What are APCs?
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Answer
APCs or "Ambulatory Payment Classifications" are the government's method of paying facilities for outpatient services for the Medicare program. A part of the Federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 required HCFA [now CMS] to create a new Medicare "Outpatient Prospective Payment System" [OPPS] for hospital outpatient services -analogous to the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital inpatients known as "Diagnosis Related Groups" or DRGs. This OPPS was implemented on August 1, 2000. APCs are an outpatient prospective payment system applicable only to hospitals and have no impact on physician payments under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. APC payments are made only to hospitals when the Medicare outpatient is discharged from the ED or clinic or is transferred to another hospital [or other facility] which is not affiliated with the initial hospital where the patient received outpatient services. If the patient is admitted from a hospital clinic or ED, then there is no APC payment, and Medicare will pay the hospital under inpatient DRG methodology.
Answer
APCs or "Ambulatory Payment Classifications" are the government's method of paying facilities for outpatient services for the Medicare program. A part of the Federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 required HCFA [now CMS] to create a new Medicare "Outpatient Prospective Payment System" [OPPS] for hospital outpatient services -analogous to the Medicare prospective payment system for hospital inpatients known as "Diagnosis Related Groups" or DRGs. This OPPS was implemented on August 1, 2000. APCs are an outpatient prospective payment system applicable only to hospitals and have no impact on physician payments under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. APC payments are made only to hospitals when the Medicare outpatient is discharged from the ED or clinic or is transferred to another hospital [or other facility] which is not affiliated with the initial hospital where the patient received outpatient services. If the patient is admitted from a hospital clinic or ED, then there is no APC payment, and Medicare will pay the hospital under inpatient DRG methodology.
How do APCs work?
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Answer
Each APC is composed of services which are similar in clinical intensity, resource utilization and cost. All services [identified by submission of CMS' Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System [HCPCS] codes on the hospital's UB 04 claim form] which are grouped under a specific APC result in an annually updated Medicare "prospective payment" for that particular APC. [Many HCPCS codes are derived directly from the AMA CPT.] Since this payment is a prospective and "fixed" payment to the hospital, the hospital is at risk for potential "profit or loss" with each APC payment it receives. The payments are calculated by multiplying the APCs relative weight by the OPPS conversion factor and then there is a minor adjustment for geographic location. The payment is divided into Medicare's portion and patient co-pay. Co-pays vary between 20 and 40% of the APC payment rate. Eventually this percent will be capped at 20% of the payment rate. A status indicator is assigned to each code to identify how the service is priced for payment. For example, Status Indicator [SI] “F” - Corneal Tissue Acquisition; Certain CRNA Services and Hepatitis B Vaccines, is not paid under OPPS but is paid on reasonable cost basis.
Answer
Each APC is composed of services which are similar in clinical intensity, resource utilization and cost. All services [identified by submission of CMS' Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System [HCPCS] codes on the hospital's UB 04 claim form] which are grouped under a specific APC result in an annually updated Medicare "prospective payment" for that particular APC. [Many HCPCS codes are derived directly from the AMA CPT.] Since this payment is a prospective and "fixed" payment to the hospital, the hospital is at risk for potential "profit or loss" with each APC payment it receives. The payments are calculated by multiplying the APCs relative weight by the OPPS conversion factor and then there is a minor adjustment for geographic location. The payment is divided into Medicare's portion and patient co-pay. Co-pays vary between 20 and 40% of the APC payment rate. Eventually this percent will be capped at 20% of the payment rate. A status indicator is assigned to each code to identify how the service is priced for payment. For example, Status Indicator [SI] “F” - Corneal Tissue Acquisition; Certain CRNA Services and Hepatitis B Vaccines, is not paid under OPPS but is paid on reasonable cost basis.
Why did CMS create APCs?
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Answer
APCs were created to transfer some of the financial risk for provision of outpatient services from the Federal government to the individual hospitals, thereby achieving potential cost-savings for the Medicare program. By transferring financial risk to hospitals, APCs incentivize hospitals to provide outpatient services economically, efficiently and profitably.
Answer
APCs were created to transfer some of the financial risk for provision of outpatient services from the Federal government to the individual hospitals, thereby achieving potential cost-savings for the Medicare program. By transferring financial risk to hospitals, APCs incentivize hospitals to provide outpatient services economically, efficiently and profitably.
What areas of hospital outpatient services are paid under the APC methodology?
