. However, effective January 1, 2017, services at these locations will be paid under another reimbursement system. This “other system” will likely include one or both of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and the Ambulatory Surgery Center payment system (ASC-PS). Either of these systems represents a significant reduction in reimbursement. The Act has also created a grandfathered status for those off campus departments of a hospital billing hospital services under OPPS as of November 1, 2015.
Despite the changes brought about by this law to the payment for services at an off-campus provider-based location of a hospital, there were no changes made to the provider-based regulations themselves. The regulations governing provider-based status in 42 C.F.R. §413.65 have remained unchanged for some time. The changes have come in the scrutiny and enforcement of these regulations by CMS and the OIG, in particular the exclusive use requirement. Some of these reviews have resulted in the termination of provider-based status and significant repayments.
This Act change brings the requisite change to the billing of claims in a provider-based setting. Effective January 1, 2016, hospitals and physicians are required to report a modifier (“PO”) for services furnished in an off-campus provider-based location. The following CMS 1500 place of service (POS) codes will also need to be used: 1) POS 19-Off Campus Outpatient Hospital and 2) POS 22-On Campus Outpatient Hospital.
As noted above, the details of the implementation of this change in the law have not been worked out at this time. This Act will have an impact greater that the black/white changes specifically made in the Act. What do all of these changes mean to you at this time? Although not an all-inclusive list of Q&As, here are a few items to take away.
- Critical Access Hospitals – The Act governs coverage and payments under OPPS. However, CAHs must continue to meet the increased scrutiny of provider-based regulations and enforcement.
- Rural Health Clinics – Provider-based RHCs are separately enrolled in the Medicare program. Moreover, RHCs are not off-campus “departments of a hospital”, but rather are “provider-based entities”.
- Facilites under Development – Letter of the law would suggest that if you were not billing as an off-campus department of a hospital on November 1, 2015, you would not qualify for grandfathered status. In the past, CMS has extended a grandfathered status for those facilities under development at the time a law is changed. However, at this time there has been no indication that this will be the case.
- New Services-Moving or Adding – Can new services be moved or added to an existing off-campus location? CMS will need to clarify whether a grandfathered facility can move to a new location or add new services to a current location and maintain its grandfathered status.
- Documentation – Review the documentation you have for existing off-campus sites to verify they qualify as grandfathered sites. Were services billed as OPPS services as of November 1, 2015? Were these locations listed on the CMS 855A as hospital locations?
There are significant changes and implementation issues to be address by CMS in this process. Stay tuned to further guidance. We can help shape this implementation.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KIRK DELPERDANG + HEALTHCARE DIRECTOR
Kirk Delperdang is a Healthcare Director at Lutz with over 28 years of experience. He provides healthcare enrollment services to clients with a focus on Medicare providers and reimbursement analyses. In addition, he is responsible for leading Lutz's cost report service line.
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Healthcare Industry
- Reimbursement
- Compliance
- Medicare Enrollment
- Financial Analysis
AFFILIATIONS AND CREDENTIALS
- Healthcare Financial Management Association - Nebraska Chapter, Member
- Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member
- Certified Public Accountant
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- BA in Accounting, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- St. Vincent de Paul, Knights of Columbus, Member
- Active in various youth sports leagues: Aldrich Elementary, Millard Athletic Association, Millard North Schools, Omaha FC, Skutt Catholic High School and YMCA
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
- Provider Enrollment Update for 2022
- Cost Report Pitfalls
- Medicare Bad Debts
- Cost Reporting
- 2019 OOPS + ASC Proposed Federal Registers
- Provider Enrollment Updates
- CMS Survey & Certification Emergency Preparedness Initiative
- Medicare Provider Enrollment
- Risk Tolerance + Payor Contract Reviews/Audits
- OIG Work Plan Update
- 2018 Proposed Federal Registers + OPPS & ASC
- Classification of Provider-Based Space a Key Consideration for Rural Hospitals
- Summary: CMS 2018 IPPS Proposed Rule
- Medicare Provider Enrollment
- OIG Work Plan 2017
- RHC Billing
- Medicaid Provider Screening and Enrollment + Revalidation
- Provider Enrollment
- Provider-Based Arrangements
- The CFO Outsourcing Option for Hospitals and Why it May Make Sense for You
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS!
We tap into the vast knowledge and experience within our organization to provide you with monthly content on topics and ideas that drive and challenge your company every day.
About Us | Our Team | Events | Careers | Locations