Home Health & Hospice Week

Medicare's new reimbursement rules for disposable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy devices and services took effect more than year ago, but the changes are still throwing some home care providers for a loop. Now may be a good time to review a recent job aid on the topic from HHH Medicare Administrative Contractor National Government Services.

Consider this scenario: NGS offers an example in which "during a regularly scheduled home health visit, a nurse changes the patient's catheter. In the course of the same visit, the nurse applies a new disposable NPWT device and instructs about wound care."

This is a case where "it is appropriate to bill two separate claims," NGS explains. "The HHA will bill a 34X TOB for the NPWT services, and include the nursing services unrelated to the NPWT on the HH PPS 32X claim," NGS says. "The nursing services not related to NPWT treatment should be included on the 32X HH PPS claim; the nursing services for NPWT care should be billed on a 34X claim."

More background, examples, and billing procedures are in the aid available on NGS's website at www.ngsmedicare.com - go to the "Education" tab, choose "Job Aids & Manuals" from the right-column menu, and scroll down to click on "Disposable Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Under Home Health."