Recommendations
Answer
APC payments apply to outpatient surgery, outpatient clinics, emergency department services, and observation services. APC payments also apply to outpatient testing [such as radiology, nuclear medicine imaging] and therapies [such as certain drugs, intravenous infusion therapies, and blood products].
In 2016, CMS revised the instructions and APC for Comprehensive Observation Services [COS]. In 2019, for Observation [APC 8011], a clinic or ED visit is identified through alphanumeric codes:
99281 [ED Level 1]
99282 [ED Level 2]
99283 [ED Level 3]
99284 [ED Level 4]
99285 [ED Level 5]
G0380 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 1]
G0381 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 2]
G0382 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 3]
G0383 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 4]
G0384 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 5]
99291 [Critical Care]
G0463 [Hospital outpatient clinic visit for assessment and mgmt. of a patient].The following services are included in the Observation Comprehensive APC [C-APC] 8011:
- Any procedure that is assigned Status Indicator “T” [Paid under OPPS; separate APC payment];
- Any claim containing 8 or more units of services described by HCPCS code G0378 [Observation services, per hour];
- Claims that contain services provided on the same date of service or 1 day before the date of service for HCPCS code G0378 and described by one of the following codes:
G0379 [Direct referral of patient for hospital observation care] on the same date of service as one of the following:
HCPCS code G0378;
99281 [ED Level 1]
99282 [ED Level 2]
99283 [ED Level 3]
99284 [ED Level 4]
99285 [ED Level 5]
G0380 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 1]
G0381 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 2]
G0382 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 3]
G0383 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 4]
G0384 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 5]
99291 [Critical Care]
G0463 [Hospital outpatient clinic visit for assessment and mgmt. of a patient]
Claims that do not contain a service that is described by a HCPCS code to which status indicator “J1” has been assigned [J1- Paid under OPPS; all covered Part B services on the claim are packaged with the primary "J1" service for the claim, except servSee the Observation FAQ for additional information on any OPPS changes for Observation services.
Answer
APC payments apply to outpatient surgery, outpatient clinics, emergency department services, and observation services. APC payments also apply to outpatient testing [such as radiology, nuclear medicine imaging] and therapies [such as certain drugs, intravenous infusion therapies, and blood products].
In 2016, CMS revised the instructions and APC for Comprehensive Observation Services [COS]. In 2019, for Observation [APC 8011], a clinic or ED visit is identified through alphanumeric codes:
99281 [ED Level 1]
99282 [ED Level 2]
99283 [ED Level 3]
99284 [ED Level 4]
99285 [ED Level 5]
G0380 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 1]
G0381 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 2]
G0382 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 3]
G0383 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 4]
G0384 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 5]
99291 [Critical Care]
G0463 [Hospital outpatient clinic visit for assessment and mgmt. of a patient].The following services are included in the Observation Comprehensive APC [C-APC] 8011:
- Any procedure that is assigned Status Indicator “T” [Paid under OPPS; separate APC payment];
- Any claim containing 8 or more units of services described by HCPCS code G0378 [Observation services, per hour];
- Claims that contain services provided on the same date of service or 1 day before the date of service for HCPCS code G0378 and described by one of the following codes:
G0379 [Direct referral of patient for hospital observation care] on the same date of service as one of the following:
HCPCS code G0378;
99281 [ED Level 1]
99282 [ED Level 2]
99283 [ED Level 3]
99284 [ED Level 4]
99285 [ED Level 5]
G0380 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 1]
G0381 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 2]
G0382 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 3]
G0383 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 4]
G0384 [Type B emergency department visit, Level 5]
99291 [Critical Care]
G0463 [Hospital outpatient clinic visit for assessment and mgmt. of a patient]
Claims that do not contain a service that is described by a HCPCS code to which status indicator “J1” has been assigned [J1- Paid under OPPS; all covered Part B services on the claim are packaged with the primary "J1" service for the claim, except servSee the Observation FAQ for additional information on any OPPS changes for Observation services.
Are there hospital outpatient services which are NOT paid under APCs?
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Answer
Yes, but bundling of services into one payment continues to be an overarching theme in 2020. Durable Medical Equipment is paid through non-APC methodology. However, most, if not all of the lab tests we order in the ED will now be bundled. Tests that are not bundled include diagnostic radiology studies, bedside ultrasounds, and EKG’s. Add-ons that are not bundled include IV infusions and IV push dose medications. In 2017, the OPPS bundles a lot of additional services that were paid separately prior to 2015 such as minor ancillary services with a geometric mean cost of less than or equal to $100 and assigned Status Indicator Q1 [ Paid under OPPS; Addendum B displays APC assignments when services are separately payable:
[1] Packaged APC payment if billed on the same claim as a HCPCS code assigned status indicator “S,” “T,” or “V.”
