Home Health & Hospice Week

CMS thinks hospices can do better regarding electronic submission of Notices of Election.

After Medicare allowed submission of Notices of Election (NOEs) via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in October 2018, “hospices have submitted only a small percentage of type of bill 8xA-8xE via EDI,” the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services notes in a new message to providers. “The hospice industry requested that Medicare implement submission of NOEs via EDI to reduce administrative burden, so we would like to remind and encourage hospices to take advantage of this option,” CMS says.

Perks include eliminating duplication when submitting NOEs to both HHH Medicare Administrative Contractors and Medicare Advantage plans participating in the Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model and receiving acknowledgment of acceptance “within minutes,” CMS stresses.

“If not accepted, hospices will know the reason for non-acceptance,” the National Association for Home Care & Hospice points out in its member newsletter. “This then allows the hospice to make any necessary corrections within the NOE timely filing window.”

“NAHC is pleased to see CMS’ notice to hospices about this option and also encourages hospices to submit the NOE through EDI,” the trade group says.

CMS’ notice is at https://innovation.cms.gov/media/document/vbid-hospice-noe-edi.