Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Inaccuracies in the CWF jeopardize your Medicare pay.Home health or hospice providers who depend on the Common Working File to reflect the patient's history could be risking their Medicare reimbursement, since CMS officials claim that their hands are tied by the statutory language.CMS officials pointed this out in the May 23 Open Door Forum for home health, hospice and durable medical equipment providers. When you admit a home health or hospice patient or furnish DME or supplies to a patient and her CWF history comes up clear, that won't necessarily mean you're entitled to the Medicare payment you think you'll be receiving.Why: When another home health or hospice provider serving the patient doesn't bill promptly, the CWF won't show that the patient is under a home health or hospice plan of care, noted CMS's Katie Lucas in the forum. So you'll bill for the reimbursement you believe you're entitled to, [...]