Practice Management Alert

Hunting for the CMS contract must-haves? This list puts them right at your fingertips. Before you opt out of Medicare, make sure you know how to enter into contracts with each of your Medicare patients, or you'll be setting your practice up for major compliance issues. Follow this checklist of 15 patient contract must-haves straight from Medicare. You can find the exact CMS wording in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, Transmittal 40.8 (rev. 1, 10-01-03). According to CMS, the contract should: -- Be in writing and in print large enough for the beneficiary to read the contract. -- Identify whether the physician is excluded from Medicare. -- State that the beneficiary agrees to accept full responsibility for payment. -- State that the beneficiary understands that Medicare limits do not apply to what your practice is allowed to charge for services. -- State that the beneficiary agrees not to submit a claim to Medicare [...]