December 19, 2017
Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) Process and Resources
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Change Request 10249 which implemented the Targeted Probe & Educate (TPE) process, effective October 1, 2017. This means that all service-specific and provider specific reviews as well as round two of the Home Health Probe & Educate Program are phased out. The following provides a summary of the process and the resources available for providers. Please share with your appropriate staff.
CGS identifies areas with the greatest risk of inappropriate program payment based on data analysis. Refer to the following links to access the current medical review topics.
- Home health and hospice (HHH) Medical Review Activity Log
- Part A Medical Review Activity Log
- Part B Medical Review Activity Log
TPE Process
- CGS selects providers for the TPE process based on the following:
- Analysis of billing data indicating aberrancies that may suggest questionable billing practices; or
- On targeted review and is transitioned to the TPE process based on error rate results; or
- On service specific review error rate results.
- A letter is mailed to those providers who have been selected for TPE review. The letter will outline the reason for selection, and will provide an overview of the TPE process and contact information.
- TPE consists of up to three rounds of review with up to 20-40 claims selected (pre or post payment) with each round.
- Subsequent rounds will begin 45-56 days after individual provider education is completed.
- Discontinuation of review may occur if appropriate improvement, and error rate below the target threshold is achieved during the review process.
- An Additional Documentation Request (ADR) will be generated for each claim selected.
- Documentation must be received by CGS within 45 calendar days.
- Once received, CGS has 30 days to review the documentation, and make a payment decision.
Note: No response to ADRs count as an error when calculating the error rate. For Part A and HHH, the claim is denied with reason code 56900. For Part B claims, the Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) CO50 and the Remittance Advice Remark Code (RARC) M127 will apply.
CGS recommends using myCGS, our secure online web portal to submit documentation in response to medical review ADRs. If you are not already registered to use myCGS, refer to the enrollment instructions found in Chapter 1 of the myCGS User Manual
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- Review results will be mailed at the conclusion of each round.
- The letter will include the number of claims reviewed, the number of claims allowed in full, the number of claims denied in full or in part.
- Moderate to high error rate - Providers will be offered an individualized education session where each claim found in error will be discussed and any questions will be answered.
- Education sessions will be offered via webinar, web-based presentation, or traditional teleconferences. Other methods may also be available.
- Education may also be requested via the TPE email box at:
- HHH - J15HHprobeandEducation@cgsadmin.com
- Part A - J15AprobeandEducation@cgsadmin.com
- Part B - J15BprobeandEducation@cgsadmin.com
- High error rate - If a high rate continues after 3 rounds of TPE, CGS will send a referral to CMS for additional action.
Resources:
- Change Request 10249
- Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) Process Web page
- Targeted Probe and Educate Frequently Asked Questions
- HHH Medical Review Additional Development Request (ADR) CGS Web page
- Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, (CMS Publication 100-02, Ch. 7)
- Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 9)