Home Health & Hospice Week

Get updated instructions on when to use the CR and DR disaster billing codes in a new Medicare transmittal.“The update includes a chart of blanket waivers and flexibilities that require the modifier or condition code,” the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says.

For example: “To the extent a national or local coverage determination would otherwise require a face-to-face or in-person encounter for evaluations, assessments, certifications or other implied face-to-face services, those requirements would not apply during the COVID-19 public health emergency,” says MLN Matters Article SE 20011.Such cases would require a “CR” code, the article indicates in a table.

“There may be ...claims implications, such as claims denials, for claims that do not contain the modifier or condition code as required,” CMS warns.

The “CR” (catastrophe/disaster related) modifier is for Form CMS-1500 claims, the article explains at www.cms.gov/files/document/se20011.pdf.