[SheilaS]

I thought I kept up on things but I may have missed something, apparantly effective January 1, 2011 in order for a physician to order dme they have to have seen the patient in the past 6 months. Where can I find a referene for this? or am I hearing wrong? Thanks

[DMEisgoodfun]

When the healthcare bill was passed I recall reading industry publications
reference to face-to-face requirement for DME but the only thing I've found
that's new for 2011 is face-to-face for HHA and hospice.

[AndreaStark]

Hi Sheila,

That requirement is in the Affordable Care Act (I believe section 6407?) but it is not yet in effect as far as I know.

Currently, I believes the only Face-to-Face requirements in effect for physician referrals to hospices and home health facilities. These requirements are in the same section as the 6-month visit for DME, but they were given an effective start date of January 1, 2011.

The requirement for a physician to see a patient at least 6 months prior to ordering DME did not have a specific start date in the ACA (at least not that I could find). I would expect to see something on it soon though!

Sincerely,

Michelle Hamel Duncan
Communications Specialist
MiraVista, LLC
PO Box 11544
Columbia, SC 29211
Phone: 803.462.9959 ext.252
Fax: 803.758.2450
michelle@miravistallc.com
www.miravistallc.com

For outsourced DME billing, try ClaraVista, LLC.
www.claravistallc.com/billing.php
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[SheilaS]

Thank you
That's what I've seen too. We've had some Home health facilities call us
with questions, some of them are thinking they cannot give us verbals
anymore for some dme. I just wanted to double check that I hadn't missed
something.
I was thinking we would have been given a deadline and been getting all
kinds of notice if it was active
Thanks
Sheila

[leejgbt]

I believe it has always been required for DMEPOS that there had to have a face-to-face with the physician before it could be ordered. It is only lately that the auditors have been scrutinizing this requirement. When I run across this specific rule in my constant research of Medicare regulations I will post it here.