[2] Composite APC payment if billed with specific combinations of services based on OPPS composite-specific payment criteria. Payment is packaged into a single payment for specific combinations of services.
[3] In other circumstances, payment is made through a separate APC payment. These include clinical laboratory services provided with other outpatient services and many add-on codes as well as new device-intensive comprehensive APCs. These ancillaries will be paid separately when they are the only service provided, e.g., X-rays, EKGs, laboratory blood bank and pathology services and certain respiratory tests and treatments.
Answer
Yes, but bundling of services into one payment continues to be an overarching theme in 2020. Durable Medical Equipment is paid through non-APC methodology. However, most, if not all of the lab tests we order in the ED will now be bundled. Tests that are not bundled include diagnostic radiology studies, bedside ultrasounds, and EKG’s. Add-ons that are not bundled include IV infusions and IV push dose medications. In 2017, the OPPS bundles a lot of additional services that were paid separately prior to 2015 such as minor ancillary services with a geometric mean cost of less than or equal to $100 and assigned Status Indicator Q1 [ Paid under OPPS; Addendum B displays APC assignments when services are separately payable:
[1] Packaged APC payment if billed on the same claim as a HCPCS code assigned status indicator “S,” “T,” or “V.”
[2] Composite APC payment if billed with specific combinations of services based on OPPS composite-specific payment criteria. Payment is packaged into a single payment for specific combinations of services.
[3] In other circumstances, payment is made through a separate APC payment. These include clinical laboratory services provided with other outpatient services and many add-on codes as well as new device-intensive comprehensive APCs. These ancillaries will be paid separately when they are the only service provided, e.g., X-rays, EKGs, laboratory blood bank and pathology services and certain respiratory tests and treatments.
Are drugs and supplies paid for under APCs?
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Answer
Most drugs and supplies have their costs included in the payment for specific visit level or procedure APCs. This is generally applicable to drugs and supplies which cost less than $60 per day. For many drug or supply items which cost $60 or more, there is separate payment under unique APCs. Drug administration services such as IVs and IM injections are paid separately.
Answer
Most drugs and supplies have their costs included in the payment for specific visit level or procedure APCs. This is generally applicable to drugs and supplies which cost less than $60 per day. For many drug or supply items which cost $60 or more, there is separate payment under unique APCs. Drug administration services such as IVs and IM injections are paid separately.
What are the APCs applicable to emergency department [ED] visits, and in 2022 what will the "average" US hospital receive in payment for these ED APCs?
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Answer
There are hundreds of HCPCS [Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System] codes pertinent to the ED which are payable under various APCs.
The most common are the Evaluation and Management APCs.
Addendum A.-Final OPPS APCs for CY 2022
APC
CPT
Group Title
SI
Relative Weight
Payment Rate
5021
99281
Level 1 Type A ED Visits
V
0.8801
$74.08
5022
99282
Level 2 Type A ED Visits
V
1.5937
$134.15
5023
99283
Level 3 Type A ED Visits
V
2.8078
$236.35
5024
99284
Level 4 Type A ED Visits
V
4.4136
$371.52
5025
99285
Level 5 Type A ED Visits
V
6.3351
$533.27
5031
G0380
Level 1 Type B ED Visits
V
0.8570
$72.14
5032
G0381
Level 2 Type B ED Visits
V
1.1612
$97.75
5033
G0382
Level 3 Type B ED Visits
V
2.1961
$184.86
5034
G0383
Level 4 Type B ED Visits
V
2.7745
$233.55
5035
G0384
Level 5 Type B ED Visits
V
3.8665
$325.47
5041
99291
Critical Care
S
9.0374
$760.74
Other common APCs in the ED
APC
HCPCS Code
Short Descriptor
SI
Relative Weight 2022
Payment 2022
5051
12001
Simple repair, 2.5 cm
T
2.1788
$183.40
5052
12031
Intermediate repair 2.5 cm
T
4.1936
$353.00
5051
10060
Drainage of skin abscess
T
2.1788
$183.40
5161
31500
Insert emergency airway
T
2.5668
$216.07
5722
92950
Heart/lung resuscitation CPR
S
3.2110
$270.29
5692
96372
Ther/proph/diag inj sc/im
S
0.7522
$63.32
5693
96374
Ther/proph/diag inj iv push
S
2.4820
$208.93
5693
96365
Ther/proph/diag iv inf init
S
2.4820
$208.93
5691
96366
Ther/proph/diag iv inf addon
S
0.4855
$40.87
5733
93005
Electrocardiogram tracing
S
0.6754
$56.85
5521
70350
X-ray head for orthodontia
S
0.9814
$82.61
5521
71046
X-ray exam chest 2 views
S
0.9814
$82.61
Answer
There are hundreds of HCPCS [Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System] codes pertinent to the ED which are payable under various APCs.
