Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Procedure has long been covered, CMS reports.

There's good news for ambulatory surgery centers that perform ciliary body destructions: the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says the eye procedure is one that Medicare has long covered in the ASC setting.

Benefit: According to May 6 Transmittal 153 (Change Request 3817), Medicare carriers should cover the 66711 (Ciliary body destruction; cyclophotocoagulation, transscleral) code in an ASC setting.

Retro reimbursement possible CMS reported that it will add the code to the ASC list in July, and the addition will be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005.
 
Benefit: ASCs may be able to gain reimbursement for 6711 claims previously denied in 2005.