Wiki How many days do providers have to amend??

roman2483

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I need to know if or where CMS has any guidelines on how long providers have to amend their documentation in there medical records in a clinic or outpatient setting??
 
amending

The Medicare Integrity Manual states that on review an auditor can "give less weight" to any entries over 30 days past the date of service. If they find habitual offenders of this they can report them to ZPIC.

LeeAnn
 
The Medicare Integrity Manual states that on review an auditor can "give less weight" to any entries over 30 days past the date of service. If they find habitual offenders of this they can report them to ZPIC.

LeeAnn


Thank you LeeAnn
 
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Information added (or taken away), and/or late entries to a medical record should be "timely". It needs to be signed and dated with current date (vs date of service). These additions or late entries are done for clarification of a medical record. It cannot be done for billing purposes. You bill based on what is in the record at the time the claim goes out. Anything added to support billing codes (like when records re requested for pre or post payment review) is not legal.
 
changing record after coding"review"

Information added (or taken away), and/or late entries to a medical record should be "timely". It needs to be signed and dated with current date (vs date of service). These additions or late entries are done for clarification of a medical record. It cannot be done for billing purposes. You bill based on what is in the record at the time the claim goes out. Anything added to support billing codes (like when records re requested for pre or post payment review) is not legal.

I have a situation in which I was requested to do a coding reveiw (after claim processing). I found the documentation to be lacking and downcoded several E/M and disallowed procedures due to poor or no documentation to support the application of the CPT code. Now the physician wants we to send back current charts noting "what needs to be added" to gain the higher level (i.e. add elements to exam or ROS or HPI etc). I am totally and completely opposed to this but i NEED specific authoritative reference to support my position - this has become contentious.
 
clarify why he wants the information

Perhaps the provider is asking what elements could be added for future reference? Or did he say specifically he wants to dictate addenda to support the over-coded claims? The first scenario is what we hope for; the second is a definite NO.
 
I have a situation in which I was requested to do a coding reveiw (after claim processing). I found the documentation to be lacking and downcoded several E/M and disallowed procedures due to poor or no documentation to support the application of the CPT code. Now the physician wants we to send back current charts noting "what needs to be added" to gain the higher level (i.e. add elements to exam or ROS or HPI etc). I am totally and completely opposed to this but i NEED specific authoritative reference to support my position - this has become contentious.
Since you are not the physician you cannot tell him what to document regarding what he did or discussed with a patient while you are not present. However I never submit a claim without a complete review of the encounter note, if the code selected by the provider is not supported by the note then I do alert them to this and let them know that if the document is amended within 24 hours the claim will reflect the level of care supported by the note.
This usually then brings on a discussion where I get the opportunity to instruct the providers regarding the guidelines for E&M or the elements of a procedure note. I have never had an issue with a provider using this approach.
 
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I have learned with one of my doctors to meet with him on a regular basis and go over his documentation when it does not support the level of service originally billed. I have given him deadlines for changes so that we do not have this type of discussion. Per a conversation I had with a CSR at Novitas, we have 30 days to amend our documentation to support the billed code.
Good luck!
 
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