Pre-Payment Provider-Specific Probe Results for Echocardiography, Transthoracic, Real-Time with Image Documentation from July Through September 2022

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) process for Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code 93306: Echocardiography, Transthoracic, Real-Time with Image Documentation, effective September 1, 2021. This edit was set in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The Jurisdiction J probe reviews with edit effectiveness performed July through September 2022, are presented here.

Probe One

Findings by State
Palmetto GBA’s overview of results by state for providers who have had edit effectiveness performed for Probe 1 TPE review. 

Risk Category
Risk Category is defined based on end of Probe 1 provider error rates. The categories are defined as:

 

Top Denial Reasons 

Denial Reasons and Prevention Recommendations

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 the Social Security Act § 1862(a) (1) (A) 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 Additional Documentation Request (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 (803) 699–2427, JJ Part B (803) 870–0139, or RRB Appeals (803) 462–2218
   

NOTML — Per Applicable LCD, 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 documentation requirements
   

WRONG — Documentation Received Contains an Incorrect, Incomplete or Illegible Patient Identification or Date of Service

• Review all documentation prior to submission to ensure that it is for the correct patient and date of service
• Ensure that patient identifiers are legible and complete
• Ensure that the complete date of service is clearly and legibly noted on all documentation
• Prior to billing claims, review the information to determine that the correct patient identifier and the correct date of service are listed in the appropriate field
   

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 a nonphysician practitioner (NPP) and a physician performed the service, and the claim is billed under the physician’s National Provider Identifier (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 Evaluation and Management (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 
   

Education
Palmetto GBA offers providers selected for TPE an individualized education session to discuss each claim denial. This is an opportunity to learn how to identify and correct claim errors. A variety of education methods are offered such as webinar sessions, web-based presentations, or teleconferences. Other education methods may also be available. Providers do not have to be selected for TPE to request education. If education is desired, please complete the Education Request form (PDF).

Next Steps
Providers found to be non-compliant (major risk category/denial rate of 21–100 percent) at the completion of TPE Probe 1 will advance to Probe 2, and providers found to be non-compliant (major risk category/denial rate of 21–100 percent) at the completion of TPE Probe 2 will advance to Probe 3 of TPE after at least 45 days from completing the 1:1 post-probe education call date.