UHC Updates Speech Generating Policy
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) has updated their speech generating policy due to Section 6407 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that established a face-to-face encounter requirement for certain items of durable medical equipment (DME) (including speech generating devices). The law requires that a physician must document that a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or clinical nurse specialist has had a face-to-face encounter with the patient. The encounter must occur within the 6 months before the order is written for the DME.
Due to concerns that some providers and suppliers may need additional time to establish operational protocols necessary to comply with face-to-face encounter requirements mandated by the ACA for certain items of DME, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will start actively enforcing and will expect full compliance with the DME face-to-face requirements beginning on October 1, 2013.
To read the updated UHC speech generating policy and to access the complete list of DME that requires a face-to-face encounter, click
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