Home Health & Hospice Week

• Medicare contractors will need to have a little better proof when they revoke your billing privileges after a site visit shows you aren't operating at the location stated on your enrollment form.

Among other things, contractors should document your operation being closed with dateand time-stamped photographs, says April 23 Transmittal No. 334 (CR 6895). The individual that performed the site verification visit must also sign a declaration, the transmittal adds.

Some providers have reported that their Medicare contractor has lost or just not processed their 855A form changing their practice location, NAHC says. If that's the case and your billing privileges are yanked after a site visit, you can file a corrective action plan within 30 days to show you were in compliance, the trade group advises.

Tip: To avoid problems, retain a copy of all 855A filings you submit and follow up with the contractor if you don't receive verification of the change you've filed, NAHC counsels.

The transmittal is online at www.cms.gov/transmittals/downloads/R334PI.pdf.