Postpayment Service-Specific Probe Results for Rehabilitation Services: Therapeutic Exercises for January through March 2021

Palmetto GBA performed service-specific postpayment probe review on CPT Code 97110 — Therapeutic Exercises. This edit was set in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The results for the probe review for claims processed January through March 2021 are presented here.

Cumulative Results 
A total of 365 claims were reviewed, with 122 of the claims either completely or partially denied, resulting in an overall claim denial rate of 33.42 percent. The total dollars reviewed was $10,875.89, of which $3,604.06 was denied, resulting in a charge denial rate of 33.14 percent. Overall, there were a total of 40 auto-denied claims in the region.   

North Carolina Results
A total of 144 claims were reviewed, with 37 of the claims either completely or partially denied. This resulted in a claim denial rate of 25.69 percent. The total dollars reviewed was $4,309.96, of which $1,115.18 was denied, resulting in a charge denial rate of 25.87 percent. The top denial reasons were identified, and the number of occurrences based on dollars denied are:  

South Carolina Results
A total of 101 claims were reviewed, with 15 of the claims either completely or partially denied. This resulted in a claim denial rate of 14.85 percent. The total dollars reviewed was $2,961.53, of which $420.02 was denied, resulting in a charge denial rate of 14.18 percent. The top denial reasons were identified and the number of occurrences based on dollars denied are:  

Virginia Results
A total of 40 claims were reviewed, with two of the claims either completely or partially denied. This resulted in a claim denial rate of 5.00 percent. The total dollars reviewed was $1,243.60, of which $62.18 was denied, resulting in a charge denial rate of 5.0 percent. The top denial reason was identified and the number of occurrences based on dollars denied are:   

West Virginia Results
A total of 80 claims were reviewed, with 68 of the claims either completely or partially denied. This resulted in a claim denial rate of 85.0 percent. The total dollars reviewed was $2,360.80, of which $2,006.68 was denied, resulting in a charge denial rate of 85.0 percent. The top denial reasons were identified and the number of occurrences based on dollars denied are:  

Denial Reasons and Prevention Recommendations

BILER — Claim Billed in Error per Provider

• Prior to billing claims, review the information to determine that the correct information is listed in the appropriate fields
• For all claims previously billed and denied by medical review, do not resubmit the claims. If you disagree with the decision from medical review, you must submit the appropriate documentation with a completed redetermination request form to the appeals department. This information can be sent by fax to JM Part B Appeals (803) 699–2427, JJ Part B Appeals (803) 870–0139, or RRB Appeals (803) 462–2218.
• If documentation indicates that both an NPP and a physician performed the service, and the claim is billed under the physician’s NPI, the billing physician must sign the record. Additionally, the documentation must include a statement that the billing provider had face-to-face contact with the patient and performed a substantive portion of the E/M visit. (A substantive portion of the E/M visit includes at least one of the three key components: history, exam, or medical decision-making.)
• If documentation occurs in a teaching environment, review the documentation to ensure that the billing provider has provided a teaching attestation and a signature

DNSRP — Documentation Not Signed by the Rendering Provider

• Verify that all documentation is legibly signed by the correct rendering physician or nonphysician practitioner
• Verify that electronic signature meets the CMS signature requirements as listed in the article Medicare Medical Records: Signature Requirements Acceptable and Unacceptable Practices
• Submit a valid signature attestation with any documentation that lacks the correct rending provider's signature. Do not resubmit altered documentation with late added provider signature. This will not be accepted by medical review. For an example of a signature attestation, refer to the article Medicare Medical Records: Signature Requirements Acceptable and Unacceptable Practices.

NODOC — Documentation Requested for This Date of Service Was Not Received or Was Incomplete, Therefore We Are Unable to Make a Reasonable and Necessary Determination (as defined under Section 1862(a) (1) (A) of the ACT) for the Service Billed, and This Service Has Been Denied

• Submit all documentation related to the services billed within 45 days of the date on the ADR letter
• Review documentation prior to submission to ensure that the documentation is complete and that all dates of service requested are included
• Include any additional information pertinent to the date of service requested to support the services billed. For example: original chart notes, diagnostic, radiological or laboratory results.
• For claims denied with a M127 or N29 code listed on the remittance advice, be sure to submit all documentation for all dates of service on that claim with a reopen/redetermination request form by fax to JM Part B Appeals (803) 699–2427, JJ Part B Appeals (803) 870–0139, or RRB Appeals (803) 462–2218
   

NOTMN — Payer Deems the Information Submitted Does Not Support the Medical Necessity of the Services Billed

• Ensure that all documentation to support medical necessity of the service billed is submitted for review. This includes original chart notes and any diagnostic, radiological or laboratory results.
• Verify that documentation to support the level of service billed is included. Please refer to our website for applicable LCDs, NCDs, and Coverage Articles for documentation requirements.

The Next Steps
The service-specific targeted medical review edits for Rehabilitation Services: CPT Code 97110 (Therapeutic Exercises) in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia will be continued based on moderate charge denial rates and medium to high impact severity errors. If significant billing aberrancies are identified, provider-specific review may be initiated.

If you are dissatisfied with a claim determination you have the right to request an appeal. Palmetto GBA encourages you to review the documentation originally submitted, and if you believe you have additional supporting documentation you may include this information with your appeal. For more information related to the appeals process please refer to the Redetermination:1st Level Appeal form (PDF, 386 KB).  

Questions regarding this medical review can be directed to the Palmetto GBA Provider Contact Center at 855–696–0705.