Cigna Government Services (CGS), Medicare Administrative Contractor in the states of Ohio and Kentucky, is aware of a possible issue causing incorrect denials for therapy services submitted on Part B claims. CGS is currently researching this issue, which appears to have impacted claims for some therapy services submitted with functional reporting codes. CGS will provide additional information as soon as it is available, and they apologize for any inconvenience.

Cigna Government Services, Medicare Administrative Contractor for Ohio and Kentucky, will be hosting a webinar titled “Appealing Medicare Claims” on January 28, 2014 for non-private practices. For additional information and to register, click HERE.

Cigna Government Services, Medicare Administrative Contractor in Ohio and Kentucky, has announced a new probe medical review on inpatient hospital claims for appropriateness of inpatient admission under the revised two-midnight benchmark for dates of admission October 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. For additional information on this review, click HERE.

Novitas, Medicare Administrative Contractor for Jurisdiction H that includes the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, has updated their therapy FAQs on topics of appeals, billing of outpatient therapy services, outpatient rehabilitation documentation and additional development requests, and SNF billing and rehabilitation. To access the FAQ’s, click

Noridian, Medicare Administrative Contractor for Jurisdiction E, has retired their Outpatient Occupational Therapy L33330, Outpatient Physical Therapy L33331 and the Outpatient Speech Language Pathology L33744 Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) effective November 06, 2013. To read more about this, click HERE for private practices and click HERE for non-private practices.

Noridian will be holding a series of workshops in December and January for SNF/Swing Bed PPS providers and those impacted by SNF Consolidated Billing. To check dates and times, click HERE.

The local coverage determination (LCD) for therapy and rehabilitation services was most recently revised January 1, 2013. Since that time, the LCD was revised to add Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes 96125 and 97532 specific to speech-language therapy services under the “CPT®/HCPCS Codes” section of the LCD. CPT® code 96125 was also added specific to physical and/or occupational therapy services under the “CPT®/HCPCS Codes” section of the LCD. In addition, the “Sources of Information and Basis for Decision” section of the LCD was also revised.

Wisconsin Physician Services, Medicare Administrative Contractor for the states of Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Nebraska, will be hosting a teleconference on skilled nursing facility consolidated billing on December 18, 2013. Indiana and Michigan providers, click HERE for additional information and to register and Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska providers, click HERE for additional information and to register.