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Industry News: NGS

Screenings for Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Recent data trends reveal an increasing number of physicians and facilities performing routine screening for MRSA on patients using CPT code 87641: assays that detect methicillin resistance and identify Staphylococcus aureus using a single nucleic acid sequence.

Medicare has a comprehensive list of screening tests that may be covered under certain circumstances and intervals.

Lipid Profile/Cholesterol Testing
Tuesday, January 26, 2010

National Government Services recent review of data identified that providers are billing inappropriately for CPTcode 80061, Lipid Panel and CPT 83721, Lipoprotein, direct measurement; LDL cholesterol on the same date of service.

CPT code 83721 was often billed with CPT code 80061 on the same day with modifier -59 and the patient's triglyceride level was under 400 mg/dl.

Comprehensive Error Rate Testing - Missing or Illegible Signatures
Tuesday, January 26, 2010

There has been an increase of CERT errors for missing or illegible identifier on the medical records submitted to the CERT contractors. This requirement is indicated in the CMS Internet Only Manual (IOM), Publication 100-08, Chapter 3, Subsection 3.4.1.1.B which notes Medicare contractors require a legible identifier for services provided/ordered. The method used shall be hand written or an electronic signature (stamp signatures are not acceptable) to sign an order or other medical record documentation for medical review purposes.