Home Health & Hospice Week

Think your docs' face-to-face documentation can slide by with a simple statement, "taxing effort," for homebound status? Think again. HHH Medicare Administrative Contractor Palmetto GBA shoots down that reason in a question-and-answer set recently posted to its website.

The question: "We receive a lot of signed face-to-face forms that the physician only put 'taxing effort' for the reason for homebound status," the agency served by Palmetto explains in its question during the MAC's Ask the Contractor Teleconfer-ence Oct. 9. "We have been sending these forms back to the physicians for clarity of 'taxing effort.' The physicians are getting upset about this. If the form is otherwise complete, signed and dated but has 'taxing effort' as the homebound status, will this form be accepted?"

The answer: "The face-to-face documentation of homebound status should explain why it is a 'taxing effort' and/or should list some symptoms the patient is having to demonstrate the 'taxing effort,'" says Palmetto's medical review department in response. "Just stating 'taxing effort' without any accompanying documentation would not be considered sufficient."