The most common are the Evaluation and Management APCs.
Addendum A.-Final OPPS APCs for CY 2022
APC
CPT
Group Title
SI
Relative Weight
Payment Rate
5021
99281
Level 1 Type A ED Visits
V
0.8801
$74.08
5022
99282
Level 2 Type A ED Visits
V
1.5937
$134.15
5023
99283
Level 3 Type A ED Visits
V
2.8078
$236.35
5024
99284
Level 4 Type A ED Visits
V
4.4136
$371.52
5025
99285
Level 5 Type A ED Visits
V
6.3351
$533.27
5031
G0380
Level 1 Type B ED Visits
V
0.8570
$72.14
5032
G0381
Level 2 Type B ED Visits
V
1.1612
$97.75
5033
G0382
Level 3 Type B ED Visits
V
2.1961
$184.86
5034
G0383
Level 4 Type B ED Visits
V
2.7745
$233.55
5035
G0384
Level 5 Type B ED Visits
V
3.8665
$325.47
5041
99291
Critical Care
S
9.0374
$760.74
Other common APCs in the ED
APC
HCPCS Code
Short Descriptor
SI
Relative Weight 2022
Payment 2022
5051
12001
Simple repair, 2.5 cm
T
2.1788
$183.40
5052
12031
Intermediate repair 2.5 cm
T
4.1936
$353.00
5051
10060
Drainage of skin abscess
T
2.1788
$183.40
5161
31500
Insert emergency airway
T
2.5668
$216.07
5722
92950
Heart/lung resuscitation CPR
S
3.2110
$270.29
5692
96372
Ther/proph/diag inj sc/im
S
0.7522
$63.32
5693
96374
Ther/proph/diag inj iv push
S
2.4820
$208.93
5693
96365
Ther/proph/diag iv inf init
S
2.4820
$208.93
5691
96366
Ther/proph/diag iv inf addon
S
0.4855
$40.87
5733
93005
Electrocardiogram tracing
S
0.6754
$56.85
5521
70350
X-ray head for orthodontia
S
0.9814
$82.61
5521
71046
X-ray exam chest 2 views
S
0.9814
$82.61
How are APC payments calculated?
Recommendations
Answer
APC payments are determined by multiplying an annually updated "relative weight" for a given service by an annually updated "Conversion Factor". CMS publishes the annual updates to "relative weights" and the "conversion factor" in the November "Federal Register". The APC "conversion factor" for 2022 is $84.177.
For example, to calculate the APC payment for APC 5051 [includes I & D of simple abscess—CPT 10060]:
Relative Weight for APC 5051 =2.1788, the Conversion Factor for 2022 = $84.177. Multiply RW 2.1788 x CF $84.177 = $183.40 payment for APC 5051 for year 2022 [for the "average US hospital"].
There is further modification of the APC payment according to adjustments for "Local Wage Indices." Medicare determined that 60% of the APC payment is due to employee wage costs. Since different areas of the country have widely divergent local wage scales, 60% of each APC payment is adjusted according to specific geographic locality.
The 2022 OPPS rule increases reimbursement under the Medicare program by 2% for hospitals that meet quality reporting requirements. Concurrently, CMS will increase penalties for noncompliance with hospital price transparency requirements.
Answer
APC payments are determined by multiplying an annually updated "relative weight" for a given service by an annually updated "Conversion Factor". CMS publishes the annual updates to "relative weights" and the "conversion factor" in the November "Federal Register". The APC "conversion factor" for 2022 is $84.177.
For example, to calculate the APC payment for APC 5051 [includes I & D of simple abscess—CPT 10060]:
Relative Weight for APC 5051 =2.1788, the Conversion Factor for 2022 = $84.177. Multiply RW 2.1788 x CF $84.177 = $183.40 payment for APC 5051 for year 2022 [for the "average US hospital"].
There is further modification of the APC payment according to adjustments for "Local Wage Indices." Medicare determined that 60% of the APC payment is due to employee wage costs. Since different areas of the country have widely divergent local wage scales, 60% of each APC payment is adjusted according to specific geographic locality.
