RSNAT Prior Authorizations and the PCS by Rebecca Illig, QMC Compliance Manager In 2014… In 2014 CMS initiated a Repetitive Scheduled Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation (RSNAT) prior authorization demonstration program for certain states. These included South Carolina, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The program was expanded in December of 2015 by CMS to include Delaware, the District […]
Medicare Changes Proposed Last Week Big news hit the ambulance industry’s electronic inboxes last week, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year 2020 Proposed Rule with revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule including Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies. Two ambulance industry changes were embedded […]
The Do’s and Don’t’s of PCS Signatures Signature Focus The Physician Certification Statement (PCS), required by Medicare for all non-emergency transports, can confuse even the seasoned ambulance administrator and billing office. While the document itself can be confusing, determining the person who can properly sign can be an even more confusing scenario. Requirement… The Center […]
“Service Not Reasonable and Necessary” Part II Welcome back to Part II of our look at Palmetto GBA’s widespread review of ambulance services in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013. You’ll recall that last week we really focused on Palmetto’s comments concerning signatures and how their presence of lack thereof influenced their decision to […]
Palmetto GBA Releases Results of Second Quarter Review Emergency and Non-Emergency Palmetto GBA, the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for Railroad Medicare, nationwide, and Part A/B MAC for the States of West Virginia, Virginia, North and South Carolina has released the results of a widespread review of Advanced Life Support ambulance services which was conducted during […]
PCS — Who Can Sign? Signature Focus In our last blog post we visited new rules surrounding repetitive transports and the execution of the Physicians Certification Statement (PCS). This post will primarily focus on how to insure the person signing is correct for the PCS you have obtained. Requirement… Remember Medicare requires that a PCS […]
PCS – Not a Prescription! “Never mimic the PCS . . .” If you’ve ever attended an Enhanced documentation class, you’ll probably remember hearing the caution “Never mimic the PCS in your narrative.” We’ve taught this for years. Now CMS is backing that statement up with their new final rule amending the regulations for schedule, […]
