NCCI Edits and Version 26.2

June 15, 2020
 / 
Rick Gawenda
 / 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) developed the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits to combat improper coding that would then lead to inappropriate payment in Medicare Part B claims. CMS owns the NCCI program and is responsible for all decisions regarding its contents. Capital Bridge, LLC is CMS’ contractor for the NCCI. In this article, I will answer some of the more common questions I receive concerning NCCI edits.

In addition, I will be presenting a webinar on June 24, 2020 titled “Understanding NCCI Edits & Modifier 59: Version 26.2“. This webinar will provide participants with information on NCCI Edits Version 26.2 that become effective on July 1, 2020. In addition, I will teach participants changes that occurred in April 2020 that went retroactive to either December 31, 2019 or January 1, 2020. Plus, all participants will receive Gawenda Seminars & Consulting NCCI Edit Version 26.2 “Cheat Sheet” for use of modifier 59 in outpatient therapy. For more details and to register, click HERE.

Question
How often are the NCCI edits updated?

Answer

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Question
When does NCCI Version 26.2 become effective and when will it end?

Answer

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Question
I know at the start of Calendar Year 2020, CMS would not pay for a physical therapy evaluation (CPT codes 97161-97163) or an occupational therapy evaluation (CPT code 97165-97167) on the same day therapeutic activities (CPT code 97530) was billed? Is that still the case or did it change?

Answer

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Question
I know at the start of Calendar Year 2020, CMS would not pay for a physical therapy evaluation (CPT codes 97161-97163) or an occupational therapy evaluation (CPT code 97165-97167) on the same day group therapy (CPT code 97150) was billed? Is that still the case or did it change?

Answer

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Question
If I perform manual therapy (CPT code 97140) on a Medicare beneficiary on the same date of service I also bill a physical therapy and/or occupational therapy evaluation, is modifier 59 required to be appended to either of the CPT codes on the claim form?

Answer

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Question
Do other insurance carriers use NCCI Edits and if yes, do they typically use the current version of NCCI Edits used by CMS?

Answer

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Question
Is there an easy way to determine if an insurance carrier is utilizing the NCCI edits?

Answer

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Question
I have insurance carriers tell me they use the current version of CMS’ NCCI edits, but they are not paying me for my physical or occupational therapy evaluation when billed the same day as therapeutic activities. Do you know why?

Answer

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Question
When I bill manual therapy and a physical or occupational therapy evaluation on the same day to an insurance carrier, the insurance carrier is not paying me for manual therapy. Do you know why?

Answer

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Question
I see in the NCCI edits, there is a Column 1 code and a Column 2 code. What is the difference between the two?

Answer

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Question
Does it matter which CPT code I append Modifier 59 to on the claim form?

Answer

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Question
What settings do the NCCI edits apply to?

Answer

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Question
Do NCCI edits cross disciplines? Can one disciplines billing impact another disciplines billing?

Answer

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Question
How do I access the current version of NCCI on the CMS website?

Answer

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Question
When I access the NCCI edits on the CMS website, how do I know if the CPT code in Column 2 is payable on the same date of service that I bill the CPT code in Column 1?

Answer

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Question
How do I access Gawenda Seminars & Consulting (GSC) NCCI Edit “cheat sheet” that is specific to outpatient therapy services?

Answer

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Question
When I access Gawenda Seminars & Consulting (GSC) NCCI edit “cheat sheet” for outpatient therapy services, how do I know if the CPT code in Column 2 is payable on the same date of service that I bill the CPT code in Column 1?

Answer

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Question
How come when I find a CPT code (Code A) in Column 1 and go over to Column 2, I do not see the other CPT code (Code B) listed that I am billing but then when I find Code B in Column 1 and go over to Column 2, I see Code A listed?

Answer

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If a provider has concerns about specific NCCI edits, he/she may submit comments in writing to:

National Correct Coding Initiative
Capitol Bridge, LLC
P.O. Box 907
Carmel, IN 46082-0907
Fax #: 317-571-1745

I hope you found this article helpful. If you have additional questions regarding NCCI edits and the use of modifier 59, please write out your question in the Comment Box below and I may possible add it to this article. Thank you for being a Gold Member!


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This article is not intended to and does not serve as legal advice or as consultative services, but is for general information purposes only.

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  1. It looks like many of the codes that used to be column 2 codes with Therapeutic Activities in column 1 code went away (gait training for example). All of the column 2 codes for 92507 (speech and language rx) also disappeared. This seems to good to be true! Can you please confirm. Thank you.

  2. There are multiple changes in MUE’s starting 7/1/20:
    Do you know why the newest MUE changes allow 24 units of 97110, 97112, and 97116?
    If evaluation codes are untimed why do they now have MUE of 4?