The 2022 OPPS rule increases reimbursement under the Medicare program by 2% for hospitals that meet quality reporting requirements. Concurrently, CMS will increase penalties for noncompliance with hospital price transparency requirements.
How do hospitals determine which Evaluation and Management service levels to assign for ED and clinic services-as they relate to APCs and other payment methodologies?
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Answer
For 2022, Medicare still has not published "national standards" for hospital assignment of E/M code levels for outpatient services in clinics and the ED. CMS did, however, in 2014 collapse clinic, outpatient and office visit levels of service into one payment which combines new and established patient visits into one payment. Emergency medicine remained exempt from the collapse of the E/M levels for 2020.
CMS has stated that each hospital may utilize its own unique system for assignment of E/M levels, provided that the services are medically necessary, the coding methodology is accurate, consistently reproducible, and correlates with institutional resources utilized to provide a given level of service. CMS continues to monitor the E/M levels coded on a national basis and indicated that 2010 claims data used for the 2013 review indicates normal and relatively stable distribution of clinic and emergency department visit levels compared to 2009 data. CMS has noted a slight shift toward higher numbers of level 4 and 5 visits relative to lower level visits for Type A emergency department visit levels. CMS will continue to monitor this trend through claims volume data. [NOTE: Only the distribution of the Medicare patients discharged from the ED is counted, because ED services for those patients admitted as inpatients are bundled into the facility DRG].
In 2007, CMS established a lower level of ED called a Type B ED for services offered in a facility-based ED that was not open 24/7. See the November 27, 2007 Federal Register for further discussion on Type A and B ED’s.
//www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2007-11-27/pdf/07-5507.pdf
While there are no specific CMS national guidelines CMS has given providers direction in the form of general guidelines including the following:
- The coding guidelines should follow the intent of the associated CPT code descriptor in that the guidelines should be designed to reasonably relate the intensity of hospital resources to the different levels of effort represented by the code.
- The coding guidelines should be based on hospital facility resources. The guidelines should not be based on physician resources.
- The coding guidelines should be clear to facilitate accurate payments and be usable for compliance purposes and audits.
- The coding guidelines should meet the HIPAA requirements.
- The coding guidelines should only require documentation that is clinically necessary for patient care.
- The coding guidelines should not facilitate upcoding or gaming.
- The coding guidelines should be written.
- The coding guidelines should be applied consistently across patients in the clinic or emergency department to which they apply.
- The coding guidelines should not change with great frequency.
- The coding guidelines should be readily available for fiscal intermediary [or, if applicable, MAC] review.
- The coding guidelines should result in coding decisions that could be verified
Answer
For 2022, Medicare still has not published "national standards" for hospital assignment of E/M code levels for outpatient services in clinics and the ED. CMS did, however, in 2014 collapse clinic, outpatient and office visit levels of service into one payment which combines new and established patient visits into one payment. Emergency medicine remained exempt from the collapse of the E/M levels for 2020.
CMS has stated that each hospital may utilize its own unique system for assignment of E/M levels, provided that the services are medically necessary, the coding methodology is accurate, consistently reproducible, and correlates with institutional resources utilized to provide a given level of service. CMS continues to monitor the E/M levels coded on a national basis and indicated that 2010 claims data used for the 2013 review indicates normal and relatively stable distribution of clinic and emergency department visit levels compared to 2009 data. CMS has noted a slight shift toward higher numbers of level 4 and 5 visits relative to lower level visits for Type A emergency department visit levels. CMS will continue to monitor this trend through claims volume data. [NOTE: Only the distribution of the Medicare patients discharged from the ED is counted, because ED services for those patients admitted as inpatients are bundled into the facility DRG].
In 2007, CMS established a lower level of ED called a Type B ED for services offered in a facility-based ED that was not open 24/7. See the November 27, 2007 Federal Register for further discussion on Type A and B ED’s.
//www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2007-11-27/pdf/07-5507.pdf
While there are no specific CMS national guidelines CMS has given providers direction in the form of general guidelines including the following:
- The coding guidelines should follow the intent of the associated CPT code descriptor in that the guidelines should be designed to reasonably relate the intensity of hospital resources to the different levels of effort represented by the code.
- The coding guidelines should be based on hospital facility resources. The guidelines should not be based on physician resources.
- The coding guidelines should be clear to facilitate accurate payments and be usable for compliance purposes and audits.
- The coding guidelines should meet the HIPAA requirements.
- The coding guidelines should only require documentation that is clinically necessary for patient care.
- The coding guidelines should not facilitate upcoding or gaming.
