Advanced Search

Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

READER QUESTION:

Follow These Tips to Correctly Report Smoking Cessation Counseling

Published on Sat Apr 11, 2009

Caution: Medicare imposes frequency limit on 99406-99407. Question: Do I still need a plan and referral to support smoking cessation counseling? Answer: An action plan and referral are not part of CMS's national requirements for reporting smoking counseling cessation. The Medicare National Coverage Determinations Manual (Section 210.4) and Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Chapter 32, Section 12.6, "Post-Payment Review for Smoking and Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling Services") do not require that covered counseling must include a plan for the patient to quit or a referral to a treatment center. Take note: Section 12.6 of Chapter 32 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual states that "Providers must keep patient record information on file for each Medicare patient for whom a Smoking and Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling claim is made. These medical records can be used in any post-payment reviews and must include standard information along with sufficient patient histories to allow determination that the [...]
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

View All