Streamline your reimbursement documentation.

When a patient is receiving services through Midwest CareCenter Palliative Care Services, Medicare and many other carriers allow two physicians of like specialty to bill on the same day if they use different diagnoses.

For a palliative care consultation that coincides with the date of the primary attending physician's visit

• The attending physician bills the primary disease code.
• The palliative care consultant bills codes related to symptoms.

Medicare documentation for hospice

According to The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, a primary care physician not affiliated or under contract with Midwest CareCenter can bill Medicare for services provided to a patient he/she has referred to Midwest CareCenter for hospice care.

For service related to terminal illness, use the GV modifier in field 24D on the HCFA-1500 claim form.

For service unrelated to terminal illness, use the GW modifier in field D on the HCFA-1500 claim form.

Medicare Part B carriers will deny claims on hospice patients when neither modifier is used.

For more detailed information refer to Online Medicare Claims Processing Manual, 100-4, Chapter 11 (Processing Hospice Claims), Sections 40.1.3, 40.2 and 50.