- The coding guidelines should be written.
- The coding guidelines should be applied consistently across patients in the clinic or emergency department to which they apply.
- The coding guidelines should not change with great frequency.
- The coding guidelines should be readily available for fiscal intermediary [or, if applicable, MAC] review.
- The coding guidelines should result in coding decisions that could be verified
Is there a requirement that the HCPCS codes submitted for payment to Medicare by the hospital and by a treating physician in the ED be identical, or "match"?
Recommendations
Answer
No. CMS has stated that Medicare does not expect a "high degree of correlation" of the HCPCS codes submitted by hospitals vs. those submitted by physicians. CPT codes were developed by the AMA to capture physician cognitive and procedural services and were never intended for capturing the utilization of hospital resources, Medicare recognizes there may be significant differences in coding between the hospitals and physicians-even though the patient received services from both entities during the same outpatient encounter. Consider this scenario, the ED resources include support of the ED physician and any consultant who comes to the emergency department. As the facility HCPCS reflects the support and assistance provided to both physicians, you could expect to see a higher level of care for the facility than for the emergency physician. Conversely, the physician level of service may exceed the E/M coded by the facility. The key concept is that facility and professional coding and billing are two distinct systems.
Answer
No. CMS has stated that Medicare does not expect a "high degree of correlation" of the HCPCS codes submitted by hospitals vs. those submitted by physicians. CPT codes were developed by the AMA to capture physician cognitive and procedural services and were never intended for capturing the utilization of hospital resources, Medicare recognizes there may be significant differences in coding between the hospitals and physicians-even though the patient received services from both entities during the same outpatient encounter. Consider this scenario, the ED resources include support of the ED physician and any consultant who comes to the emergency department. As the facility HCPCS reflects the support and assistance provided to both physicians, you could expect to see a higher level of care for the facility than for the emergency physician. Conversely, the physician level of service may exceed the E/M coded by the facility. The key concept is that facility and professional coding and billing are two distinct systems.
Can hospitals bill Medicare for the lowest level ED visit for patients who check into the ED and are "triaged" through a limited evaluation by a nurse but leave the ED before seeing a physician?
Recommendations
Answer
In 2011 OPPS, CMS restated its position on "Triage-only" visits confirming that it does not specify the type of staff who may provide services. "A hospital may bill a visit code based on the hospital's own coding guidelines which must reasonably relate the intensity of hospital resources to different levels of HCPCS codes. Services furnished must be medically necessary and documented.”
However, in a 2012 CMS indicated in a Facility FAQ, that Hospital outpatient therapeutic services and supplies [including visits] must be furnished incident to a physician's service and under the order of a physician or other qualified practitioner. CMS stated that an ED visit would not be paid if the patient encounter did not meet the incident to requirement [the patient would need to be seen by an ED physician or non-physician practitioner]. Services provided by a nurse in response to a standing order also do not satisfy this requirement. Since diagnostic services do not need to meet the requirements for incident to services, they may be coded even if the patient were to leave without being seen by the physician.
Answer
In 2011 OPPS, CMS restated its position on "Triage-only" visits confirming that it does not specify the type of staff who may provide services. "A hospital may bill a visit code based on the hospital's own coding guidelines which must reasonably relate the intensity of hospital resources to different levels of HCPCS codes. Services furnished must be medically necessary and documented.”
However, in a 2012 CMS indicated in a Facility FAQ, that Hospital outpatient therapeutic services and supplies [including visits] must be furnished incident to a physician's service and under the order of a physician or other qualified practitioner. CMS stated that an ED visit would not be paid if the patient encounter did not meet the incident to requirement [the patient would need to be seen by an ED physician or non-physician practitioner]. Services provided by a nurse in response to a standing order also do not satisfy this requirement. Since diagnostic services do not need to meet the requirements for incident to services, they may be coded even if the patient were to leave without being seen by the physician.
Do ICD-10-CM [Diagnosis codes] play a role in APC payments?
Recommendations
Answer
No, ICD-10 codes do not determine ED facility reimbursement and since 2007 they are no longer required for observation coding. ICD-10 codes can establish medical necessity for the level of services or procedures billed and Medicare's edit system thus looks for certain ICD-10 codes for some services. These ICD-10s can be identified by looking up CMS's local and national coverage decision [LCDs and NCDs] documents for each procedure. On October 1, 2015, the ICD-9 diagnosis coding methodology was replaced by the ICD-10 system.
