January 30, 2019
Targeted Probe and Educate Progress Update
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Change Request 10249
implemented the Targeted Probe & Educate (TPE) process, effective October 1, 2017. The following provides progress of TPE from October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018.
Findings
Medical Review initiated complex review edits for specific providers identified through data analysis demonstrating high risk for improper payment. Education has been offered to providers throughout and upon completion of each Round of TPE review. Current TPE Home Health and Hospice Results are as follows:
Home Health
Probes completed October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018
Eligibility and Medical Necessity edit 5A000
Results |
Home Health |
|---|---|
Probes Completed |
55 |
Providers Compliant after Round 1 Completion |
2 |
Providers Non-compliant after Round 1 Completion (advancing to Round 2) |
53 |
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADR’s for Round 1 |
14 |
No response to ADR edit 5A004
Results |
Home Health |
|---|---|
Probes Completed |
21 |
Providers Compliant after Round 1 Completion |
0 |
Providers Non-compliant after Round 1 Completion (advancing to Round 2) |
21 |
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADR’s for Round 1 |
9 |
Eligibility and Medical Necessity edit 5B000 (Round 2)
Results |
Home Health |
|---|---|
Probes Completed |
3 |
Providers Compliant after Round 2 Completion |
0 |
Providers Non-compliant after Round 2 Completion (advancing to Round 3) |
3 |
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADR’s for Round 2 |
1 |
Findings by State
CGS is providing an overview of review findings by state for providers who have completed Round 1 and Round 2.
Top Denial Reasons October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018
- Face-to-Face missing/incomplete/untimely
- Initial certification invalid
- Medical records were not received
- Plan of care missing/invalid
- Therapy visits not medically necessary
- FTF Documentation Denials accounted for approximately 27% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
- Actual FTF encounter document not submitted
- Certifying physician did not document the date of the FTF encounter
- CGS Home Health Physician Certification Web page
- Community physician was not identified when a physician who would not be following the patient after discharge signed the certification
- Required elements for initial certification (initial plan of care, initial certification, initial encounter documentation) were not submitted for recertification
Refer to the CGS Home Health Coverage Guidelines Web page for a variety of resources on the home health FTF encounter.
- Initial certification invalid accounted for approximately 12% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
Refer to the CGS Home Health Physician Certification Web page for documentation tips and access to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7). - Medical records were not received accounted for approximately 10% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
Refer to the CGS Medical Review Additional Development Request (ADR) Process Web page for information to ensure that necessary steps are taken to submit documentation timely. - Plan of care missing/invalid accounted for approximately 8% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
Refer to the CGS Physician Orders, Plan of Care and Certification and Home Health Missing/Incomplete/Untimely Plan of Care or Certification
Web pages for documentation tips and access to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7). - Documentation did not support medical necessity of therapy services accounted for approximately 8% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
Refer to the CGS Physical Therapy Web page for documentation tips, access to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 7) therapy information and the Local Coverage Determination for physical therapy services.
Hospice
Probes completed October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018
LOS with Non-Oncologic Diagnosis edit 5D000
Results |
Hospice |
|---|---|
Probes Completed |
7 |
Providers Compliant after Round 1 Completion |
0 |
Providers Non-compliant after Round 1 Completion (advancing to Round 2) |
7 |
Providers with Non-Reponses to ADR’s for Round 1 |
1 |
Findings by State
CGS is providing an overview of review findings by state for providers who have completed Round 1.
Top Denial Reasons October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018
- Terminal prognosis not supported
- Subsequent certification not timely
- Terminal prognosis not supported accounted for approximately 84% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
Refer to the CGS Hospice Denial Fact Sheet—Six-Month Terminal Prognosis Not Supported Web page for documentation tips and access to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 9). - Subsequent certification not timely accounted for approximately 4% of the total Targeted Probe and Educate denials.
Refer to the CGS Hospice Denial Fact Sheet Missing/Incomplete/Untimely Certification/Recertification and Hospice Certification/Recertification Requirements Web pages for documentation tips and access to the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02, Ch. 9).
Education
Providers with a moderate to high error rate will be offered an individualized education session where each claim found in error will be discussed and any questions will be answered. CGS offers education sessions via webinar, web-based presentation, or traditional teleconferences. Other methods may also be available. Providers may also submit questions or request education via the home health and hospice TPE email box at J15HHPROBEANDEDUCATION@CGSADMIN.COM.
Next Steps
Providers found to be non-compliant at the completion of Round 1/2 will advance to Round 2/3 of TPE at least 45 days from completion of the 1:1 post probe education call date. CGS offers education at any time for providers. Providers do not have to be identified for TPE to request education. CGS encourages providers to request education and conduct self-monitoring based on our posted Medical Review Activity Log and using tools such as Comparative Billing Reports (CBRs) offered through our web portal.
References
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