Industry Notes:
CMS Issues Oxygen Billing Guidance
Published on Tue Jan 27, 2009
Many questions left unanswered, confused suppliers say. Nearly a month after Medicare's new oxygen payment policy took effect, CMS is issuing some details about how to bill under the confusing new system. Clarification: Oxygen providers can deliver up to three months' worth of oxygen contents at one time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services instructs in a Jan. 26 provider education article CMS e-mailed to providers. You would still bill monthly for the oxygen you provided. "In these situations, the delivery date of the oxygen contents does not have to be the DOS (anniversary date) on the claim," CMS explains. "However, in order to bill for contents for a specific month, you must have previously delivered quantities of oxygen that are sufficient to last for one month following the date of service on the claim. You are required to have proof-of-delivery for each actual delivery of oxygen, but ... [...]