Answer
No, ICD-10 codes do not determine ED facility reimbursement and since 2007 they are no longer required for observation coding. ICD-10 codes can establish medical necessity for the level of services or procedures billed and Medicare's edit system thus looks for certain ICD-10 codes for some services. These ICD-10s can be identified by looking up CMS's local and national coverage decision [LCDs and NCDs] documents for each procedure. On October 1, 2015, the ICD-9 diagnosis coding methodology was replaced by the ICD-10 system.
How have APCs affected hospital outpatient coding?
Recommendations
Answer
Prior to Aug. 1, 2000, hospitals were reimbursed by Medicare for outpatient services on a "cost-basis". CPT codes were not required on the UB-92 claim forms and hospitals received reimbursement based on their reported "costs" for drugs, supplies, E&M services [such as ED visits], etc.
Under OPPS, it is essential to document and capture all services provided by the hospital, since the efficiency and resource utilization of the hospital will determine whether the hospital incurs a "profit or loss" on each Medicare outpatient encounter. Thus, it is imperative that hospital staff accurately and completely document all services provided to Medicare beneficiaries in the outpatient areas.
Physicians can greatly assist their hospitals by being as diligent as possible in their documentation efforts. For example, physician documentation of such services as insertion of a CV line [CPT 36556 [APC 5183] and 36557 [APC5184] will assist the hospital coders in assignment of these codes—with ultimate payment in 2022 by Medicare of 5183 [$2,923.63] and APC 5184 [$4,870.25] to the "average US hospital"]. Increasing cooperation between physicians and hospitals in medical records documentation is critical to the economic survival of both members of the "healthcare team."
Answer
Prior to Aug. 1, 2000, hospitals were reimbursed by Medicare for outpatient services on a "cost-basis". CPT codes were not required on the UB-92 claim forms and hospitals received reimbursement based on their reported "costs" for drugs, supplies, E&M services [such as ED visits], etc.
Under OPPS, it is essential to document and capture all services provided by the hospital, since the efficiency and resource utilization of the hospital will determine whether the hospital incurs a "profit or loss" on each Medicare outpatient encounter. Thus, it is imperative that hospital staff accurately and completely document all services provided to Medicare beneficiaries in the outpatient areas.
Physicians can greatly assist their hospitals by being as diligent as possible in their documentation efforts. For example, physician documentation of such services as insertion of a CV line [CPT 36556 [APC 5183] and 36557 [APC5184] will assist the hospital coders in assignment of these codes—with ultimate payment in 2022 by Medicare of 5183 [$2,923.63] and APC 5184 [$4,870.25] to the "average US hospital"]. Increasing cooperation between physicians and hospitals in medical records documentation is critical to the economic survival of both members of the "healthcare team."
How do hospitals report procedures when billing an E/M level?
Recommendations
Answer
Evaluation and Management Services and other procedures are distinct and separately billable services. By billing a surgical procedure code that describes the service, the facility is paid for the resources used to support the performance of the procedure. Facility charges include support for all providers; emergency physician, mid-level provider or consultant who provided services in the emergency department for a patient.
Most supplies and medications associated with the procedure will be paid as a combined payment for the surgical service. The E/M service is billed separately and includes the services related to the Evaluation and Management service. It is permissible for hospitals to reference surgical procedures in their E/M criteria as a proxy for the acuity and resources for the Evaluation and Management services prior to and following the procedure. In the 2008 OPPS final rule, CMS clarified “In the absence of national visit guidelines, hospitals have the flexibility to determine whether or not to include separately payable services as a proxy to measure hospital resource use that is not associated with those separately payable services.” Hospitals must be able to substantiate any decision to include otherwise separately payable services as a determining factor in the ED level assignment and be able to clearly articulate why those services reflect a proxy for additional hospital resource consumption.
Answer
Evaluation and Management Services and other procedures are distinct and separately billable services. By billing a surgical procedure code that describes the service, the facility is paid for the resources used to support the performance of the procedure. Facility charges include support for all providers; emergency physician, mid-level provider or consultant who provided services in the emergency department for a patient.
Most supplies and medications associated with the procedure will be paid as a combined payment for the surgical service. The E/M service is billed separately and includes the services related to the Evaluation and Management service. It is permissible for hospitals to reference surgical procedures in their E/M criteria as a proxy for the acuity and resources for the Evaluation and Management services prior to and following the procedure. In the 2008 OPPS final rule, CMS clarified “In the absence of national visit guidelines, hospitals have the flexibility to determine whether or not to include separately payable services as a proxy to measure hospital resource use that is not associated with those separately payable services.” Hospitals must be able to substantiate any decision to include otherwise separately payable services as a determining factor in the ED level assignment and be able to clearly articulate why those services reflect a proxy for additional hospital resource consumption.
