Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

From bilateral billing to signature regs, CMS was busy working on May policy adjustments.

Typically, the spring is a quiet time for Medicare regulations, but this week the government issued several clarifications that tightened up CMS policy on a few different issues. We’ve got the scoop on exactly what you need to know as you wade through the stack of transmittals and articles.

1. Rubber stamp signatures are okay—if you’re physically unable to sign. Most Part B practices know that a practitioner must either submit a handwritten or electronic signature for services that they order or provide, and that stamped signatures aren’t acceptable. However, CMS made a new exception to that policy with MLN Matters article MM8219.

“CMS will permit the use of a rubber stamp for signature in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in the case of an author with a physical disability that can provide proof to a CMS contractor of his/her inability to sign their signature due to their disability,” CMS says in the document, which is effective June 18. “By affixing the rubber stamp, the provider is certifying that they have reviewed the document.”

2. You can now bill contact lens fitting bilaterally. CMS changes the bilateral indicator for 92071 (Fitting of contact lens for treatment of ocular surface disease) from “3” (which meant that the endoscopic billing criteria applied) to “1” as well. This means that modifier 50 will be your friend when you perform these contact lens fittings on both eyes during the same visit.

These bilateral changes are all effective retroactive to Jan. 1, which means you can institute the change immediately, according to the MLN Matters article.