Reader Question:
Don't Stress Over NMP-22 Pay Decrease
Published on Tue Mar 13, 2012
Question: In the article "Think You Have a Handle on the 2012 Code Changes? Find Out Fast" in the February issue of Urology Coding Alert, I read the updated information about NMP-22 BladderChek being a CLIA-waived test still even with the new code, 86386. Based on the information about the codes 86386 now crosswalks to, we expected a lower payment this year. However, we have actually received more money than we did last year on these tests. Are we being overpaid? Should we be reporting the error to our carrier?Louisiana SubscriberAnswer: No, you should not be reporting an overpayment to your carrier. You are, most likely, being paid correctly. "Though the majority of states will see reduced Medicare reimbursement in 2012 versus 2011, there are a few states being reimbursed at a higher level," says Teri McArdle, RN, strategic reimbursement project manager of urology operations at Alere in Waltham, Mass. [...]