How does billing for critical care under APCs differ from the critical care service billed by the physician?
Recommendations
Answer
Although CMS instructs hospitals to follow the content of the CPT Critical Care descriptors, there is one significant difference when billing facility Critical Care services. Physician billing of Critical Care time allows the counting of non-face-to-face time spent working on the patient’s behalf, APC facility billing does not. All time billed for Critical Care by hospitals under APCs must account for patient face-to-face time and cannot duplicate time spent by more than one individual simultaneously at the bedside. Thus, hospitals need to be aware that Critical Care time for the facility is counted differently than physician time and should address separate documentation of this service.
Answer
Although CMS instructs hospitals to follow the content of the CPT Critical Care descriptors, there is one significant difference when billing facility Critical Care services. Physician billing of Critical Care time allows the counting of non-face-to-face time spent working on the patient’s behalf, APC facility billing does not. All time billed for Critical Care by hospitals under APCs must account for patient face-to-face time and cannot duplicate time spent by more than one individual simultaneously at the bedside. Thus, hospitals need to be aware that Critical Care time for the facility is counted differently than physician time and should address separate documentation of this service.
What is a Comprehensive APC?
Recommendations
Answer
CMS defines a comprehensive APC as a classification for the provision of a primary service and all adjunct services provided to support the delivery of the primary service. They have determined that the adjunct costs are relatively small for these APCs. The comprehensive APC would treat all individually reported codes as representing components of the comprehensive service, resulting in a single prospective payment based on the cost of all individually reported codes on the claim that represent the delivery of a primary service as well as all adjunct services provided to support that delivery.
CMS defines “adjunctive services,” as any service that is integral, ancillary, supportive, and/or dependent to the primary service. These services are assigned Status Indicator J1. For example, HCPCS Code 93618, Heart rhythm pacing, assigned Status Indicator J1 as a Comprehensive APC under APC 5211 has a 2022 relative weight of 13.5134 for a total payment of $1,137.52. Thus, the APC payment for heart rhythm pacing would include any additional service associated with the pacing in the payment for the pacing service. As defined by Status Indictor J1, all covered Part B services on the claim are packaged with the primary “J1” service except for services with OPPS status indicators F, G, H, L and U as well as ambulance services, diagnostic and screening mammography and all preventive services.
Additional Reading:
//www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-16/pdf/2021-24011.pdf
2022 APC Addendum A and B
Answer
CMS defines a comprehensive APC as a classification for the provision of a primary service and all adjunct services provided to support the delivery of the primary service. They have determined that the adjunct costs are relatively small for these APCs. The comprehensive APC would treat all individually reported codes as representing components of the comprehensive service, resulting in a single prospective payment based on the cost of all individually reported codes on the claim that represent the delivery of a primary service as well as all adjunct services provided to support that delivery.
CMS defines “adjunctive services,” as any service that is integral, ancillary, supportive, and/or dependent to the primary service. These services are assigned Status Indicator J1. For example, HCPCS Code 93618, Heart rhythm pacing, assigned Status Indicator J1 as a Comprehensive APC under APC 5211 has a 2022 relative weight of 13.5134 for a total payment of $1,137.52. Thus, the APC payment for heart rhythm pacing would include any additional service associated with the pacing in the payment for the pacing service. As defined by Status Indictor J1, all covered Part B services on the claim are packaged with the primary “J1” service except for services with OPPS status indicators F, G, H, L and U as well as ambulance services, diagnostic and screening mammography and all preventive services.
Additional Reading:
//www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-16/pdf/2021-24011.pdf
2022 APC Addendum A and B
In packaging, all of the supplies, medications and other services are _____________ in the APC
Payment for all covered Part B services on the claim is packaged into a single payment for specific combinations of services except services with OPPS status indicators F, G, H, L and U as well as ambulance services; diagnostic and screening mammography; all preventive services; and certain Part B inpatient services.
APCs or "Ambulatory Payment Classifications" are the government's method of paying facilities for outpatient services for the Medicare program.
Comprehensive APCs expand CMS's intentions of the Outpatient Prospective Payment System [OPPS] being a partially packaged system. The official definition is: “A classification for the provision of a primary service and all adjunctive services provided to support the delivery of the primary service.”
APC Payment Rate means CMS' hospital outpatient prospective payment system rate. The APC payment rate is specified in the Federal Register notices announcing revisions in the Medicare payment rates.